[davidktr]

> anyone can learn to fix them at home with very few tools

Everytime I read comments like this I feel dumb. I'm fixing my own bikes, but it takes a lot of time and quite a few tools. Just learning how to properly adjust the derailleur took me quite a few hours. Youtube university forgot to mention that Shimano GRX 400 front derailleur has intermediate gears.

Many bike parts are not really standardized. It seems almost impossible to know in advance whether some part fits on my bike, I mostly have to try. Also, manufacturers keep changing how certain things work, and then Youtube university may be misleading because they show a previous generation.

[em500]

Derailleur gears require more maintenance, and are IMO not worth the effort for city cycling. Get a bike with a hub gear (Shimano Nexus 8, which is more efficient than Nexus 7 or 3). If the terrain is flat enough, you could even opt for single gear. If you get a belt drive (instead of a chain), practically the only remaining maintenance are tires and brake pads.

[rob74]

+1 for hub gears - you just have to unlearn the habit of shifting gears while pedaling, because that can destroy your hub gear. And not lend your bike to anyone who might accidentally do that. Funnily enough, most bike sharing bicycles where I live have hub gears anyway, and many are in a pretty bad condition, I assume because they were used by people unaccustomed to hub gears...

[nicbou]

Hub gears are simply amazing. Combined with a belt drive, they require almost no maintenance and they are completely silent. The best part is shifting gears while stopped. It's really useful in the city.

I'm building a gravel bike with drop bars, disc brakes, a steel frame and an Alfine 11 hub gear and a belt drive. I can't wait to ride it.

[dirtyid]

+1 on internal hub + belt. Just waiting for electric drive options to get commodified. Though clicking on low/mid end hubs is really grating.

[18al]

Derailleurs are hard to debug.

The rear derailleur on my cycle wasn't shifting as expected, and so I spent an afternoon following YouTube and adjusting its limit screw and barrel adjuster to no avail.

Finally gave up and took it to a shop, the mechanic took the cable out of the housing, wiped it down, greased and put it back in; the derailleur starts shifting normally.

[berkes]

You make a good point often overlooked.

"Easy to repair" doesn't necessarily mean you or I can repair it easy. It might mean someone, preferably a local, independent business, can repair it easy.

[tetris11]

Depending on your city, there are ~~microworkshops~~ co-ops you can go visit full of troves of different second hand parts. You can rent some time there (~ 6 € for an hour) and they will give you all the tools you need to experiment and play with your own bike

[zikduruqe]

Or they are also known as bicycle co-ops.

[Fradow]

Derailleur adjusting is hell. Even my preferred bike shop cannot adjust mine correctly. We've come to an agreement: as long as the front derailleur doesn't change gear and the higher gear on the rear one work, it's okay. No point spending time getting it perfect since it will not stick anyway.

I used to do my own maintenance, but considering how cheap the bike shop is, I prefer to give them my bike to have good service and advices. Note that it's not out of laziness or lack of tools since I repair cars as a hobby, which require much more tooling and time. And also since my bike is my daily vehicle, I'd rather have it serviced by a pro.