Wrenching 101

An intro for cyclists who ride confidently and wrench... less so. Presented by Mettle Cycling

About the evening

One evening. Eight topics. The stuff you have wondered about but never prioritized. We will cover the fundamentals of your bike (how it is built, how it wears, and how to keep it running) without assuming you have been in a shop before.

DateMay 12
TimeTime TBD
LocationLocation TBD

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The evening

On the agenda

Bike types and geometry

Road, gravel, and cyclocross bikes look similar until they don't. Frame geometry, wheel clearance, and intended use all shape how a bike rides, and which one is right for yours.

Frame materials

Carbon, steel, and aluminum aren't just marketing language. Each has real riding characteristics, cost tradeoffs, and a different relationship with road vibration and the repair bill.

Fit basics

Most fit problems announce themselves as neck pain, hand numbness, or saddle discomfort. We will cover riding position fundamentals and how to know when a small adjustment fixes it.

Drivetrain types

Road 2x, gravel 1x, and everything in between. Gear ratios explained in terms of what actually matters on a climb, or out of one.

Drivetrain maintenance

When and how to clean your chain, what products to use, and why waxed chains outlast traditional lube by a significant margin.

Tire talk

Counterintuitively, wider tires roll faster. We will cover contact patches, rolling resistance, and how to pick the right tire for your terrain.

Adjustments and diagnosis

Mechanical and electronic. How to diagnose indexing issues, trim a brake, and recognize the difference between needs adjustment and needs a shop.

Pre-ride checks

Two minutes before every ride. What to look for, what to feel for, and the three things that fail most often before they fail on you.

Bike anatomy

Interactive frame diagram

Click any element to see its dimension and understand its function.

Select a measurement