Less time in the car, more time on the bike. Sound like a familiar goal?
Even when it comes to maintenance, many of us cyclists lean the same way, and the closest we come to a car mechanic is dropping off our car for an oil change, or listening to Click and Clack on public radio. We might do all our own maintenance on our bikes, but when it comes to cars, if we own or lease one, most of us will leave the wrenching on our four-wheel computerized vehicles to the experts with proper diagnostics, the right tools, parts and labor warranties and liability insurance.
That's just as well—many projects other than changing an air filter or wiper blades can be more complex than on a bicycle—and peace of mind and your time can't be discounted. Yet for any home bicycle mechanic, your local auto parts store is still worth a visit, and today for our latest, Mechanical Monday installment, we've got a few favorite reasons why.
An auto parts store is the last thing most of us think of when it comes to our two-wheel needs, but there are many reasons to venture inside. photo: I-5 Design and Manufacture on flickr
Make no mistake about it, an auto parts store can't replace your local bicycle shop in its life-saving ability when you break a part the day before a race, and local bike shops need your support to be there when you need them the most. However, most bike shops aren't stocked with all the items a home mechanic might need for a complicated project or pro setup. And while hardware stores carry some of these items, the selection is actually often more limited.
Sometimes it's even a matter of convenience, as there's more likely to be an auto parts store close by than a Home Depot, and there are more O'Reily, Napa or Advance Auto Parts locations than True Value or Ace Hardware franchises. And these stores tend to be open for extended hours, long after a bike shop has closed.
So roll up those sleeves, your roll-top backpack and your two wheels up to your local neighborhood auto parts store with some off our staff's shopping suggestions below. You'll be sure to get some staff attention in one way or another as the only grease monkey in lycra.
7 Reasons for Cyclists to Visit the Auto Parts Store:
Tooling Around
Car mechanics need all kinds of tools, whether it’s huge Allen wrenches, unique pliers or drill bits, and if you’re not careful, you might find yourself with tool envy and pulling out your credit card in preparation for any home mechanic scenario.
Find yourself at Step 6 of our SPD cleat removal guide or stuck with another pesky, seized bolt with a stripped head but don’t have the necessary tools? You can find bolt extractors and reverse drill bits at your local auto parts store, and often they have a better selection than a local hardware store.
Need to remove a C-clip and can’t get the right tool at your local bike shop? You’ll be overwhelmed with the options at an auto parts store, as car mechanics have to deal with C-clips on panels and trim all the time.
Some auto parts stores even lend or rent out tools. Call ahead. If it’s a one-off job, you might be able to still do it yourself, right in front of the store, without buying the tool.
Once you’ve got the bolt or part off, how do you keep the next one in place? Thread lockers of various strengths and colors, plus all the high-strength epoxies you might want, are typically available. They’ll tempt you to keep something in place forever, but think twice and apply once.
Need to keep a bolt in place? Want to repair a shoe? Or (gasp) keep a BB insert in place? Your local auto store might have more thread lockers and adhesives than your hardware store. © Cyclocross Magazine
