Sign up for one or all of our bicycle maintenance classes held at the Santa Monica Bike Center, 1555 2nd Street, Unit A, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (corner of Colorado & 2nd St). 
Beginners and DIY enthusiasts alike will learn a range of skills from our experienced mechanics. Participants can expect to take away a broader understanding of bicycles and how to adjust components for optimum performance. Bike Maintenance classes are free of charge for SM Bike Center Members; $10 fee for non-Members.
Bike maintenance series schedule:
- Week 1 / Bike 101 Basics for Beginners
Learn the lingo and understand the difference between types of bicycles (road, mountain, hybrid, cruiser, etc) and bike components. Learn how to get your wheel off of the bike, fix a flat tire, properly inflate a tire, and how to properly lube and maintain your chain.
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Week 2 / Brakes and Gears
Brakes, brakes and more brakes. Pads, levers, cables, v-brakes, caliper brakes, disc brakes, center-pull, and quick release types – what are they and what do they do? Learn how to diagnose what’s happening with your brakes: Are your wheels true? Is your wheel centered in the dropouts? Are your brake pads aligned properly and centered? How do you adjust the cable tension? And don’t forget the gears! Cables, cable housings, derailleurs, shifters, and cassettes vs. freewheels vs. fixed vs. single speed vs. internal – what does it all mean and do? What to do when your chain falls off, when gears are skipping, and more. -
Week 3 / Cups, Cones, and Bearings
More lingo to learn. Hubs, axles, cups, cones, bearings, locknuts, and cone wrenches vs. box wrenches. Diagnose when your hub needs adjustment, see what happens when you ruin your cones and ball bearings, how to repack a hub and how to measure ball bearing sizing. Did you know bikes have headsets too? Threaded vs. unthreaded, races, and steer tubes will all be covered. Plus we’ll diagnose a loose headset and demonstrate how to repack a headset. And let’s not forget the bottom bracket with its pedals, crank arms, spindle, and sealed vs. loose ball bearings. You’ll learn how to diagnose a loose ball bearing (creaking or loose crank arms) and see how to tighten one. -
Week 4 / Wheels and Spokes
We wrap things up with some bicycle parts you probably know: tires, tubes, rims, spokes, and hubs; but what about nipples and hub flanges? You’ll find out what they are and practice getting wheels off a bike, true a wheel (vertical and horizontal leaps), learn proper spoke tension, size and replace broken spokes, and ask any last questions that weren’t covered in this or prior sessions.
