New or experienced riders: What were your rookie mistakes?
05-12-14, 01:15 PM
#152
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05-12-14, 02:29 PM
#153
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One time I insufficiently tightened the NDS crank arm bolt (square taper crank) and had to ride home with my right leg only.
One time I tried to tackle a very difficult climb (short, but 20% in places) shortly after eating a microwave pizza. Puked everywhere.
One time I stopped to help a guy fix a flat...during a race. It was an unsanctioned road race, and not particularly competitive, but I ended up DFL after getting two flats myself.
One time I tried to tackle a very difficult climb (short, but 20% in places) shortly after eating a microwave pizza. Puked everywhere.
One time I stopped to help a guy fix a flat...during a race. It was an unsanctioned road race, and not particularly competitive, but I ended up DFL after getting two flats myself.
05-19-14, 02:58 PM
#155
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Not watching the road intently enough on a fast descent. When I was about 13 I was riding down a steep hill and didn't see the gravel at the bottom of the hill. Hit it and promptly went over the handlebars. Of course back then no one wore helmets. Not that it would have made much of a difference, as I landed on my face, not my head, and knocked out both of my front teeth. Luckily a nice lady stopped and picked me up, found my teeth on the ground and thought to grab them and took me home. My parents took me to the dentist who did a root canal on the teeth and then stuck the back in. They lasted about 10 years before I had to get implants to replace them.
05-19-14, 04:21 PM
#156
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Lots of rookie mistakes. Just yesterday I changed the OEM tires to GP4000's not realizing they are directional. At least I got the rear tire right...
05-19-14, 05:04 PM
#157
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05-19-14, 05:12 PM
#158
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Never found out. I'm riding after work tonight and the front is easy enough to fix I'll take care of it before I head out. I only know this because a colleague mentioned "you know they're directional, right?" I ran out to the car to see if I got lucky...
05-19-14, 05:15 PM
#159
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05-19-14, 05:16 PM
#160
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FYI, since you've implied that you got the rear tire right, next time you can just take the QR skewer out and flip that. Front wheels aren't directional.
05-19-14, 06:56 PM
#161
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Nah, Just kidding. Flip the wheel if you think it matters. FWIW I have Conti GP 4000s on my fixed gear, and when I flipped the rear wheel to use the cog on the other side, I was riding with the tread in the wrong direction for 1000+ miles - never noticed a difference.
06-03-14, 07:14 PM
#163
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To add to this post....
Learn how to wrench for yourself. Just dig into it and try. Buy the tools. Learn all the critical specs of your machine, that's life & death safety crap. Know your torque settings, how to properly tighten your headset, delve into the operational theory of things.
Buy a workstand. Buy carbon paste.
What I've learned quickly, because I have a habit of diving headfirst into things, is that the VAST majority of bicycle mechanics really don't understand what they're doing beyond the basics of functionally making things work. Now, there's making things work, and there is the RIGHT way of doing things.
Yer butt is on the line if you're hauling arse and you have a mechanical failure due to improper installation and/or maintenance.
What's helped me is that I have a military technical background (I fixed jets...) so I can't help but think of proper procedure, checklists, quality assurance...I'm OCD like that and I have been driving my local LBS nuts... but hey, I spend $$$$, and they do avail me of their shop for free, and it's been learning all around because I've blinged out my bike because I can.
They had 5 different mechs wrench on my bike when I upgraded drivetrain, and I've been dealing with the simple lack of congruity due to improper task handoff from mech to mech, as well as these guys simply don't reference the manuals consistently when they should. Technology changes, it behooves anyone technical to keep up.
For instance, I had assumed they know how to install compressionless cable housing, they "thought," they did as well because they ASSUMED it's just like defacto, dujour Jagwire, or Shimano stock, yada,yada,yada... but precision gear usually requires precise installation in order to guarantee precision performance. Many products are not forgiving in that aspect.
No matter the machine, a technical library is your best friend in regards to best practices and maintenance. Always reference it first no matter the work, that way the pertinent details are fresh in your mind, and when you're done, triple check everything!
In the long run familiarizing yourself prudently will save you money and your arse.
Learn how to wrench for yourself. Just dig into it and try. Buy the tools. Learn all the critical specs of your machine, that's life & death safety crap. Know your torque settings, how to properly tighten your headset, delve into the operational theory of things.
Buy a workstand. Buy carbon paste.
What I've learned quickly, because I have a habit of diving headfirst into things, is that the VAST majority of bicycle mechanics really don't understand what they're doing beyond the basics of functionally making things work. Now, there's making things work, and there is the RIGHT way of doing things.
Yer butt is on the line if you're hauling arse and you have a mechanical failure due to improper installation and/or maintenance.
What's helped me is that I have a military technical background (I fixed jets...) so I can't help but think of proper procedure, checklists, quality assurance...I'm OCD like that and I have been driving my local LBS nuts... but hey, I spend $$$$, and they do avail me of their shop for free, and it's been learning all around because I've blinged out my bike because I can.
They had 5 different mechs wrench on my bike when I upgraded drivetrain, and I've been dealing with the simple lack of congruity due to improper task handoff from mech to mech, as well as these guys simply don't reference the manuals consistently when they should. Technology changes, it behooves anyone technical to keep up.
