Share your favorite "trick" - problem solvers

[weisan]

I did not come up with this obviously but for the longest time, I was sweating over putting quill stems through handlebar until I learned fairly recently of this trick of using the bolt to back into a coin to open up the slit...

https://janheine.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/stemopened.jpg?w=512&h=361

Excellent, clear step-by-step instructions from Jan:
https://janheine.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/inserting-a-handlebar-into-a-stem/

[ultraman6970]

Interesting because if you do it from the opposite side, you wont need the nut, but just the coin :)

Doesnt work with all the stems tho.

[oliver1850]

Use a short piece of cable twisted with locking pliers to compress and release quick links.

[Tony]

Use a thin zip tie through the valve stem to check sealant level. I drill three small holes in the zip tie to indicate one, two and three oz levels. The small channels in the zip tie holds the fluid nicely.

[tiretrax]

Redo quick releases when I my bb creaks.

[seanile]

Use a short piece of cable twisted with locking pliers to compress and release quick links.

you only need to squeeze them with a plier at an angle so that the plier contacts the [short] edges of the quicklinks on the side with the fixed pin, and gives the other side enough room to slide without contacting the inside of the mouth of the pliers.

[keevon]

For quick links, I swear by the binder clip method:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pYrK7DOkCk

[Lewis Moon]

I did not come up with this obviously but for the longest time, I was sweating over putting quill stems through handlebar until I learned fairly recently of this trick of using the bolt to back into a coin to open up the slit...

https://janheine.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/stemopened.jpg?w=512&h=361

Excellent, clear step-by-step instructions from Jan:
https://janheine.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/inserting-a-handlebar-into-a-stem/

I do this too. It also works for some seatpost clamps.

[Lewis Moon]

I have a spoke with a 90 degree bend to help me fish the chain correctly through the jockey pulleys.

[bart998]

After a ride, I wipe down my frame with Lemon Pledge. Leaves the bike clean and shiny with a fresh lemon scent.

[bostondrunk]

For quick links, I swear by the binder clip method:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pYrK7DOkCk

Why not just buy the kmc (or generic) quick link tool?? Not exactly expensive...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ca/en/kmc-missing-link-remover-pliers/rp-prod46600?gs=1&gclid=CjwKEAiA6YDBBRDwtpTQnYzx5lASJAC57ObM4m2_3xL4 JYMIRO08pz6B63FIrjwsUwW9LOkoIIa9YhoCN-vw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[zmudshark]

After a ride, I wipe down my frame with Lemon Pledge. Leaves the bike clean and shiny with a fresh lemon scent.

That bees love!

[batman1425]

4 in section of coat hanger wire with a bend in each end to hold the tension in the chain while you install/remove quick links/pins.

Picked that up from my friend/bianchi rep that was helping out with a mystery shifting problem. Made 3 of them when I got home and put them in my various tool kits.

[tctyres]

4 in section of coat hanger wire with a bend in each end to hold the tension in the chain while you install/remove quick links/pins.

Picked that up from my friend/bianchi rep that was helping out with a mystery shifting problem. Made 3 of them when I got home and put them in my various tool kits.

Yeah, I just did this recently ... very helpful. Also, those Park quick link pliers are worth it, imo.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Yeah, I just did this recently ... very helpful. Also, those Park quick link pliers are worth it, imo.

I just discovered this as it was part of a 11s pocket chain tool. I didn't even know what it was for a while. Later gave myself a well earned forehead slap.

https://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/product-images-large/topeak-super-chain-tool-3525.jpg

[rusty1200]

Use a folded up dollar bill as an internal tire patch for a sliced tire. It will get you home.

[batman1425]

Use a folded up dollar bill as an internal tire patch for a sliced tire. It will get you home.

Can also use the wrapper from an energy bar in a pinch.

[batman1425]

Couple others:

A few wraps of duct tape around your frame/mini pump handle or CO2 cartridges. Lots of on the road/trail uses for duct tape.

Fill up an old screw type closure contact lens case with sunscreen for on road re-applications (credit to Matt Stephens of GCN for that one).

[Bob Ross]

Fill up an old screw type closure contact lens case with sunscreen for on road re-applications (credit to Matt Stephens of GCN for that one).

Several of the women I ride with use the double contact lens cases: L = sunscreen, R = chamois cream.

It honestly never occured to me to replenish my chamois cream mid-ride, but to hear them tell it, "reapplication is bliss"

[mcteague]

Years ago, I had a flat and the spare tube was also bad. The glue in the patch kit had dried up. I tied a knot in the tube with the puncture on the outside of the knot. Shoved the tube back in the tire, stretched it around the rim and pumped it up. It held the pressure for the approx 5 miles I had to get home.

Tim

[Spaceman Spiff]

For quick links, I swear by the binder clip method:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pYrK7DOkCk

That is genius!

[nooneline]

I carry a plastic baggie full of stem bolts, chainring bolts, and other metal odds and ends in my track sack.

And if a bike fails the weigh-in portion of bikecheck (in events where UCI rules apply), I jam those baggies up the seatpost.

Not my bike - I know it passes. But I've done that with friends.

Pretty sure I've lost one of those baggies up a friend's seatpost though.

[aaronf]

Use a folded up dollar bill as an internal tire patch for a sliced tire. It will get you home.

Hundreds work best. :)

[markoprotic]

After a ride, I wipe down my frame with Lemon Pledge. Leaves the bike clean and shiny with a fresh lemon scent.

Also works good on titanium frames. You have a very nice habit bart998.

