My name is Alex Ramon. I’ve been a bicycle geek since early childhood, spending my twenties working as a mechanic in some great bike shops. My cycling passions include flatland bmx, unicycles and cycle-touring and I have a lot of fun mountain biking and road riding. I’ll basically ride anything with pedals. I also love photography… one day I hope to do some serious touring with my camera and one of those super fun Greenspeed trikes.
The purpose of this site is to help people learn how to fix their own bikes. While I don’t work in a shop anymore, I still have all of my tools and some parts so I might as well share what I know (and learn from you). I’m on the lookout for different kinds of bikes so I can cover as many different jobs as possible. I’m keeping a tidy list of all your requests and I imagine we’ll have 1-200 videos on this site over the next two years. If I figure out a way to make money from this (while keeping the tutorials free) I plan to get a studio and some better equipment. Then I’ll go back and refine many of the videos using close-ups and cut-aways, etc… and improve things based on what I’ve learned from all of your feedback. Thanks for watching!
Interviews: Bike Hacks, Cozy Beehive
NBC New York, July 21, 2008
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Can you please do a tutorial on replacing the cable portion of control cables?
Your website rocks…keep it up! I’ve learned tons…
Shawn, thanks for your feedback. I’d be happy to do a tutorial on inner cables… I’ve added it to the request list and I’ll let you know when it is posted.
Hey, your website is great! I’m sure you have tons of requests, but a particular problem I am trying to figure out right now is about caliper brakes, adjusting them, making sure they are even and close at the same time, etc. If you could do a video about that, that would be awesome.
Requests are always welcome Clayton. I’d be happy to do a caliper brake tutorial and I’ve added it to the list… thanks for watching!
As promised, here is the sidepull brake tutorial.
These video are simply amazing!!
Exactly what’s needed to highlight how things are done..
I’ll be checking back here regularly.
Seriously, I’m in love with you, I’m in love with this site, I’m just in love. You have NO FREAKING IDEA (maybe you do) how perfect and awesome this is.
I have *just* (like, last 2 weeks) started to start to do my bicycle repairs myself on my ever-growing collection of bikes, but I’d had to wade through lots of complicated stuff on bikeforums or Sheldon Brown (both still great sites). Having it all laid out like this, with Videos and Pictures is an amazing thing.
You are officially my New Hero.
In fact, you’re going to be the only site I’ve ever donated to, because I think you’ll save me a ton of cash that I would have spent at my LBS.
THANKS!!
What a brilliant site! I’m sending your link to every cyclist I know.
Have Bike sales sites advertise. That should keep you rolling. There’s no reason this shouldn’t be a huge and successful site.
Absolutely Amazing! Bicycle mechanics demystified. Thanks for operating such a great site!
Great site! The referral from the Get Rich Slowly blog is what brought me to your site. How about something showing how to install those rear view mirrors that plug into your hand grips? This would be where you have to cut the end off one of the grips to install it. Thanks!!
I hope you’ll add some tutorials on maintenance on utility bikes as well! Especially the hub gear style (instead of the derailer). Keep up the good work, I think this is an awesome resource!
Thanks Jim and Kim, I’ve added both of your tutorials to my list and I’ll let you know when they’re posted
Hi Alex,
just wanted to give some brief feedback. Nice site, good videos and clear and proper instructions.
Greetings from northern Germany
Hi Alex,
First I want to thank you for providing these basic informations for bike passioned people like myself. I would like too ask you some favors, please put videos about:
- Hydraulic disc brakes (how to maintain, loosen air,adjust pads) Status
- Front shock forks (how to maintain, inflate air, change oil) Status
- Hollowtech II type monoblocks and crank set (mounting) Status
Thank you for your help!
From Klausenburg (Transylvania)
Hi Alex,
Just want to say thanks for making a really useful and valuable contribution to the internet.
Keep up the excellent work!
Marc
Taipei
Alex,
Kept searching for bike repair video tutorials to get my new Kona’s front derailleur (and other adjustments) tuned up and found your site. Wow! I had 5 or so videos saved in my bookmarks and tried mashing all of their info into something I could use and to say the least was ending up overwhelmed. Your site solved all that and has replaced all of the other videos I was using. Since I live in the country, some 35 miles from a LBS, and 1.25 hrs. from my favorite shop, doing my own basic repairs is a must. Your videos are very intuitive, and the chapter marks along with the pop-up points make reviewing the videos a breeze! I believe strongly in trying to better others, and your “tutor’s” attitude is not only a blessing to me personally, but a benefit to the biking community as a whole. Can’t wait to get signed up for your download membership soon.
With much gratitude,
Martin Shackelford
Liberty, KY
I have never saw a good web-site like this. This is the best website. Also this website helped me a lot cause I learned a lot of things. Thank you Alex, you’re the best…
Sarajevo,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe
Hi Alex!
It’s a great website you got going on here! Gosh… every tutorial is exactly as simple and as complex as needed. I’m part of a bunch of urban cyclists in Chile and I’d love to add spanish subtitles to your videos. Have you considered having them subbed? (I know you have the google translation thingy, but you know… most of the times it´s more confusing than the original).