For instance, I had assumed they know how to install compressionless cable housing, they "thought," they did as well because they ASSUMED it's just like defacto, dujour Jagwire, or Shimano stock, yada,yada,yada... but precision gear usually requires precise installation in order to guarantee precision performance. Many products are not forgiving in that aspect.
No matter the machine, a technical library is your best friend in regards to best practices and maintenance. Always reference it first no matter the work, that way the pertinent details are fresh in your mind, and when you're done, triple check everything!
In the long run familiarizing yourself prudently will save you money and your arse.
06-04-14, 05:46 AM
#164
ka maté ka maté ka ora
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not getting a repair stand right away.
06-04-14, 06:44 AM
#165
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06-04-14, 06:24 PM
#166
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Not eating right before long rides, and bonking out far from home. I found my perfect long-ride fuel to be pork fried rice from a local Chinese restaurant. I would buy one quart the day before the race, and eat it steadily from lunch until dinner. The carbs, fat, protein, and salt seemed to be the perfect mix for my body, it made a noticeable difference in my performance.
Not carrying basic tools. A simple multitool will help you get things straight and adjusted after a crash or other problem. Always carrying a spare tube with a pump or air source is a minimum. I have had a couple long walks home when I got a puncture, and had no way to repair it.
Biting off more than you can chew, or going on rides which are beyond your physical ability. I once attempted a ride from South Miami to Clewiston in mid summer. The heat was incredible, and the humidity over 90% for the entire ride (200 km). I have never sweated so much in my life, and for a former infantryman who trained in Alabama in the summer, that is saying something. I found that I could not stop riding, if I slowed down enough, the breeze which was keeping my body cool stopped, and I began to get dizzy. I didn't want to faint from heat exhaustion, and the die of heatsroke in the middle of alligator country. There was no shade, and no house or building to stop at to cool down. I was saved by the afternoon thunderstorms which soaked me through, and delivered countless lightning bolts to everything around me.
Putting things off. If it's a nice day (or even not so nice), you should go out and ride. Never say "I'll do it tomorrow," as you may end up putting it off again, and so on.
Not carrying basic tools. A simple multitool will help you get things straight and adjusted after a crash or other problem. Always carrying a spare tube with a pump or air source is a minimum. I have had a couple long walks home when I got a puncture, and had no way to repair it.
Biting off more than you can chew, or going on rides which are beyond your physical ability. I once attempted a ride from South Miami to Clewiston in mid summer. The heat was incredible, and the humidity over 90% for the entire ride (200 km). I have never sweated so much in my life, and for a former infantryman who trained in Alabama in the summer, that is saying something. I found that I could not stop riding, if I slowed down enough, the breeze which was keeping my body cool stopped, and I began to get dizzy. I didn't want to faint from heat exhaustion, and the die of heatsroke in the middle of alligator country. There was no shade, and no house or building to stop at to cool down. I was saved by the afternoon thunderstorms which soaked me through, and delivered countless lightning bolts to everything around me.
Putting things off. If it's a nice day (or even not so nice), you should go out and ride. Never say "I'll do it tomorrow," as you may end up putting it off again, and so on.
06-04-14, 06:39 PM
#167
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@Sangetsu, totally off, but is your nickname "Mountain and Moon?" Just curious...
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The value of your life doesn't change based on the way you travel. - Dawn Schellenberg (SDOT)
The value of your life doesn't change based on the way you travel. - Dawn Schellenberg (SDOT)
06-04-14, 07:19 PM
#168
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Being intimidated by cycling and buying a cruiser/comfort bike when I knew I would be riding every workday. Instead of buying a road/cx bike and telling myself to HTFU and deal with it until I'm fit & flexible again.
Oh well. It'll make a good grocery getter, and I don't have to worry about getting something with rack eyelets for the fun bike. N+1 at work?
Oh well. It'll make a good grocery getter, and I don't have to worry about getting something with rack eyelets for the fun bike. N+1 at work?
06-04-14, 07:20 PM
#169
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06-04-14, 07:20 PM
#170
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Not using energy gels and/or food for longer rides. Taking too long of breaks during rides. Almost buying a bike that I couldn't afford because that's what my 'friends' did. Using crappy tires - because its just a bicycle. Putting too much faith in LBS's. Not wearing bibs, not using chamois cream, using cotton socks and/or shirts. This would be a long list if I kept adding to it.
Damian
Damian
06-04-14, 07:23 PM
#171
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Maybe someday I'll find the need and invest in bike shorts/bibs.
I don't notice a difference wearing swim jammers, but the pool is only ~3-4 miles away.
06-04-14, 08:43 PM
#173
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Biting off more than you can chew, or going on rides which are beyond your physical ability. I once attempted a ride from South Miami to Clewiston in mid summer. The heat was incredible, and the humidity over 90% for the entire ride (200 km). I have never sweated so much in my life, and for a former infantryman who trained in Alabama in the summer, that is saying something. I found that I could not stop riding, if I slowed down enough, the breeze which was keeping my body cool stopped, and I began to get dizzy. I didn't want to faint from heat exhaustion, and the die of heatsroke in the middle of alligator country. There was no shade, and no house or building to stop at to cool down. I was saved by the afternoon thunderstorms which soaked me through, and delivered countless lightning bolts to everything around me.
06-04-14, 09:07 PM
#174
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