International Repair Day. Fix it. Make it yours. Ride it.
This International Repair Day, Ritchey shares why DIY bike repair matters and how to get started with a few basic tools.
Fix it, don’t forget it.
Tom Ritchey spent years repairing tubular tires before he ever built his first bicycle. That early experience directly informs one of Tom’s guiding principles: good gear should be built to last, and riders should be able to keep it riding. And in that spirit, we're again rolling up our sleeves for International Repair Day, and we invite you to join us.
Chances are there is a bike in your basement or garage that needs some love. A tight headset here. A creak in the bottom bracket there. Maybe the tires look balder than your high school history teacher. As if the nuisance noises and poor performance weren’t motivation enough, International Repair Day, held every year on the third Saturday of October (the 17th this year), is the perfect excuse to finally do something about it.
What is International Repair Day?
At its core, International Repair Day is the worldwide recognition…well, celebration…of the right to repair stuff that you own. If it’s yours, you should be able to fix it, modify it, or upgrade it yourself without being forced to return it to the manufacturer or buy a new one. Repairing is cheaper, more sustainable, and more satisfying than replacing.
How did it start?
International Repair Day was launched in 2017 by the Open Repair Alliance, but the movement's roots go back several years before that, and it began with cars. Today’s automobiles are much less self-repair-friendly than they once were. And if car manufacturers have their way, you’ll be running to the dealership for even the smallest repairs, like swapping a headlight bulb or replacing a battery, jobs that once took a few minutes of work in the driveway. As modern vehicles became more computerized, independent mechanics and owners found themselves locked out of the diagnostic data they needed to repair them. In 2012, Massachusetts voters approved a “Right to Repair” ballot measure requiring auto manufacturers to share that data.
The movement snowballed from there: farmers wanted to fix their own tractors, consumers demanded that electronics be rid of glued-in batteries, and people wanted warranties to not be voided if they tried to repair anything themselves. Not only is International Repair Day a collective call for the right to repair, it’s also a celebration of the DIY spirit.
What is so great about fixing things yourself?
- Less Waste
- Every chain you clean instead of replacing and every inner tube you patch instead of throwing away is one less thing headed to the landfill. Bicycles are already among the most efficient machines ever invented. Keeping them rolling makes them even better.
- More Longevity
- You love your bike. We love your bike. Let’s strengthen that relationship! With just a little care, a good bike can outlive most other things in your house. We often see Ritchey bikes from the 1980s and 90s rolling around the world. They were built to last, and their owners are clearly doing a great job keeping them running.
- Deeper Satisfaction
- You’ll enjoy a proper sense of accomplishment in doing something yourself. Your heart will skip a beat when you hear the crisp sound of a chain dropping onto every cog after you adjust the derailleur. And you’ll love the feel of that fresh bar tape you wrapped yourself.
- Your Personality
- When you fix something on your bike or replace it with something of your own choosing, you give your ride a bit of your personality. Swap in a different saddle, wrap the bars in a color that makes you smile, or rebuild an old frame with a mix of new and vintage parts. You’re making it yours.
How can you learn more?
- Get local
- Community bike shops, often called bike kitchens or co-ops, are some of the best places to learn and connect with a larger local cycling family. These workspaces are usually stocked with repair stands, the right tools, spare parts, and most importantly, patient and experienced volunteers eager to show you the ropes. Before you know it, you might even be helping teach kids in the community how to build their own bikes - a common offering at bike co-ops.
- Open a Book
- There are plenty of bicycle repair manuals out there. Some are easy to follow, while others assume you know your way around a pro workshop. Our favorite is Tom Cuthbertson's Anybody's Bike Book. Originally published in 1971 and now available for free at the Internet Archive, it’s witty, welcoming, and wonderfully unintimidating.
- Watch and learn
- There is zero shame in heading to YouTube to watch the millions of free tutorials on how to do anything - including repairing, adjusting, and upgrading your bike. Play, pause, rewind, and replay at your own pace while experts show you how it’s done. We not-so-humbly suggest the Ritchey How To… playlist, but there are plenty of other great channels out there.
- Wait, there’s more! We have four fresh new How-To… videos for you!
Where to begin?
- A basic tool kit
- A set of hex keys, tire levers, a chain tool, a few wrenches, and a pump will handle most everyday fixes. Something like Park Tool's Home Mechanic Starter Kit will give you everything you need for just about all jobs. We also recommend a good multi-tool for trail- or roadside repairs.
- Try a stand
- A repair stand might not be necessary, but you’ll be glad to have one, as it’ll put your bike at a more comfortable height for working. Give Park Tool's Home Mechanic Repair Stand a look. It’s a great addition to your budding home workshop, and you can likely find a used one on Marketplace or your local classifieds for a fraction of the price of a new one.
Do It
Now you know where to look for help and what tools you need. Don’t be afraid of mistakes; that’s how you learn. Start small. Fix a flat. Clean and lube your chain. Adjust your brakes. Each job builds on the previous one, and if something doesn’t feel right or you get stuck, your local shop or co-op is always there to help.
This International Repair Day, give the bike in your garage, basement, or closet a little love. Get it running smoothly. Make it yours with a few upgrades. Learn something along the way, and keep it rolling for another few thousand miles. Tom's been doing all of that for over fifty years. We think you'll learn to love it too.
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