Originally Posted by
nlerner
My most classic wrench-slip mishap was when I was standing over a bike, tightening the bolt on the seat clamp. I had my face close to the wrench to watch what I was doing. What I learned was that if you pull up on the wrench to tighten, and it then slips, you give yourself a good sock on the chin. Ouch! Now I try to remember that lesson and tighten by pushing down, not pulling up.
Neal
The accidents I remember most are when loosening chainring bolts or crank fixing bolts. That's what sends my knuckles into the teeth of chainrings. It really stings, even though it doesn't draw much blood. I must have done it a whole lot of times to earn a scar for every knuckle. I've never punched myself in the face, though.
Nowadays, I have a whole lot of positions for bracing myself. They're kinda like yoga poses.
Once a customer brought in his bike I had just worked on. He complemented me on my strength. I said, "Huh?" He loosened the BB lockring I had put on nice and tight. Actually, my upper body is weak, but I have techniques, using my pseudo-yoga positions.