Fifty Plus (50+) - Duct tape, WD-40, zip ties, and?

Now that I've discovered how easy it is to have an assortment of zip ties around, and how invaluable they are (for example, with my helmet mounted Take A Look mirror), they've been added to my list of indispensables, like duct tape and WD-40.

If it moves and it shouldn't - Duct tape.

If it doesn't move and it should - WD-40.

If it falls off and it shouldn't - zip ties.

What else belongs on this list?

I would not use duct tape on anything other than ducting and never on my bike. WD40 belongs in a car mechanics garage and zip ties are a necessary evil to hold on devices from manufacturers that lack the imagination to create a better alternative. I miss Steve Jobs and wish I could buy my bikes and all electronics from Apple.

I must say, I can't think of any circumstances in which I'd be applying duct tape to my bike. I'm not quite so anti-WD40 as is Hermes, though if it's useful, things have been pretty neglected. Zip ties are useful for lots of things.

Personally, my go-everywhere spare is a rear hanger. Ever since I snapped one in a crash and was two days away from a dealer that stocked my brand of bike. A very strong argument for standardisation, but until that happy day, I have one in my saddlepack with my tools.

I understand your jest about duct tape, WD-40, and zip ties, so in the spirit of things I would say Windex and toilet paper needs to be added to the list. :lol:

I would not use duct tape on anything other than ducting and never on my bike. WD40 belongs in a car mechanics garage and zip ties are a necessary evil to hold on devices from manufacturers that lack the imagination to create a better alternative. I miss Steve Jobs and wish I could buy my bikes and all electronics from Apple.

You'd need to spend a whole lot more money if this were the case. I do, however, appreciate your sentiments. There seems to be a trend today where many companies will take an idea only so far, without going the distance and paying attention to the details.

Gaffer's tape, and 3 in 1 oil are a step up.

add Baling/safety wire.

and for rider 'Ow-ies', gauze bandage pads and ace elastic bandages.

I understand your jest about duct tape, WD-40, and zip ties, so in the spirit of things I would say Windex and toilet paper needs to be added to the list. :lol:

Thank you. Of course I wasn't really suggesting duct tape for bike repairs, etc. Just a list of general repair items for around the house. I like your additions - I use Windex for all kinds of things!

On a serious note, I never go anywhere without a pocket knife. (Well, that is expect for commercial flights, and even then, there is one in my checked luggage.) I can think of at least three times while cycling when a pocket knife came in handy. 1. Riding partner went down and had major road rash on his right thigh and his shorts were in shreds. We were able to take his jersey and strap it to his injured hip by cutting and splitting about half a length of bar tape off one side of his handle bars and tying him back together as it were. 2. Rider was wearing shoes with laces that got so badly tangled in her drive train that it seemed almost impossible to get them out. Was able to carefully cut away portions of the shoe lace and still have enough for her to keep her shoe relatively snug for the ride home. 3. I needed to cut a larger boot patch for a sidewall rip in my rear tire than the one I carry in my seat bag. I was more than willing to cut a section of the insoles in my shoe to do the job. The insole was easily replaced later.

I've found that a small bit of duct tape does wonders in keeping the headlight lens assembly from unscrewing itself from the rest of the headlight when subjected to vibration. It's a pity that there are no SAE specs for bicycle electric systems. Anyhow, I'd also include Loctite in the list.

Thank you. Of course I wasn't really suggesting duct tape for bike repairs, etc. Just a list of general repair items for around the house. I like your additions - I use Windex for all kinds of things!

I thought this was a cycling forum. Well, we all make mistakes.

Another handy item to have around the house is super glue and 5 Minute epoxy.

I would not use duct tape on anything other than ducting and never on my bike. WD40 belongs in a car mechanics garage and zip ties are a necessary evil to hold on devices from manufacturers that lack the imagination to create a better alternative. I miss Steve Jobs and wish I could buy my bikes and all electronics from Apple.

yeah but then you could only ride your bike on approved roadways (apps) and you would have to buy parts at an iBike shop... and there may only be one in your city.

I thought this was a cycling forum. Well, we all make mistakes.

Apparently, the mistake is mine. I was just offering a light-hearted post. I guess I should have flagged it OT. Sorry to ruffle your feathers!

