RubeRad

What do you mean by that?

Newspaper_Nick

I did a google image search and couldn't even find one photo where they use the tool the right way. So i will try to explain. Now when you wrap the chain whip around a larger cog, the tip of the chain is on the loose, like this:



This is an invitation to disaster. As you push down the tool, and the wrench in your other hand, the chain will come loose and you will end up hurting yourself or your cassette. Now imagine if you wrap the chain around to a smaller cog. The tip will actually reach to the handle of the chain whip tool, so that you can rest the handle up against the chain itself. So you will end up with a fully engaged and secure chain. You can push your heart out and it won't come loose.

RubeRad

Oh, so if you're on a small enough cog, the tip of the tool will kind of pinch the last loose link of chain in place? I was thinking you were saying standard chain whips have an attachment point where you can/should physically attach the end of the chain. That would be a good invention, and could be hacked pretty easily just by drilling a hole, and maybe even like a paperclip could go through the last chain link and the hole just enough to keep it together

Newspaper_Nick

Exactly.

ChrisWagner

In need of a quick lint free rag, a coffee filter is aces on lint free. Not so much on the rag part but effective with alcohol and the like.

sjanzeir

We were in a bit of a fix after our last 20-year-old split AC finally croaked just before a big gathering we're supposed to be having tomorrow. "Let there be Light," said the gentlemen who came to install a new one this evening. I quickly rigged up my El Cheapo Bike Hand stand with a piece of PVC piping and eight out of my nine Bontrager Ion 120 headlights.

curbtender

A friend was telling me how he got a flat out riding his mountain bike without a tool kit. He said he was able to get the tire off and he filled it full of grass and weeds. I guess it beats walking.

Newspaper_Nick

If you are like me, you use jetwash machines at gas stations to wash your bike. I do it almost every week. I haven't seen any adverse effects of jetwashing my bike, i just don't aggressively spray water into the nooks and crannies where there is lube or grease (wheel hubs, bottom bracket etc.). Other than that, i think it is fair game. The bike can take it. However, a couple times have i used the soap sprayer before using the jetwash. And after each time i did that, shifters started to act up for both front and rear mechs. What i realized is that soap degreases the moving parts on the rear derailleur and the front mech and after the water is evaporated, they become completely dry. If you happen to experience any hardness in your shifting levers, just spray grease to the moving parts of your front and rear mech and that will soften the shifters.

maddmaxx 

I posted this one years ago and it's probably time to renew. If you have some loose tools in your seat bag that rattle, put them in an old sock to quiet them. Someday on the road when you need to do something to your chain, the sock will come in handy like a work glove to keep one of your hands clean while dealing with it.

elcraft

BITD, we used black handlebar tape to hide thee fact that you had to fiddle with your chain....

Newspaper_Nick

I have a great tip for old quick release hub bike owners out there. The ones with disc brakes. You probably experience this ervery time you remove the wheels from the dropouts and put them back on. You will see that 9 out of 10 times your disk brakes will rub. This used to make me go crazy and i was readjusting the calipers every time i put the wheels back on. It is especially frustrating when you are out and changing a punctured inner tube. Lately i realized that i didn't even need to touch the calipers. The solution was so simple, just turn the axle within the dropouts (before tightening the QR) to match the previous allignment of the wheel. Give this a try. Quick release axles are not perfectly straight because of the threads on them. So every time you put the wheels back on, the allignment is slightly off (one milimeter maybe), and that much of a difference is enough for the brakes to rub. Like i said, you just need to turn the axle within the dropouts before tightening the qr to find that sweet spot that was when you first removed the wheels off the bike. Just make a quarter turn and try tightening the QR and turn the wheel. If brakes rub, make another quarter turn and try again. Eventually you will find the spot and the brakes won't rub. So much easier than readjusting the brakes.

RubeRad

Why I hope every bike I buy for the rest of my life has thru-axles

Newspaper_Nick

Where i live, thru-axle bikes are worth an arm and a leg

Bigbus

whipped up this tool in about 5 minutes with nothing more than my chain breaker, a piece of steel, and a drill. Old bike chains are everywhere.

It works pretty good too.

mtb_addict

How to tighten the valve core wihout special tools?

It was below freezing last nite, and this morning, the tire was flat. After an hour of investigation, I found out that the valve core had came loose.

I recemtly moved up higher north. And my stuff are still in boxes...and I can find anything to tighten the core.

Vintage_Cyclist

Presta core? I usually just grab it with a pliers and tighten.

WizardOfBoz

Very nice. Getting the A/C working is probably pretty important in Saudi Arabia. Hope you got it up and running.

WizardOfBoz

I think I disagree. Putting the chain whip on the small cog gives you the the lowest possible torque (or at least the highest possible stress on the cog). If you put the chain whip on a larger cog, especially if the cog is part of an assembly (like three cogs riveted together) gives you a better purchase on the freehub.

The scenario suggested indicates an dangerous approach. Any time you are pushing on tools on the opposite side of the hub you risk barking your knuckles on the ground. Don't do that. It always pays to set things up so that the chain whip and the freehub wrench are on the same size of the hub. Set up properly you should be able to break the nut loose by squeezing the two handles together. Alternately, have both arms fully extended, one pushing the other pulling. If the nut breaks loose, you retain control.

mtb_addict

schrader core. can't get the needle nose in there.
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curbtender

try some tweezers.

cmcanulty

I got a valve tool years ago for less than one dollar.

Bigbus

A lot of valve caps have the two prongs extended. Find them at the auto parts store for 'Shrader valves. I have one on everything I ride with Shrader valves and a spare in the tool box screwed onto a valve stem from a semi truck tire..

mtb_addict

ok...my treezer sort of works. but it is too flexible. so, i not sure if it is tight enough.

i will definitely go look for some one dollar core tool.

Bigbus

You want to be careful with that tweezers or you might damage the valve too. If the valve is in good nick it shouldn't need to be overly tightened as the rubber gasket will seal okay. Good luck and hope it works.

KDTX

So I was restoring an old school 20" BMX, the freewheel was stuck on and impossible to break loose. We tried putting the remover in a bench vise and turning the wheel but that didn't work. Finally I took a bike hanging hook and mounted to a stud low on the wall. Then put the wheel in the hook. Then took a 8' galvanized fence pipe and slipped it over the wrench on the remover. With just the slightest downward force (and leverage from the long pipe) the freewheel broke loose. The downward force drove the wheel in to the corner of the floor and wall. I was amazed how little force was needed with the long lever and also having the the wheel in a stable fix position. This would probably work for holding larger wheels as well to remove cassettes.