Hi All - I have just moved to Zug and cant wait to get out on my road bike (once I work out how to put it back together after it was packed for transit!!)

When I was in the UK, I alwyas cycled with friends you were more capable than me in fixing things like inners, chains etc and had an SOS Insurance where they would come and pick me up if I was stranded!

Dont have either in Switzerland so need to do a cycle maintenance course to at least learn the basics. Does anyone know who runs these? Google is not being very helpful!

Thanks

Sian-Elin

I'm sorry I don't know any in CH, but I find YouTube to be very helpful on how-to topics. On my phone at the moment, so I can't really look one up, but give it a whirl. I'm sure there is heaps there. It's free too

Thanks



...

A cycle maintenance course? ...... you'll be lucky.

Most Swissies take their bike to the local cycle shop, for even something as simple as putting the chain back on, adjusting the brakes or mending a puncture.

But happens if they need to change an inner when they are out

They don't change an inner tyre with a puncture, they just buy a new bike.



Take that:
http://www.bikeradar.com/videos/all/workshop


Enjoy the dirty oil and grease,

There are loads of posts on this forum regarding bike maintenance - lots of keen roadies and mountain bikers here.
If ever I get stuck or am not sure - I just search on you-tube, I have to say that I have never failed to find what I want. There are loads of example films, sort of `how to do adjust gears` `how to remove chain rings` etc etc.
Actually I seem to remember someone posting something about a bike maintenance course on this forum . . . try the search faciity and it might turn up what you want.
I`m not being very specific really am I? . . . . . . I`ll get my coat . .

Check out Swiss Alpine Adventure on meetup.com which has road bikers, plus quite a few bike shops have road and MTB ride outs on selected week day evenings.

Not sure if Swiss really change their bikes with a flat, but I havent seen many repair kits, just new tubes...

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/
Although this is not aimed at novices, it's probably the largest and best cycling resource on the net. If you spend some time reading it you may find it very useful.

As mentioned there is masses of info on the internat, including videos etc. My friend in the UK built his own bike from scratch following instructions on youtube.

It is possible to do bicycle maintance courses in Switzerland, I have heard of people doing them. Unfortunately I'm not sure I ever heard the name of the organisation providing them. Might need to search in german because the course may only run in german...

Good luck with the cycling in switzerland - the native cyclists will make you feel like an unfit beginner!

Maybe thereis a friendly EFer on here who could run a basic maintenance course? Good for social and meeting new cycling friends. I'd be up for learning how to adjust my gearing as i've never worked that out!

Oh and hydraulic mtb brakes...

welcome to zug!
maybe the cycling lounge near the station has some info.
If you need help with fixing something on the bike just PM me i maybe able to help.

its a great cycle route around the lake..Enjoy!

Ah... what a bashing of the Swiss cyclists! There are a couple who do change the flats (those that don't want to walk the 50km home they just cycled...)
Although I know what attitude you are talking about... I think it is changing.
There are also a few courses.
Have you tried googling for "Reperaturkurse"?

Here are a few:

Bern:
www.thoemus-bike-academy.ch
Reparaturkurse
27. Feb. 2013 Abendkurs für Frauen Bern
27. Mär. 2013 Abendkurs für Alle Bern
10. Apr. 2013 Abendkurs für Alle Bern
weitere Kurse →

http://provelobern.ch/aktivitaeten/reparaturkurse/

Lake of Zurich:
https://www.veloplus.ch/kurse_veranstaltungen/ - 30.1., fully booked. More will come up.

Zürich, Basel:
http://www.cyclingemotion.ch/de/dien...reparaturkurse

Some of them are private - chances are good you could get them in english as well.

Cheers,

Dave at Swiss Alpine Adventure ran some maintenance workshops in English last year. I'm not sure if he is doing them again this year but it might be worth asking.

As Dan T said they also organise group rides for road bikes so it's worth checking the group out anyway. They already have some events for this bike season up!

www.swissalpineadventure.ch

It's a pity that Zen didn't do a follow up book for cycles, after the success of his motorcycle maintenance book.

In the "Rote Fabrik" in Zürich they have the open workshop every Thursday from 2pm til 6pm. You pay CHF 12 per hour + Material.
There are professionals who can help you with their know how:

http://www.radlos.ch/

or on Tuesdays at another location (but still Zürich), Information is in English:
http://velonom.wordpress.com/english/

You EFers are amazing! I knew you would have the answer to my little problem - lots of good tips to check out and will look at them - hopeful i will find something in English

And yes, whilst I am fitter than I look (which seems to baffle those in my spin classes!) already feeling the Swiss will kick my butt! But at least there is a couple of months to try and get better before the real cycling starts.

Been looking at sportives too - seems to be a nice one Lausanne to Lausanne in May, anyone dones this?

I live in Basel and I am stuck with a flat Tyre. Can anyone suggest a place to mend the puncture or replace the inner tube at a reasonable cost.
I don't want to buy a new cycle