Plumb Bob
03-05-11, 12:36 AM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NorCal
Posts: 279
Bikes: 1992 Trek 950, 1994 Canondale M600, 2000 Cannondale C300, 2004 Santa Cruz Juliana, 2010 Salsa Vaya, 2013 Jamis Dragon - Team Issue, 2019 Salsa Timberjack, 2020 Tern Vektron
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times
in
6 Posts
Plumb Bob
Anyone have/use a plumb bob for bike fitting? If so.... where did you find yours?
I've been visiting hardware stores for months trying to find a small
one - keep finding these large to humongous ones (8-24 oz). Checked online and it seems Stanley makes a 4oz one for $5~$7 - but I can't find a distributor.
I noticed there are some that are "custom" for bike fit - but they are ridiculously expensive and I don't think there is anything "custom" about a plumb bob
- (or is there?)
I think I've become obsessed with every nuance of bike fit... and now want to see where my patella is relative to the pedal spindle (k.o.p.s. fit test) on all my bikes and see if I can tell a difference in injury aggravation with micro adjusting.
Any insight is greatly appreciated
I've been visiting hardware stores for months trying to find a small
one - keep finding these large to humongous ones (8-24 oz). Checked online and it seems Stanley makes a 4oz one for $5~$7 - but I can't find a distributor.
I noticed there are some that are "custom" for bike fit - but they are ridiculously expensive and I don't think there is anything "custom" about a plumb bob
- (or is there?)
I think I've become obsessed with every nuance of bike fit... and now want to see where my patella is relative to the pedal spindle (k.o.p.s. fit test) on all my bikes and see if I can tell a difference in injury aggravation with micro adjusting.
Any insight is greatly appreciated
03-05-11, 12:42 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: The GTA, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 735
Bikes: 2009 Rocky Mountain RC30 D
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
If you have a piece of string and say a 3/4" nut or similar etc. it will do the same thing.
Or do you feel that you need something more precise ?
Or do you feel that you need something more precise ?
03-05-11, 12:49 AM
#3
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NorCal
Posts: 279
Bikes: 1992 Trek 950, 1994 Canondale M600, 2000 Cannondale C300, 2004 Santa Cruz Juliana, 2010 Salsa Vaya, 2013 Jamis Dragon - Team Issue, 2019 Salsa Timberjack, 2020 Tern Vektron
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times
in
6 Posts
Well I wondered about that.... I was gonna steal (oops borrow) a piece of brass from work that I could pull a string through, and someone I spoke to (can't remember who) thought it needed to have a "point" - even for the (bike fit) job I was describing. Now I admit.... I struggled with Physics in college...... 
03-05-11, 01:22 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Toronto
Posts: 707
Bikes: Specialized SL2 Roubaix Comp
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
03-05-11, 01:32 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Posts: 2,470
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Trucker, Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, Dahon Mu P 24 , Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Rodriguez Tandem, Wheeler MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just make your own if you like, a string, or fishing line, and a weight, viola
03-05-11, 06:29 AM
#6
Randonneur in Training
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SW PA
Posts: 208
Bikes: 2010 Jamis Coda Sport "The Coda!"
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I used sewing thread and a washer. You just needbto make sure the weight is heavy enough to pull your string tight. If tie the string with a loop bigger than what it's being tied to, gravity will pull it straight.
03-05-11, 11:58 AM
#8
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,788
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Flotation rope and a McD's Quarter Pounder. (j/k)
Seriously, I've used fishing line, small twine, nylon thread, and 3/4" hex nuts, whatever was handy.
Seriously, I've used fishing line, small twine, nylon thread, and 3/4" hex nuts, whatever was handy.
03-05-11, 12:16 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 7,239
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Yes, just about anything will do. A little heavier is good so it isn't as likely to be blown around - and for the string you want to use some that's reasonably flexible so it gets pulled straight. I use some thread tied to the round opening at the end of a cresent or other wrench. No need for any special tool.
03-05-11, 02:46 PM
#10
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NorCal
Posts: 279
Bikes: 1992 Trek 950, 1994 Canondale M600, 2000 Cannondale C300, 2004 Santa Cruz Juliana, 2010 Salsa Vaya, 2013 Jamis Dragon - Team Issue, 2019 Salsa Timberjack, 2020 Tern Vektron
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times
in
6 Posts
Awesome. simple. Thanks for all the input!
03-05-11, 02:49 PM
#11
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NorCal
Posts: 279
Bikes: 1992 Trek 950, 1994 Canondale M600, 2000 Cannondale C300, 2004 Santa Cruz Juliana, 2010 Salsa Vaya, 2013 Jamis Dragon - Team Issue, 2019 Salsa Timberjack, 2020 Tern Vektron
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times
in
6 Posts
Flotation rope and a McD's Quarter Pounder. (j/k)
That would mean I'd have to visit a McDs then and that's just gross....
