Fix It or Toss It? Rethinking the Culture of Reduce-Reuse-Repair in Cycling

We live in an era of unprecedented consumption. Every year, the global cycling industry introduces new drivetrains, new frame geometries, and new aerodynamic designs, telling us through sophisticated marketing strategies: you need to upgrade. Yet, when we pause to think, a simple truth emerges—most people’s joy in riding has almost nothing to do with how new their equipment is. This article explores a culture that is experiencing a revival within the global cycling community: buy less, use more, and fix what’s broken.

The Trap of Consumerism

The product lifecycle of the modern cycling industry is getting shorter. Take Shimano’s road drivetrains, for example—the frequency of updates over the past decade has accelerated noticeably:

• Dura-Ace 7900 (2008) → 9000 (2012) → R9100 (2016) → R9200 (2021) → R9300 (expected 2025)

Each new generation brings technical improvements, but does that mean the previous generation is no longer “usable”? Of course not. A well-maintained Shimano 105 (entry-level) drivetrain offers shifting precision and reliability sufficient to meet the needs of 99% of amateur riders. Yet, fueled by marketing, many still feel their “old” equipment isn’t good enough.

The environmental cost of this consumption pattern is enormous. According to estimates from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world generates more than 50 million tonnes of electronic waste annually, including a large quantity of sports electronics (cycling computers, heart rate straps, power meters, etc.) that have been discarded while still fully functional.

Reduce: Less Is More

“Reduce” is the most fundamental of the three R principles, yet also the most easily overlooked. Before purchasing, ask yourself: do I really need this?

Decluttering Your Gear List

Take a close look at your gear collection, and you might discover:

• Out of 5 jerseys, you regularly wear only 2-3
• Out of 3 pairs of cycling shoes, you truly like only 1
• Several unused inner tubes sitting in a drawer
• A bike in the garage that you plan to ride “someday” but hasn’t been touched in two years

Buying less doesn’t mean sacrificing quality or enjoyment. On the contrary, it means concentrating resources on the items you truly need and that are of high quality. One good jersey worn for 5 years is far more economical, more environmentally friendly, and more comfortable than five cheap jerseys each worn for one year.

The “One In, One Out” Principle

A simple yet effective method is to implement the “one in, one out” principle: for every new piece of gear you buy, sell or donate an old one. This principle not only keeps the total amount of gear in check but also forces you to think more carefully about whether you truly need something before purchasing.

Rethinking N+1

There’s a famous joke in the cycling world: the number of bikes you need is N+1, where N is the number you currently own. This joke reflects riders’ eternal desire for new bikes, but it also exposes the trap of consumerism.

Perhaps true happiness doesn’t lie in owning more bikes, but in understanding and enjoying the bike you have more deeply.

Reuse: Giving Old Items New Life

Before buying something new, consider whether your needs can be met through “reuse.”

Creative Reuse of Gear

Old jerseys: Worn jerseys can be repurposed into cleaning cloths, saddle covers, or used to wrap delicate components to prevent scratches.

Old inner tubes: Don’t rush to throw away punctured inner tubes. They can be used to:

• Make rim strips
• Cut into rubber bands for securing lights or luggage
• Wrap tool handles for better grip
• Create non-slip pads

Old chains: After cleaning, they can be made into unique keychains or decorative items. Some artists even create sculptures from old chains.

Old tires: Cut-open old tires can serve as backing pads for patch kits, shock-absorbing mats for toolboxes, or be turned into planters.

Cross-Bike Reuse of Components

When you upgrade components, old parts don’t necessarily have to be sold or discarded—they might be a perfect fit for another one of your bikes (commuter, trainer), or kept as spare parts. A wheelset removed from a race bike could serve for several more years on a commuter.

The Culture of “Gear Swaps”

Promote a culture of “gear swapping” within the cycling community—the parts you don’t need might be exactly what someone else is looking for. Organizing gear exchange events among riding buddies is not only environmentally friendly but also strengthens community bonds.

Repair: The Art and Value of Fixing

Repair is the most hands-on of the three R principles, and the one that deepens your connection with your equipment the most.

