DIY bike repairs and parts shops in Munich

Just got screwed on a bike repair (again). Made a vow that it would never happen again and to this end am intending to do any required repairs myself, no matter what is wrong, no matter what effort involved, no matter the learning required. Any bike heads out there? Is this realistic? Are there good bike repair bibles or something "Bike repairs for dummies" or somesuch? And to keep it on a Muc tip, any good spare parts shops in the city?

P.S. €94

Related topic: Bike tune-up and repair shops in Munich, Some recommendations

I have a Bike Repair book on permanent borrow from an ex-boyfriend that you can borrow as long as you promise to give it back before the end of the summer. It's pretty comprehensive, but some things are a little complicated. You have to know what they are talking about.

This is realistic MM - depends on the job in hand though and the parts required. In terms of tools it can be a real minefield - taking the bottom brack off a Vitus frame eventually involved a f*****g angle-grinder and a friend who could TiG (or was it MiG?) weld...

Most jobs are simple tho, but something like a nice Shimano rear derallieur (sp!) can be quite an expensive part, albeit easy to fit...

Dunno about any books tho. Of course, you could just call "Bicycle Repair-Man"...

I've built bikes up from just a frame as well as torn them down. It really isn't that hard but there are a couple of proprietary tools that you're going to need like crank pullers, chain wrenches, chain tools, etc. These can get costly but if you buy the tool for the job you need you'll probably distribute the cost over months/years.

The only 'science' to bike building/repair/tuning is brake adjustment, shifter adjustment, and wheel truing but the learning curve is shallow.

What work did you have done on the bike? Is this your new one?

Are you talking about a motorbike or a normal bicycle here? 90% of bicycle repairs are trivial provided you have the tools. You can easily see how a bike works by looking at it and using common sense to find out whats wrong and how it should be fixed. Actually the only tool I needed for my bike was a chain tool, to break and join the chain, but that was more for adjustments than repairs. Everything else could be done with standard household tools, allen keys, screwdrivers, pliers etc.

I mean how much can really go wrong? The other 10% percent are things you either wouldnt fix, or are serious modifications, or would require specialist equipment, or would simply replace the part rather then fix it.

Just to give a frame of reference, what sort of repair recently costed you 94€?

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

Showem: thanks for the offer, but I would rather buy something that I can keep for reference. Maybe you could give me the name of the book you have if your reckon it is good and I could track it down

Jimbo: I won't be expecting to do anything that drastic, just the usual bits and bobs: tweaking spokes, calibrating the gear change, changing out brake pads.

DW: No, that bike is running like a dream, but (how fucked up is this) the guy who screwed me for the €94 was the guy I bought the new bike from AND I live over his shop. It is my old bike that had a broken back axle and a few bits and bobs missing (back light lost or stolen). He reckoned the wheel was fucked up and needed changing. Here's the breakdown
€37 Wheel
€10 Bits and bobs
€45 1 hour labour (a fucking joke that)

KZW: pushbike

WTF?

He reckons you needed a new wheel? Did he show you the old one that was shot? It takes a lot to ruin a wheel on the street, even a really crappy one.

A hub, spokes, rim, and casette (e.g. the whole rear rotating assembly complete and trued) plus a skewer (AKA axle) can be had for half of what you paid and the labor takes under a minute. 5 tops if you include mounting a new tire and tube. The only special tools you'd require for this would be a cassette key (~5 Euros) and a chain wrench (3 Euros).

Does he say anywhere that all work will be charged for at least 1 hour?

I had an argument with him this morning for half an hour, but I had to go to catch my bus. I reckon I had him just about to concede. I am going back to do a bit more work on him Friday. About the work times: he charges in units of 1/10th of an hour which costs €4.50. I am still fuming about this.

Just to wrap it up, thanks for the info and encouragement guys n gals and for future reference the bike shop was:

Zweirad Seidinger
Ledererzeile 14
83512 Wasserburg
http://www.zweirad-seidinger.de/

I am looking for a bottom bracket removal tool, I already have a shimano one (see picture) but the central hole is too small to fit over my new BB. I can order this tool from the UK but delivery is expensive and it will take a few days. I would prefer to buy it here locally. I've been to Radlbauer to the west of Munich and to a smaller shop on Landsbergerstrasse but they both said they would need to order it specially. Anyone have an idea of a shop that would be more likely to have this in stock?

OK, after visiting 3 more shops on the way home from work, a nice little hidden away bike shop on Fasaneriestrasse in Neuhausen sorted me out (don't know the name). Funny that it was the closest one to my house, I should have gone there first. The guy seemed to know his stuff.

Small shops don't usually survive unless they know their stuff.