Dumbest mistake you have made with bike maintainance
12-19-11, 11:15 PM
#26
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My other favorite one is putting down a tool then not being able to find it. Even worse is finding it in your pocket after 30 minutes of looking.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
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Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
12-20-11, 12:42 AM
#27
Senior Member
um well not exactly maintenance but a safety check would have prevented this...
I am 260lbs was buying a Peugeot Fancy French bike I was so excited I got on the bike and turned and tacoed the wheel the spokes were so loose I could have tightened em up with my spoke wrench that I had with me... oops no animals were hurt in this event lol ;-)
I am 260lbs was buying a Peugeot Fancy French bike I was so excited I got on the bike and turned and tacoed the wheel the spokes were so loose I could have tightened em up with my spoke wrench that I had with me... oops no animals were hurt in this event lol ;-)
12-20-11, 02:23 AM
#28
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Sent high end Magura fork off for complete rebuild, it needed new stanchions. On getting it back put it in the frame, measured carefully, marked, cut the new steerer - then realised I had forgotten to include the stem when measuring - so had cut the steerer too short. The second rebuild put the total cost over that of a completely new fork.
12-20-11, 03:47 AM
#29
Senior Member
Because no matter how big that piece of cardboard would be -- it could be a houseblock side -- the half-link would still bounce on it... and off over the edge into the back patio bricks so you'd be no better off!
12-20-11, 07:51 AM
#30
Senior Member
Law 1: No small part dropped on the floor will be found until you drop another small part on the floor at which time you will find the first small part dropped on the floor. Law 2: All bike parts have a "coefficient of bounceability" i.e., the length of the bounce is equal to 6 times the height of the drop.
12-20-11, 09:19 AM
#31
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Law 1: No small part dropped on the floor will be found until you drop another small part on the floor at which time you will find the first small part dropped on the floor. Law 2: All bike parts have a "coefficient of bounceability" i.e., the length of the bounce is equal to 6 times the height of the drop.
Law 4: All bounce parts will settle at the point directly under the nearest automobile's center of gravity. If the car is moved to retrieve the part, the part will move with the car.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
12-20-11, 09:34 AM
#32
your god hates me
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Bought a new bike in 1970. Did absolutely nothing to maintain it for the next 13 years. It eventually fell apart.
Bought a new bike in 1983. Did absolutely nothing to maintain it for the next 6 years. It eventually fell apart.
Bought a new bike in 1989. Did absolutely nothing to maintain it for the next 6 years. It got stolen.
Bought a new bike in 1995. Did absolutely nothing to maintain it for the next 11 years. It eventually fell apart.
Bought a new bike in 2006. Now I maintain my bikes...
Bought a new bike in 1983. Did absolutely nothing to maintain it for the next 6 years. It eventually fell apart.
Bought a new bike in 1989. Did absolutely nothing to maintain it for the next 6 years. It got stolen.
Bought a new bike in 1995. Did absolutely nothing to maintain it for the next 11 years. It eventually fell apart.
Bought a new bike in 2006. Now I maintain my bikes...
12-20-11, 12:18 PM
#33
Senior Member
Law 1: No small part dropped on the floor will be found until you drop another small part on the floor at which time you will find the first small part dropped on the floor. Law 2: All bike parts have a "coefficient of bounceability" i.e., the length of the bounce is equal to 6 times the height of the drop.
Law 3: The coefficient of bounceability has a horizontal component that is inversely proportional to lowest height of all objects around it so that the part will bounce under the nearest object as far back as it can go.
Law 4: All bounce parts will settle at the point directly under the nearest automobile's center of gravity. If the car is moved to retrieve the part, the part will move with the car.
Law 5: All parts bounce at a rate proportional to the full moon and near earth objects a parallel universes vortex can open up an on those rare occasions an inter-dimensional shift may occur and the part will simple vanish from your range of visual acuity never to be found again.
Law 3: The coefficient of bounceability has a horizontal component that is inversely proportional to lowest height of all objects around it so that the part will bounce under the nearest object as far back as it can go.
Law 4: All bounce parts will settle at the point directly under the nearest automobile's center of gravity. If the car is moved to retrieve the part, the part will move with the car.
Law 5: All parts bounce at a rate proportional to the full moon and near earth objects a parallel universes vortex can open up an on those rare occasions an inter-dimensional shift may occur and the part will simple vanish from your range of visual acuity never to be found again.
12-21-11, 12:11 AM
#35
Wheezy Rider
Law 1: No small part dropped on the floor will be found until you drop another small part on the floor at which time you will find the first small part dropped on the floor. Law 2: All bike parts have a "coefficient of bounceability" i.e., the length of the bounce is equal to 6 times the height of the drop.
Law 3: The coefficient of bounceability has a horizontal component that is inversely proportional to lowest height of all objects around it so that the part will bounce under the nearest object as far back as it can go.
Law 4: All bounce parts will settle at the point directly under the nearest automobile's center of gravity. If the car is moved to retrieve the part, the part will move with the car.
Law 5: All parts bounce at a rate proportional to the full moon and near earth objects a parallel universes vortex can open up an on those rare occasions an inter-dimensional shift may occur and the part will simple vanish from your range of visual acuity never to be found again.
Law 3: The coefficient of bounceability has a horizontal component that is inversely proportional to lowest height of all objects around it so that the part will bounce under the nearest object as far back as it can go.
Law 4: All bounce parts will settle at the point directly under the nearest automobile's center of gravity. If the car is moved to retrieve the part, the part will move with the car.