Let me know! Besides me, there are 3 english professors in our group, so I guess we could do a pretty decent job.
(oh… I got here through lifehacker)
Congratulations again!
Fantastic website! Very useful information, and well done tutorials with video. You need to figure out a way to make some money off of this, because this content is A+
Hey Alex! Your site is superb!! Thank goodness you are in Van, as you’d put us out of business otherwise!
I’m really impressed (and proud) to see how this has grown. I need to sit down and watch the tutorials and learn some stuff! (There’s never any time for me to learn at the shop)
Merry Christmas!!
Christine
Your website is extremely useful! It really helps that your are very clear and straightforward, and that your videos are high quality. I also find your website layout to be very clean and attractive.
The main thing I like about your videos is that you don’t just show how to do simple things like change a flat, but you show the very difficult things like cleaning all the bearings in your bike.
Keep on making great videos!
Thanks man, I was able to tune my front derailer today after watching one of your video, it needed it.
It’s amazing you say you’d one day like to refilm everything with better equipment, however as I see it your videos are already much more professional than everything I’ve seen on the web as far as bicycle repairing goes. I really hope that you *do* find a way to make money out of this, not because your videos need any more polishing but because you should be rewarded for the great and altruistic work you’re doing. Hats off to you.
Thank you all for all of the supportive comments… I’m speechless!
@Jon - I guess I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I’d like to have a much better set-up as there are always camera angles I can’t shoot with my current setup, and I think would make it even more clear. People send in a lot of comments and suggestions that I would like to include in future re-productions as well… always room for improvement!
My husband and I recently purchased bikes because of the failing economy & gas prices. We have no idea how to take care of them, however. I am so glad you have this site! We don’t have hardly any money to go to a repair shop everytime we get a flat. We also have a little girl who rides on the back of my bike. She is 21 months old. My husband is using his bike to go to work. We were using $40 a month in gas in just him going to work and back. Thank you for keeping a financially struggling little family in this economy up and running - or biking! Without you, we would stay home a lot or spend a lot of gas money driving the car to the great outdoors. Now, we just ride our bikes wherever we want to go, up and down the bike path. If we have a problem with our bikes, we look to you for help to get back on the road. Thanks so much! And yes you should get paid for this service! Although we don’t have much money, I would gladly give you a donation for your services and time. I really appreciate this website and you are awesome for putting your knowledge on the web. Keep up the great work!
Moments ago, bicycletutor.com was listed on my local FOX tv station (WXMI-Grand Rapids, MI) morning news channel as a wonderful and informative site to visit. I immediately set down my morning coffee to view your video tutorials.
I had recently dusted off my son’s 21 speed and wanted to know more about bike basics…and i found it at your site!
Thankfully, i did not spray my chain with WD-40 yesterday!!! I also couldn’t figure out how to use all 21 gears…and now i understand. Those two videos may seem simplistic to long time riders but for a novice like me — extremely valuable!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Just wanted to thank you for the site. I do a lot of cycle-touring. A few years ago, when I was getting ready for my first tour, I went to bike shops all around New York City and offered to pay the shops to teach me the basics of bike maintenance b/c I was afraid to get stranded on the open road. Every shop turned me down b/c they jealously guarded their knowledge, afraid that they’d lost a customer. I’ve learned most of the things I need, but it’s been through long hours of effort and trial-and-error. Your site will help people from having to go through that, and I think it’ll make more people into cyclists. Great idea, and great website.
Alex,
I can’t say enough about how great of a job your doing with your site. The instruction you offer is invaluble. I hope that people who utilize your site financially support it because that will help to have it for others for years to come. I made my first donation today and plan to keep supporting in the future. I fix up bikes as a hobby and sell them so whether your a person who makes a little profit on the side or someone who saves money by learning how to fix your bike from this site, show your support, a little money will help to keep this site up and expand the knowledge base. Thanks again Alex!
Alex -
My compliments on a great website. I too started maintaining my own bikes and could not get much support from my LBS. I ride alot of miles during the year and it seems that every time I brought one of my bikes in for a tune up my mechanic would say the chain and cassette are worn and need replaced. Well i understand how to use a chain wear gage so I have no problem with chains being expendable. But it turns out that the recommendation to replace a given cassette varied from shop to shop. So what I’d like to see is a video instructing what to look for in terms of wear in a cassette (and chainrings for that matter) that makes the decision to replace it. Thanks - Tom
Status of this Request
Your website rocks! Finally, some easy to follow information that is easy for normal people that don’t have Phil’s Tenacious Oil running in their veins to follow!
Thank you so much for all the time and energy you put into this site. I really hope you’re going to make some money out of this because you surely deserve it.
Alex,
Your site rocks! I found an old road bike in the shed a previous roommate left behind and I have been working on it for the past week and your website has helped me out so much and I know I will continue to keep coming back to see how to fix other things. I don’t think I would have ever gotten that front wheel true without your tutorial. Thanks!
Hey man!
Great Site! I love my bike, but never had a clue how to fix things before.
YOU ROCK!
This is a great site. The whole look of your videos and simple layout is excellent. Keep up the good work mate.
Ireland