u/KoloMinuu

I went for a walk on some single track trails today with my wife and my dog and during the whole hike I couldn't shake the feeling that I was doing something wrong lol.

I constantly was aware of my surroundings and yielded to any bikers.

The single track here is soooo nice and such nice trails into the wooded areas.

Very familiar with removal/installation and general experience with square taper cranks and bb.

Do not have any experience with hollowtech external bb. Any tips you guys can share before I install it?

I have ordered the following:

Shimano Cues FC-U6000 crank set

Shimano BB-MT501

16-notch bb tool

Shimano Crank assembly FC-960/760 Ultegra TL-FC16 (cap tool)

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Novice here, but I thought you would all enjoy this story.

I replaced the crankset on my fixed gear/singlespeed bike the other day. I hand-tightened the 8mm bolt. I went for a ride around the neighborhood, and it felt fine.

I decided to go out for a longer ride. It was supposed to be 20-ish miles out and the same back. About 5 miles in, I noticed a knocking feeling in the cranks. Then, around 9 miles out, the rubber seal around the 8mm bolt fell out. I stopped to pick it up and noticed the left crank arm was wobbly.

I transformed into a hiker for three miles as I walked back to a bike repair station. I hand-tightened the crank arm and jumped back on the bike.

I kept pedaling, then about half a mile later I felt and heard grinding coming from the left crank arm. A few more miles in, the arm became wobbly again.

I turned into a hiker again and made it to another bike repair station. Same story. I tightened the bolt and had about four miles left until I got back home.

I jumped back on the bike and pedaled on. Same story. About half a mile in, the grinding came back and got worse. The arm became wobbly, and I started hiking through the woods. I decided to jump back on the bike and pedal with just my right leg. I made it fairly far until I got close to home and couldn't take it anymore, so I started pedaling with both legs. I could feel and see the left crank arm sliding off the bottom bracket.

It sounded like it was in pain. Anyways, I made it all the way to the front of my house, where the left crank arm finally decided to fall off. Needless to say, I now need a new crank arm and a new bottom bracket.

Happy Fourth!

I have a 2012 giant talon 29r and want some new handlebars, tune up, amongst some other things.

My knowledge is lacking, but I can always research online for easier upgrades like handlebars. The biggest caveat is not having the correct tools.

Unrelated to MTB but I wanted to swap out the crankset or fix the stripped threading on my singlespeed and it ends up costing more to do it yourself than to go to a shop.

So I'm curious for people that seldom tinker, do you take it upon yourself for upgrades and repairs or do you take it to a bike shop?

Edit: I see everyone so far backing doing it yourself and learning. Do y'all recommend those $50ish amazon bike repair tool kits?