Gracie’s Wrench

If you are looking for the confidence to start working on your own bike, this is the place to get it. Tori Bortman (chief wrench at Gracie’s) is a great teacher who provides first rate instruction.
Prior to taking the class, I did a few minor adjustments on my own bike but usually took it to a local bike shop for everything else. Having recently spent way too much money on a mediocre repair job, I decided I wanted to learn how to do it myself. After looking around for available classes I chose Gracie’s Wrench because of the individualized attention (only two people per class) provided by Tori. I have taken other types of classes where there are so many people you might as well just read the book, that is not the case here. Tori will explain in detail how things work, but requires that you do the maintenance work yourself. This was invaluable to me because once the class was over I not only had the knowledge of how to take my bike apart, but also the confidence that I could put it back together.
You won’t leave this class a professional bike mechanic (I still have a lot to learn) but you will have the confidence to know that whether its routine maintenance, a full bike tune-​up or an on the road repair, you’ve got it covered.

I took Tori’s «Maintenance 101» course last spring and learned a ton. Going in, I knew how to change a flat (though she showed me a better way) and how to adjust the tension on a spoke just a little bit. The proof is in the pudding: After Tori’s series of classes, I knew just about enough to build up a bike on my own. With a little hand-​holding from a local bike shop, I built up my first bike at home, and I’ve ridden it all winter. I’m lovin’ my new bike-​mechanic knowledge, and my new bike. Plus, you can’t beat the cache of workin’ on your bike in the Vanilla Bike Shop!

This class has paid for itself more than once already by saving me $ I would have spent on service at my local bike shop! Tori’s class was game-​changing for my relationship with cycling — since taking her class, I’ve replaced a bottom bracket, a headset, swapped out a shifter set, trued my own wheels, and scores of other things that previously would have sent me scurrying to a mechanic. Plus it’s allowed me to identify issues before they become problems and upgrade components I never would have considered changing. Intimidation be gone! I still have tons to learn about wrenching, but thanks to the skills I gained from Gracie’s Wrench, I can now do all the small stuff myself and make smart choices about when to buck up for a pro mechanic. Moreover, when I do go to the LBS (for parts or service) I now have conversations with the mechanics about the work instead of passively handing over my ride and credit card.