Basic Maintenance Skills: What Every Rider Should Know

Here are the basic maintenance skills every cyclist should master:

1. Fixing a flat: The most fundamental survival skill. A set of patch kits and a tire lever can rescue you from the misery of a roadside puncture
2. Adjusting brakes: Adjusting and replacing brake pads when they wear down
3. Adjusting shifting: Cable adjustments when shifting becomes rough
4. Replacing the chain: A stretched chain accelerates wear on the chainrings and cassette; replacing the chain regularly is actually a money-saving practice
5. Cleaning and lubrication: Regular cleaning and lubrication can dramatically extend the life of all components

Advanced Repairs: The Key to Extending Equipment Life

Wheelset truing: When a wheel develops a wobble (shimmy), it can often be fixed by adjusting spoke tension rather than replacing the entire wheelset. A spoke wrench (around NT$200) allows you to do this yourself.

Bearing replacement: The bearings in hubs, bottom brackets, and headsets are wear items, but the cost of replacing them is far lower than replacing the entire component. Learning to replace bearings yourself can greatly extend the life of these components.

Carbon fiber repair: Small areas of damage on carbon frames or components can be repaired using professional carbon repair techniques. Taiwan already has several professional carbon repair studios, and repair costs are typically only 10-20% of a new item.

Jersey repair: Damaged jerseys can be repaired with specialized elastic patches. Some brands (such as Patagonia’s Worn Wear program) even offer free repair services.

Community Bike Workshops

A movement of “Community Bike Workshops” is emerging around the world. These spaces provide tools and guidance, allowing people to repair their own bikes with the help of volunteers.

Notable examples include:

• Bike Kitchen: With locations in multiple US cities, it operates on the philosophy of “teaching you to fix” rather than “fixing it for you”
• London Bike Kitchen: London’s most famous community bike repair space, offering courses from beginner to advanced levels
• Biciclot: A community bike repair cooperative in Barcelona that also serves as a used parts trading hub

Such spaces are still rare in Taiwan, but some cycling clubs have begun holding regular repair workshops, planting the seeds of a community repair culture.

Brand Responsibility: Designing Repairable Products

The promotion of the three R culture cannot rest on consumers alone; brands must also take responsibility. A growing number of voices are calling on brands to:

Provide Parts Support

A bicycle’s lifespan should not be ended by the discontinuation of a single small part. Responsible brands should ensure long-term availability of parts, for at least 10 years or more.

Repairable Design

Product design should consider repairability. For example, using standard-spec screws rather than proprietary ones; using detachable connectors rather than permanent bonding; and providing complete repair guides in design manuals.

Extended Warranties

Longer warranty periods are not only a guarantee of quality but also a commitment by the brand to the philosophy of “long-term use.” Some brands have already begun offering lifetime warranties on frames.

Recycling Programs

Brands should establish comprehensive product take-back channels, allowing consumers to conveniently return end-of-life products for proper processing rather than tossing them into general waste.

From Cultural Shift to Systemic Change

Reduce-Reuse-Repair is not merely a matter of individual behavioral choice; it is a shift in culture and values. Within the cycling community, this shift is taking place in multiple forms:

The vintage bike movement: The global vintage cycling trend (such as the L’Eroica event) leads people to re-appreciate the aesthetics and craftsmanship of classic models, challenging the notion that “new is better.”

Minimalist riding: Some riders deliberately choose to simplify their gear—one bike, one kit, one tool bag—proving that joyful riding doesn’t require mountains of equipment.

DIY culture: The DIY culture of making your own frame bags, modifying frames, and crafting your own tools fosters a deeper connection between riders and their equipment.

Conclusion: The Most Eco-Friendly Gear Is the One You Already Own

In the context of sustainability, the most eco-friendly purchase is no purchase at all. That may sound extreme, but the core idea is this: before buying new gear, make full use of what you already have.

That bike you’ve ridden for five years might only need a thorough tune-up to feel brand new. That jersey with a small tear might only need a patch to keep going. Those slightly worn cycling shoes might only need a new set of cleats to last another three years.

Repairing is not a compromise—it’s a deeper form of appreciation. When you take the time to maintain your bike with your own hands, you come to understand every bolt, every bearing, every spoke. That understanding makes every ride a little more composed and grounded.

The best bike is not the most expensive one, nor the newest one—it’s the one you know best.

Related Reading

• Bike Trade-In and Upgrade Paths: Make Every Bike Swap Add Value
• Second-Hand Cycling Gear Market Guide: Buy and Sell Smart, Reduce Waste
• Repair or Replace? A Guide to Judging Bike Component Maintenance and Replacement
• Sustainable Fashion Rides into Cycling: A Tour of Eco-Friendly Jersey Brands and Green Textile Technology