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Have you ever been this stupid.

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Old 07-31-11, 06:46 AM
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Have you ever been this stupid.

I am reasonable wretch and even build my own wheels but yesterday on a long hilly century I was really dumb. I used my 2nd bike because the tires were almost new and did not want to take chances. Well before the ride I give it the once over and notice my rear derailler ( ultegra 10 spd) does not want to always like into the 11 tooth cog like I want. So I made a small adjustment and seem ok.

Well I start the 100 and notice that the rear shifting is not great on the last 4 small cogs. No problem right? In the interest of a fast time I will use the old barrell adjust and get it tuned perfect. Well I go at it and it only seems to make things worse and I am getting rub on the front derailler. Well in tighten it back up and then at least it works just not perfect but I can get into the high gears with a little work. Thinking when I get this crazy hot 100 out of the way I am going to really get the bike shifting perfect.

I get home and then the "dawn hits" what a dumb deacon I was adjusting the front derailler and how could I be so stupid? Well naturally a few turns and the bike at home on the stand shifts perfect. I keeping thinking, how stupid can I be not realizing this on the bike. I thinking I was so focused on not stopping and riding a good time and simply managed to not allow the brain to work. At least is was not an error that was dangerous but I just cannot believe I did that.
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Old 07-31-11, 07:02 AM
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Not stupid, distracted. Focused on the ride and not on the adjustment. At least you recognized the problem when you got home.
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Old 07-31-11, 07:11 AM
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Originally Posted by deacon mark
I am reasonable wretch...
That's being a little harsh on yourself.
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Old 07-31-11, 07:35 AM
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Aw deacon, you should know that none of us are perfect, mistakes are the norm and to be learned from.

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Old 07-31-11, 09:29 AM
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Ask me how long I spent trying to unscrew a pedal the wrong direction.
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Old 07-31-11, 09:32 AM
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We all have our moments...
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Old 07-31-11, 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by dedhed
Ask me how long I spent trying to unscrew a pedal the wrong direction.
Did that once on an exercise bike. Wedged it in there so good I was never able to get it out again. Ended up tossing it in the end (I was trying to get the pedal off to get inside and fix the flywheel that was rubbing against a bracket)
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Old 07-31-11, 10:05 AM
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Have I ever been that stupid? Oh yeah!

I remember riding a brand new bike for the first time on a coolish morning. I don't know how many stops I made to fine tune the rear derailleur before it dawned on me that the noise I was hearing wasn't chain noise, it was car keys rattling in my jacket pocket.
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Old 07-31-11, 10:18 AM
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...started a tube replacement job once with 3 flips. Finished the job with 2 flips. Meanwhile the wheel was slowly spinning on the bike with a weird lump in it.

Didn't take long for it to dawn on myself and others around me what had happened.

=8-)
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Old 07-31-11, 10:35 AM
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If you put stupid things I have done on a 1-10 scale that doesn't even rate a 2.
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Old 07-31-11, 12:11 PM
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Originally Posted by deacon mark
I am reasonable wretch and even build my own wheels but yesterday on a long hilly century I was really dumb. I used my 2nd bike because the tires were almost new and did not want to take chances. Well before the ride I give it the once over and notice my rear derailler ( ultegra 10 spd) does not want to always like into the 11 tooth cog like I want. So I made a small adjustment and seem ok.

Well I start the 100 and notice that the rear shifting is not great on the last 4 small cogs. No problem right? In the interest of a fast time I will use the old barrell adjust and get it tuned perfect. Well I go at it and it only seems to make things worse and I am getting rub on the front derailler. Well in tighten it back up and then at least it works just not perfect but I can get into the high gears with a little work. Thinking when I get this crazy hot 100 out of the way I am going to really get the bike shifting perfect.

I get home and then the "dawn hits" what a dumb deacon I was adjusting the front derailler and how could I be so stupid? Well naturally a few turns and the bike at home on the stand shifts perfect. I keeping thinking, how stupid can I be not realizing this on the bike. I thinking I was so focused on not stopping and riding a good time and simply managed to not allow the brain to work. At least is was not an error that was dangerous but I just cannot believe I did that.
I have reached down to my trigger shifter/brake handle combo to tweak a front or rear derailleur. What the hell? No matter how far I turn this it makes no difference! Oh jeeez.....If that isn't bad enough, now there's something wrong with my brakes!

Don in Austin
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Old 07-31-11, 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by mrrabbit
...started a tube replacement job once with 3 flips. Finished the job with 2 flips. Meanwhile the wheel was slowly spinning on the bike with a weird lump in it. =8-)
Huh?
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Old 07-31-11, 02:54 PM
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Tire flips man...tire flips...