Best reason I can think of for Duct tape is to repair tire gashes. I keep a bit of Duct tape wrapped around every one of my different bike pumps just for this reason... Oh sure the old dollar bill trick works... if you remember to carry a dollar bill... what if all you have is twenties, from the last ATM visit?

A couple of layers of duct tape inside the tire at the location of any serious cut can help you limp home a pretty good distance. That fully justifies Duct Tape on my bike.

WD-40 is for the chain of that good looking lady that you happen to see squeaking down the same road in the same direction as you. Otherwise, it really isn't that great a lubricant.

A good multi-tool and a patch kit will round out the list nicely.

Velcro straps. Gotta love Velcro. Oh! And a pair of long shoelaces to tie your rolled up jacket to your saddle or saddlebag when it starts to warm up on your ride.

Apparently, the mistake is mine. I was just offering a light-hearted post. I guess I should have flagged it OT. Sorry to ruffle your feathers!

My feathers are fine and do not get ruffled at all. If you or others want to dilute the cycling content of the forum, and the mods and owners do not care, I am fine with it. Quite frankly, I thought the subject matter had something to do with your frustration with, ahem, the mirror problem. I think "stuff" we buy should work well and have great design at the onset.

Best reason I can think of for Duct tape is to repair tire gashes. I keep a bit of Duct tape wrapped around every one of my different bike pumps just for this reason... Oh sure the old dollar bill trick works... if you remember to carry a dollar bill... what if all you have is twenties, from the last ATM visit?

A couple of layers of duct tape inside the tire at the location of any serious cut can help you limp home a pretty good distance. That fully justifies Duct Tape on my bike.

When I was teaching tire repair classes I used to tell people that it's better to use a $20 than a $1.00. Either one is just a temporary repair. If you've used a $20.00 you're more likely to do a permanent repair when you get home.

Gaffer's tape . . .

+1 on the Gaffer tape. Enough people have discovered the many virtues of a tape that adheres pretty well and easily removes leaving little or no residue behind that it's even available now in some home improvement and hardware stores.

I would not use duct tape on anything other than ducting and never on my bike...
You can use it on ductwork??? Who knew?
I wouldn't stick it on any part of my bike or anything painted, but it's awfully handy for damaged tires, tents, sleeping bags, raingear, panniers and the like. I like the flat-packed precut squares instead of a bulky roll.

Goop (works great for sticking mirrors to helmets) and I've given up Windex in favor of windshield washer fluid as it works at least as well and is around $1 a gallon.

Small-diameter bungee cord.

#4. A good safeword...

Plastic grocery bags. They are good for covering your Brooks saddle, stashing anything that needs to stay dry, and even work as emergency booties. They can be easily carried on a bike and are practically weightless.

I was gonna say baling wire but someone beat me to it.

Super glue?

What else belongs on this list?

You live in San Diego with the Navy and Marines there, you should know... ;)

If it moves, salute it. If it doesn't move, pick it up. If you can't pick it up, paint it.

add Baling/safety wire.

+1, I've pulled a bicycle frame back together with baling wire, after the downtube pulled out of the bottom bracket, and got another month's use out of it. That got me through college graduation + 3 days.

I can't believe this! All of us old school cyclists, and nobody has mentioned the 1001 uses for a toe strap. I guess going clipless has made us all forget them.

What's a toe strap...

What's a toe strap...

antique leather bondage device...

You live in San Diego with the Navy and Marines there, you should know... ;)

If it moves, salute it. If it doesn't move, pick it up. If you can't pick it up, paint it.

:lol::lol::lol:

Frame Pump . . . puts FREE air into my tubes!

I was on a bike tour (Colorado Springs, to Santa Fe, NM. and back), with my church when I was a early teenager, we were pretty poor so I could afford was a "Columbia" 10 speed. On the way home, the frame cracked in 3 places, if it weren't for "duct tape", I'd probably still be wandering around NM. some place, LOL! :)

My feathers are fine and do not get ruffled at all. If you or others want to dilute the cycling content of the forum, and the mods and owners do not care, I am fine with it. Quite frankly, I thought the subject matter had something to do with your frustration with, ahem, the mirror problem. I think "stuff" we buy should work well and have great design at the onset.No likey, no clicky.