[schwa86]

I have had great success using one of these as a chain whip. It grabs the sprocket quite well and gives decent leverage.

http://http://t.harborfreight.com/12-in-ratcheting-bar-clampspreader-62123.html?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.c om%2F (http://t.harborfreight.com/12-in-ratcheting-bar-clampspreader-62123.html?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.c om%2F)

[ripvanrando]

Anyone have tricks to fish new cables thru confounded aero frames? I get the cables to the BB area and then used a bent up spoke to fish and route it but what a PITA. I have tried to find a small narrow tube to to use as a snake but no luck. Like super glue it to the old cable, pull the old cable out and then use the tube as a snake/guide for the new one.

There has to be a trick.

e-Tap?

[oldpotatoe]

Anyone have tricks to fish new cables thru confounded aero frames? I get the cables to the BB area and then used a bent up spoke to fish and route it but what a PITA. I have tried to find a small narrow tube to to use as a snake but no luck. Like super glue it to the old cable, pull the old cable out and then use the tube as a snake/guide for the new one.

There has to be a trick.

e-Tap?

Vacuum cleaner...

[Cicli]

Anyone have tricks to fish new cables thru confounded aero frames? I get the cables to the BB area and then used a bent up spoke to fish and route it but what a PITA. I have tried to find a small narrow tube to to use as a snake but no luck. Like super glue it to the old cable, pull the old cable out and then use the tube as a snake/guide for the new one.

There has to be a trick.

e-Tap?

I heat shrink the end of the old one to a piece of floss. Pull through and tape the end to the frame. Reverse to reinstall.

[Dude]

Fishing cables can be a pain. I do 2 things. 1 bend the end of the new cable a little bit so it will catch the edge of a hole. The second thing is before you pull out the old cables, strip 4 feet of shifter housing ( remove the outer rubber and all of the wires) and you're left with just the inner liner. Feed that around the old cables, pull old cables leaving liner in place, then feed new cable through liner. You can even leave the liner on there as a guide next time you need to change the cable.

[oldpotatoe]

Use a folded up dollar bill as an internal tire patch for a sliced tire. It will get you home.

In boulder gotta be a $5 bill..:D

[Brian Cdn]

In boulder gotta be a $5 bill..:D

Same for $5 dollar (cdn) bill here...
Loonies and Twoonies wont work.

[Gummee]

used this one a few months ago when I flatted on a gravel road:

If you have presta caps on your valves, you can cut the tip off, turn that end down, thread it on the valve, and use a regular compressor to fill your tube

Hope you never need that tidbit, but it my come in handy one day

M

[tctyres]

used this one a few months ago when I flatted on a gravel road:

If you have presta caps on your valves, you can cut the tip off, turn that end down, thread it on the valve, and use a regular compressor to fill your tube

Hope you never need that tidbit, but it my come in handy one day

M

I have used that. My frame pump crapped out, so I walked to the nearest gas station. I walked away 50 cents later with my tube full.

All you rich people wadding up money in your tires :D ... I have a few Tyvek USPS envelopes cut up in my seat bag explicitly for this purpose. I also buy the large bags of Asian rice. These bags are super tough. I cut the last one up for some spare tire boots.

[weisan]

I am really enjoying some of the neat tricks mentioned so far, thanks for sharing!

[franswa]

Was traveling with my bike and resorted to using this method.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5348/30237203414_d4b035cffb_c.jpg

[Tandem Rider]

I have used that. My frame pump crapped out, so I walked to the nearest gas station. I walked away 50 cents later with my tube full.

All you rich people wadding up money in your tires :D ... I have a few Tyvek USPS envelopes cut up in my seat bag explicitly for this purpose. I also buy the large bags of Asian rice. These bags are super tough. I cut the last one up for some spare tire boots.

I carry a square of Tyvek house wrap just for a tire boot. Tougher than a bill, free, and also impervious to water.

[neby2016]

I use liquid electrical tape to coat the ends of my cut cables if I'm out of the crimp-style metal ends.

It comes off easily when needed but stays on quite well.

[cmbicycles]

Anyone have tricks to fish new cables thru confounded aero frames? I get the cables to the BB area and then used a bent up spoke to fish and route it but what a PITA. I have tried to find a small narrow tube to to use as a snake but no luck. Like super glue it to the old cable, pull the old cable out and then use the tube as a snake/guide for the new one.

There has to be a trick.

e-Tap?
I have the campy version, but this magnetic kit from Park is a bit nicer looking and more generic to work on other systems besides campy electric.
http://www.parktool.com/product/internal-cable-routing-kit-ir-1-2?category=New%20Products
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161109/1eb86f67e9a3177b1d89ecd222a1e4c7.jpg

[weisan]

I put two tricks that were shared here immediately into practice recently, so thank you, never underestimate what you know and how it can help someone some day.

[William]

Anyone have tricks to fish new cables thru confounded aero frames? I get the cables to the BB area and then used a bent up spoke to fish and route it but what a PITA. I have tried to find a small narrow tube to to use as a snake but no luck. Like super glue it to the old cable, pull the old cable out and then use the tube as a snake/guide for the new one.

There has to be a trick.

e-Tap?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9vxE1NJoUc

:beer:






William

[AllanVarcoe]

weisan, awesome topic!!!!

Back in my BMX days I used to carry a super tiny C Clamp and 2 pieces of thin plastic (I think it was a cut up bleach bottle) in my backpack for lightly compressing patches on tubes. My patches NEVER failed!!!

Also in my BMX backpack was a short section, maybe 3 or 4 inches, of tire with the beads cut off in case I tore a tire. Stuff it inside the tire. It'll get you a LONG way home! I do the same in my saddle bag now. Just be sure to have a smaller tire segment than the one you are running.

[weaponsgrade]

I made a thru-axle adapter for my bike stand using a block of scrap wood, zip ties, and a scrap of electrical tubing. The "adapter" still shifts a bit, but I didn't want to permanently glue it down. Version 2 will have another zip tie in front of the axle piece.