=8-)
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Old 07-31-11, 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by mrrabbit
...started a tube replacement job once with 3 flips. Finished the job with 2 flips. Meanwhile the wheel was slowly spinning on the bike with a weird lump in it.

Didn't take long for it to dawn on myself and others around me what had happened.

=8-)
That's bloody excellent.
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Old 07-31-11, 03:56 PM
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Originally Posted by dedhed
Ask me how long I spent trying to unscrew a pedal the wrong direction.
My first purchase of PB blaster was from trying to unscrew a pedal in the wrong direction. In my defense it was my first time swapping pedals, I mean, how hard could it be?
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Old 07-31-11, 04:05 PM
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Originally Posted by deacon mark
.... but yesterday on a long hilly century I was really dumb.

Thinking when I get this crazy hot 100 out of the way I am going to really get the bike shifting perfect.
Heat does amazing things, that and having your mind elsewhere is all it takes. Just think what might have happened if there was a full moon too.

As I was reading the post, I kept expecting it to end with RD into spokes, but at least you dodged that bullet

And in answer to the headline question. Of course I have, who hasn't?

My personal best wasn't on a bike, but in my business. After changing draining the 30 gallons of cutting oil in one of my screw machines to change over from cutting aluminum to steel, I carefully cleaned the sump and filter basket, flushed the coolant pump and made sure all was OK for fresh heavy duty steel cutting oil. Got my 30 gallon drum, and carefully tipped it into the machine to fill the sump. You got it, forgot to replace the drain plug.
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Old 07-31-11, 04:37 PM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
Heat does amazing things, that and having your mind elsewhere is all it takes. Just think what might have happened if there was a full moon too.

As I was reading the post, I kept expecting it to end with RD into spokes, but at least you dodged that bullet

And in answer to the headline question. Of course I have, who hasn't?

My personal best wasn't on a bike, but in my business. After changing draining the 30 gallons of cutting oil in one of my screw machines to change over from cutting aluminum to steel, I carefully cleaned the sump and filter basket, flushed the coolant pump and made sure all was OK for fresh heavy duty steel cutting oil. Got my 30 gallon drum, and carefully tipped it into the machine to fill the sump. You got it, forgot to replace the drain plug.
That wasn't an error, you were just make a final rinse with fresh oil to ensure a good cleanup job...or so you tell the boss ...


Back to the OP, yeah I've got my derailers mixed up, but in my defense it was downtube adjusters in a crossover setup.
No real damage, other than not being able to tune out the rubbing noise and being perplexed as to why for the duration of the ride.
I've done way worse but thankfully I have a bad memory for mistakes.
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Old 07-31-11, 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Waxbytes
That wasn't an error, you were just make a final rinse with fresh oil to ensure a good cleanup job...or so you tell the boss ...
That's the sad part, I am the boss....
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Old 07-31-11, 05:41 PM
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I keep cut-up onions in a small tupperware container in the fridge. The other day I found that container in the dish cabinet.

At least your screw-up didn't stink to high heaven.
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Old 07-31-11, 06:47 PM
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You humble me but I will strive to match the feat.
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Old 07-31-11, 07:39 PM
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Cross-threaded a cartridge bottom bracket (inserted into wrong side). Twice in a row. AFTER looking at the direction of the threads... lets say the plastic cap took a little muscle to put on after I figured out which side everything belonged to.
Also, if your chain is jumping from cog to cog while riding, be sure to inspect the derailleur and use the barrel adjuster... whatever you do, do NOT inspect the chain for damage, there's no possibility its about to fly off, none at all....
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Old 07-31-11, 08:37 PM
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Have you ever been this stupid?
I see your stupidity, and I raise it. Seriously. I should probably keep a list of the dumb things that I do. Someone earlier mentioned putting onions into the cupboard. I'm well-known at my house for putting ice cream into the cupboard, or into the fridge, and generally into any place but the freezer where it belongs.

I could confess to a litany of other such errors.
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Old 07-31-11, 09:13 PM
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"Have you ever been this stupid?"


Stoopider sir, by a dam site. Done many of the things others have listed. Forgot a take out chicken dinner under the front seat of my car. I found it 3 years later. Do remember the car smelling funny for a while..............
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Old 07-31-11, 09:24 PM
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Originally Posted by dedhed
Ask me how long I spent trying to unscrew a pedal the wrong direction.
Lefty-loosy is a REALLY hard habit to break. Now I have to find a set of Italian BB taps because I buggered the fixed side of my Specialized Allez.
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