I miss Steve Jobs and wish I could buy my bikes and all electronics from Apple.

But of course you do. And that says a lot about you.:50:

I'm in the iPhone camp.

I'll go with the zip strips....I use them to mount my mini-pump but I do put black electrical tape under the strips to protect the paint.

I'll trade out the WD-40 for my long time favority Marvel's Mystery Oil. If there is something that needs lubing and especially cleaning, this stuff removes the dirty grease and it lubes. Good stuff.

http://youtu.be/oqFUxO9XuTw

Gaffer's tape, and 3 in 1 oil are a step up.

add Baling/safety wire.

and for rider 'Ow-ies', gauze bandage pads and ace elastic bandages.

Apparently there are a few of us geezers who have some rural roots. Zip ties are great for many uses but when you have to lash Item A to Item B and make them stay there are few things that can improvise and stay like a few turns of bailing wire! Plus it adds character to anything you should choose to apply it to!

I also like the suggestion of a pocket knife. I always have a Swiss Army style pocket knife in my bike tool kit. Ya never know what you'll run into! :bike2:

I hear condoms can be used as emergency canteens. Probably other uses for them as well.

I always have a Swiss Army style pocket knife in my bike tool kit. Ya never know what you'll run into! :bike2:
:thumb:

Velcro straps. Gotta love Velcro. Oh! And a pair of long shoelaces to tie your rolled up jacket to your saddle or saddlebag when it starts to warm up on your ride.


I've made several good looking mounting straps using black velcro, super glue and old tubes. The adhesive that comes on the velcro doesn't work real well sticking to butyl tubes.

In the side pockets of my trunk bag I keep a small first aid kit, trail map, small notebook and pencil, epipen (for people with severe bee/wasp allergies), and a few of those nasty plastic grocery bags to keep the camera and other things dry in case of rain.

+1 on the pocket knife. I carry a Benchmade Mini griptilian in my saddle bag or a Spyderco Endura in my jacket chest pocket. Always have a small set of fold-out hex wrenches, which are one of the most used tools I carry. And last but not least, a couple of squares of old inner tube which I will use here or there to stop a squeak or creak until I can get home and make a proper adjustment (for example, my can of pepper spray in its mount rattling against the handle bar).

Zip ties, duct tape, WD-40 are all fine around the house but aren't really bike useful for me. Well, except maybe the zip ties, which I use to hold down cables on the frame. And Loctite is the cyclist's friend. Nothing I hate more than riding along and hearing my bike light hit the ground behind me because a mounting screw shook loose.

I keep a small tube of Vaseline / Aquaphor in my saddle bags. I was once in a doctor's office and they had free 1/4 oz tubes of Aquaphor, I took four.

I've used them on chapped lips, scrapes, chaffing, to lube a couple of squeaks on my bikes and a friend's seat post, to help take grease off of my hands if I've had to work on my chain while on a ride, and for dry skin.

I've also used small tubes of triple anti-biotic ointment in the same way.

Very handy, takes up almost no space.

gaffer tape and velcro straps are a good step up .
Used a lot of those in photo lighting rigging .
I use straps over bungees because they are more secure .

Thank you. Of course I wasn't really suggesting duct tape for bike repairs, etc. Just a list of general repair items for around the house. I like your additions - I use Windex for all kinds of things!

Well, you could certainly understand why people would think your were referencing bikes. Since these are, mostly, cycling forums........you didn't specify anything in your original post.....

+1 on superglue.

In a carbon fibre bike there is always some point where carbon is glued to metal - they always eventually come unglued simply because this is exactly what you want not to happen. Have patched friends bikes for a limp home a couple of times.

If it moves and it shouldn't - Duct tape.

If it doesn't move and it should - WD-40.

If it falls off and it shouldn't - zip ties.

What else belongs on this list?


Beer. If you should fall down and you haven't...

I suggest a Dahon or other fold up bike mounted on the rear rack. That should handle most emergencies.

We had a saying in Dirt Bikes, if you can't fix it with duct tape, WD-40, Vice-Grips and bailing wire you don't need it. Duct tape was called 500 MPH tape in the USMC air wing since we used it to patch up wings, fuselages and rotor blades in order to make flight status.

Bill