Living Car Free - Idiot's guide

I've been riding around town on my heavy commuter (heavy tires, big lights) on terrible road conditions and for at least the last 5 days I have been noticing how little power I have. I'm using the granny gear constantly.

This evening I decide to clean and lube the chain, so after I spray on some Simple Green, I give the crank a spin to move the chain a little...

Doh :mad:

I've been riding for more than a week with serious brake rub. I freed the damn brake and went for a spin and I felt like a new man.

Has this ever happened to you? Especially in that I feel all superior about being out on my bike this time of year and then such a blow to my ego.

Only in the last 6 months or so have i began attempting simple adjustments and repairs on my bike. At one point I could not for the life of me get my rear brake adjusted so that it did not rub when I spun the wheel.... After trying a few more time at different "repair session" I finally caved and took it to the LBS. Turns out I had a broken spoke! Nice huh? I wonder how many miles I rode it like that?

Yeah, I have to admit it's happened to me.

For five minutes...not five days. :p

I had it happen for about 50 minutes on a long ride. "Man, I'm getting old...."

yeah, i have to admit it's happened to me.

For five minutes...not five days. :p

+1

Turns out I had a broken spoke! Nice huh? I wonder how many miles I rode it like that?

Broken spokes are strange. In my younger years I was known to ride for months on one. But occasionally I've had them where as soon as the spoke broke, the wheel was so warped that walking was my only option.

Cheap wheels and poverty finally led me to buy a wheel truing stand and put some serious study in how to use it.

Broken spokes are strange. In my younger years I was known to ride for months on one. But occasionally I've had them where as soon as the spoke broke, the wheel was so warped that walking was my only option.

Cheap wheels and poverty finally led me to buy a wheel truing stand and put some serious study in how to use it.

As you know, you can use your rim brakes as a crude truing stand. Just spin the wheel slowly as you watch the gap between the brake pad and the rim. You'll see where the rim is rubbing or out of true.

Only in the last 6 months or so have i began attempting simple adjustments and repairs on my bike. At one point I could not for the life of me get my rear brake adjusted so that it did not rub when I spun the wheel.... After trying a few more time at different "repair session" I finally caved and took it to the LBS. Turns out I had a broken spoke! Nice huh? I wonder how many miles I rode it like that?

Zeppinger--If you adjust your brakes 20 times and they're still rubbing, chances are it's the rim rubbing because there's something wrong with the wheel. (If you're real lucky it might just be a twig or a used condom stuck in there.)

Another possibility is that the inner tube is bulging out of the tire bead enough to rub against the brake. If this is the case, be prepared to hear a loud BANG!! And you'll need to replace that tube, not patch it.

Worst case scenario--the rim is actually cracked. You'll be walking home and buying a new wheel.

I've been riding around town on my heavy commuter (heavy tires, big lights) on terrible road conditions and for at least the last 5 days I have been noticing how little power I have. I'm using the granny gear constantly.

This evening I decide to clean and lube the chain, so after I spray on some Simple Green, I give the crank a spin to move the chain a little...

Doh :mad:

I've been riding for more than a week with serious brake rub. I freed the damn brake and went for a spin and I felt like a new man.

Has this ever happened to you? Especially in that I feel all superior about being out on my bike this time of year and then such a blow to my ego.
Fairly soon after taking up cycling, I got into what was supposed to be a casual ride, that turned into something of a race, ( whodathunkit? ) I almost... beat him to the top of the hill, then had to stop near the the peak with exhaustion, while standing there, gasping, straddling the bike, it occurred to me that despite being on a fairly steep slope, the bike showed no inclination to roll, I pushed it and discovered that despite having adjusted everything before setting out, the cheap brakes were rubbing heavily. It was all I could do to not hurl the thing into the weeds. After the ride, I found out where he had bought his puegot, and ordered the same bike. Much nicer ride.

Zeppinger--If you adjust your brakes 20 times and they're still rubbing, chances are it's the rim rubbing because there's something wrong with the wheel. (If you're real lucky it might just be a twig or a used condom stuck in there.)

Another possibility is that the inner tube is bulging out of the tire bead enough to rub against the brake. If this is the case, be prepared to hear a loud BANG!! And you'll need to replace that tube, not patch it.

Worst case scenario--the rim is actually cracked. You'll be walking home and buying a new wheel.

Yeah since that incident I have learned quite a lot by volunteering as a bike mechanic at the local Bicycle Kitchen! I know how to true a wheel now, replace all my cables, even learned a lot about the BB! Small steps I know, but at least I am moving in the right direction.

As you know, you can use your rim brakes as a crude truing stand. Just spin the wheel slowly as you watch the gap between the brake pad and the rim. You'll see where the rim is rubbing or out of true.

Yep, and I always found that a big yellow construction crayon was the best way to mark the high points, then it could be wiped off and the rim tested again. Crayolas are just too waxy and thin.

Just hold the crayon near the rim as you spin it so it only rubs on the high point. Use the brake pad to steady the crayon.

Fairly soon after taking up cycling, I got into what was supposed to be a casual ride, that turned into something of a race, ( whodathunkit? ) I almost... beat him to the top of the hill, then had to stop near the the peak with exhaustion, while standing there, gasping, straddling the bike, it occurred to me that despite being on a fairly steep slope, the bike showed no inclination to roll, I pushed it and discovered that despite having adjusted everything before setting out, the cheap brakes were rubbing heavily. It was all I could do to not hurl the thing into the weeds. After the ride, I found out where he had bought his puegot, and ordered the same bike. Much nicer ride.

It is kind of amazing what a difference a decent bike can make. I'd been riding a very old, dirt-cheap, road-adapted MTB for years, and liked it just fine, until I got an LHT (not a super high-end bike, but still quite good), and, after a day or two, I simply couldn't ride the hybrid any more, not even as a winter bike.

Yeah since that incident I have learned quite a lot by volunteering as a bike mechanic at the local Bicycle Kitchen! I know how to true a wheel now, replace all my cables, even learned a lot about the BB! Small steps I know, but at least I am moving in the right direction.
That's a great way to learn enough wrenching to keep your bike on the road. I've been volunteering lately at mine and have learned quite a lot. Although apparently it just takes me a while to figure things out. :o


Yep, and I always found that a big yellow construction crayon was the best way to mark the high points, then it could be wiped off and the rim tested again. Crayolas are just too waxy and thin.

Just hold the crayon near the rim as you spin it so it only rubs on the high point. Use the brake pad to steady the crayon.

Great idea for a cheap truing solution since frequently the brakes aren't quite close enough. Just remember to use the crayon on both sides since a cavity on one side is a bulge on the other.