Law 5: All parts bounce at a rate proportional to the full moon and near earth objects a parallel universes vortex can open up an on those rare occasions an inter-dimensional shift may occur and the part will simple vanish from your range of visual acuity never to be found again.
12-21-11, 12:16 AM
#36
Wheezy Rider
Screaming at the top of your lungs without making a sound is quite an ab workout.
12-21-11, 02:11 AM
#37
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speaking of excruciating pain... it wasn't long ago that i participated in an incident that involved a coaster brake cog, a retainer ring, a large screwdriver and my thumb. one of the former ended up under the nail on the latter which has just recently grown back.
Last edited by hueyhoolihan; 12-21-11 at 02:22 AM.
12-21-11, 03:04 AM
#38
Senior Member
The first time I did that, I was working on my bike in the bedroom. Where I had promised Mrs Connell I would not work on my bike. And where she was sleeping just a few feet away. Sleeping well. Sleeping well for the first time in several nights as she'd been sick. So it was imperative that I not wake her. Especially not to reveal the fact that I was working on my bike in the bedroom. Where I had promised Mrs Connell I would not work on my bike.
Screaming at the top of your lungs without making a sound is quite an ab workout.
Screaming at the top of your lungs without making a sound is quite an ab workout.
12-21-11, 12:31 PM
#40
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Corollary: The part will enter the hole and then the hole will close behind it. You can lose a '57 Buick down a 1/2" diameter hole that way.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
12-21-11, 12:36 PM
#41
Hogosha Sekai
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Just remembered another.. I had the "Brilliant" idea of using a fairly strong magnet for bearing collection when servicing a headset (I think this was my first official headset servicing), I got it all apart and collected the bearings on the magnet, then proceeded to clean up the bearing races... then got distracted and didn't get back to the project till the next day... bearings were magnetized but I somehow didn't see any harm in this.. got them in, didn't worry about the fact even with grease they clumped together hopped on and discovered my steering never could become correct with any amount of adjustment.. that was fun.
12-21-11, 12:42 PM
#42
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Another brake cable idiot here.
I've also tightened down the top bolt on a threadless stem, not realizing how a threadless system worked. On a ride afterwards, I nearly crashed when I took my hands off the bars for a second to adjust my gloves. D'oh!
I've also tightened down the top bolt on a threadless stem, not realizing how a threadless system worked. On a ride afterwards, I nearly crashed when I took my hands off the bars for a second to adjust my gloves. D'oh!
12-21-11, 01:21 PM
#43
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Road off the bike path into the sand, did an endo (story for another thread), and my left 105 shifter got filled with sand. Thought I could disassemble it, clean it out, and put it back together, which immediately triggered Laws 1-6. Ended up bringing my bike and the remaining parts to the LBS in a zip lock bag. Happy ending: LBS said there was an issue with that model year of 105 shifters, and they were able to get me a new one from Shimano under warranty. Only had to pay shipping. Truly great service from Veloworx in Venice, CA.
12-21-11, 04:11 PM
#44
Bicycle Repairman
Law 7: Any dropped part will be drawn to the nearest container full of disgusting goo and bounce inside. 90W gear lube, used antifreeze, waste oil, etc... are all magnets for little bouncy parts...
12-21-11, 09:06 PM
#46
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2 days ago I tried to tighten my spokes. I ended rounding 3 nipples and my wheel went badly out of true... Since then I can't ride and I'm still trying to true the wheel. My first time and I'm going to awhile... Sigh, looks like I won't be on my bike for awhile...
12-21-11, 09:10 PM
#47
Senior Member
Roof rack with two bikes. Drove all day and decided to stay in a motel that had a low overhang at the front office. You can figure out the rest. It's a terrible feeling and not a good sound either.
12-22-11, 04:18 AM
#48
Senior Member
Serviced the cantilever brake cables (there's a theme here) on my touring/everything bike. Went for a ride and came speeding at a healthy rate down a hill towards a T-junction. I suddenly found out why it is very, very, very wise to double and triple check the tightness of the anchor bolt on the straddle yoke.
I suddenly had no front brake power (which was essential) and had to think very quickly as a car approached the junction. I took to the traffic island with a bunny hop and rode across it at an angle so I was eventually parallel to the main highway. I finally stopped on the rear brake a little further down the road.
It was scary! And it taught me how working on other people's bikes puts those people's lives in your hands.
I suddenly had no front brake power (which was essential) and had to think very quickly as a car approached the junction. I took to the traffic island with a bunny hop and rode across it at an angle so I was eventually parallel to the main highway. I finally stopped on the rear brake a little further down the road.
It was scary! And it taught me how working on other people's bikes puts those people's lives in your hands.
Last edited by Rowan; 12-22-11 at 04:26 AM.
12-22-11, 10:25 AM
#49
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I used to switch the brakes on my bikes all the time because I rode dirt bikes and the right lever on a dirt bike is the front brake. I now leave the bikes alone because I seem to be able the make the adjustment without thinking about it................now. Road bikes are easy for me to make the distinction. MTB bikes still get me from time to time since they are more like riding a dirt bike.
Last edited by bigbadwullf; 12-22-11 at 10:29 AM.
12-22-11, 03:56 PM
#50
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Threaded the anchor bolt on my front derailleur outside of the groove, which totally FUBAR's shifting. Rode part of the ride without my big ring (couldnt shift into it), most of the middle ring (rub past the 3rd lowest gear something fierce), and feeling like the chain was bouncing off the chain catcher on the little ring. Turned around after getting fed up with it and rode to the nearest LBS, and they gave me the evil eye saying that the cable was threaded through the bolt wrong. Threaded it properly and all was good. *sigh*