Yellow Saddle - Johan Bornman - Bike Maintenance course

[Doggone]

I have just spent the past weekend on the bike maintenence course run by Johan of Yellow Saddles. I found it to be one of the best courses I have ever attended in terms of straight talk, practical advice followed by direct practice and debunking of popular cycling myths.

 

The course runs over 2 whole days. To say that you get your money's worth would be an undertstatement. It covers the following:

• Bearings - in depth as these are at the heart of all moving parts of our bikes
  
• We removed and replaced bearings in BB, Hubs and headset as well as discussing the bearings in the suspension of our bikes.
  
• We removed our cranks and clusters and learnt to understand the mechanics of the derailleur as well as setting it up and installing of above.
  
• Chain and sprocket wear were covered in detail and I can only say that I have been fooled by the lbs mechanics into unnecessary replacements for the last time.
  
• Tools required for maintaining your own bike were also discussed as well as sourcing thereof at realistic prices.
  

Overall the course was an eye opener. I believe that even if you dont want to maintain your bike yourself , you need to understand the mechanics lest you be ripped off . It will also help with diagnosis of what the problem is to speed up fixing problems.

 

Biggest lesson for me is that I am always only 2-3 minutes away from a flawlessly running drivetrain. That in itself makes the course time well spent.

 

I will be back for a refresher later in the year as well as going on the shock repair/maintenance course.

 

Thanks Johan and the other delegates for making it an enjoyable learning experience.

Edited July 4, 2012 by Doggone

[Pieterg]

+1.Johan please let the hub know when the next course is?

[MTBeer]

anything like this in Cape Town that is worthwhile?

[Iwan Kemp]

From his website http://www.yellowsad...0Schedules.html

 

EDIT: Removed old schedule

Edited July 9, 2012 by The Crow

[slowpoke]

Look at the date on that... I think he runs courses on the last weekend of each month, but he really needs to comment on this thread to confirm.

[Johan Bornman]

2012 Course Calendar

 

 

Repair and Maintenance Johannesburg

25 & 26 February

28 & 29 April

26 & 27 May

30 June/1July

25 & 26 August

29 & 30 September

24 & 25 November

8 & 9 December

 

Repair and Maintenance Cape Town

24 & 25 March

27 & 28 October

 

Wheelbuilding Johannesburg

11 & 12 February

15/16 September

 

Fork Maintenance Workshop Johannesburg

07 April 2012

09 June 2012

 

Fork Maintenance Workshop Cape Town

23 March 2012

26 October 2012

 

Bike Maintenance for Ladies

28 January 2012

10 March 2012

11 August 2012

[TNT1]

Bike Maintenance for Ladies?

[MTBeer]

Bike Maintenance for Ladies?

bike maintainance without breaking a fingernail... Edited July 6, 2012 by MTBorDIE

[TNT1]

bike maintainance without breaking a fingernail...

 

Well, that's why I was asking. I mean, bike maintenance is bike maintenance, innit? And if it's done in way so that the ladies don't get greasy hands, then they're not really learning the right stuff, are they?

[Keep Pedaling]

"bike maintainance without breaking a fingernail"

 

I would be willing to pay good money for someone to teach my wife:

 

1. How to get her own chain back on.

2. How to identify there is something wrong with her bike before the ride starts.

3. How to identify her fork is locked out and it is not her bike that is 'uncomfortable'.

[Johan Bornman]

"bike maintainance without breaking a fingernail"

 

I would be willing to pay good money for someone to teach my wife:

 

1. How to get her own chain back on.

2. How to identify there is something wrong with her bike before the ride starts.

3. How to identify her fork is locked out and it is not her bike that is 'uncomfortable'.

 

That's the one.

 

I teach them that and more in the absence of chip-on-the-shoulder okes who already everything and just come along for the beer.

 

15% of of my customers are female and they attend the regular classes - broken nails and all.

 

However, some just want to learn how to do the very basics, feel confident about noises and minor mishaps and identify them and learn how to communicate with their mechanics.

 

I could probably work a bit on the title of that workshop.

[Li Mu Bai]

yup, great course from a no-nonsense instructor. Money well spent invested, you will never look back... highly recommended.

Edited July 9, 2012 by Li Mu Bai

[Catatonic_Joe]

I've been for the course too, and its excellent, Johan has so much patience with his students and even after the course, never once neglected to help me over the phone.

 

If you love bikes and want to save loads of money paying bikes shop for maintenance, this course it for you.

[bikekid]

If only we had something like this in Durbs - I would definitely do the Fork and wheel building course!

[greenhorn]

What are the course prices?

[V12man]

Why weekends only? weekday courses would be great too, saves a big pink slip with the family, and I am really short on those at the moment thanks to some multi day events...