Canti made of zip ties
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,894
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 779 Post(s)
Liked 947 Times
in
456 Posts
Canti made of zip ties
This bike parks outside of my regular coffee shop. The man who rides it is either homeless or close to it. I often see him commenting on peoples bicycles and he seems to like to tinker.
Anyways check out his front brake…
Anyways check out his front brake…

#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 3,290
Bikes: '82 Univega Competizione, '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '83 Mercian KOM Touring, '85 Univega Alpina Uno, '76 Eisentraut Limited
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1087 Post(s)
Liked 1,202 Times
in
698 Posts
Yikes. I may have a straddle cable that would work and would be happy to donate to the cause. Not taking anything away from his ingenuity, but you know, safety and all.
Likes For noobinsf:
#5
Newbie
It's old school anti lock braking. That being said, who doesn't cut off the tails of their zip ties? What a barbarian!
Also what's up with the tin foil on the spokes?
All joking aside, I also have a straddle cable that I would ship for free to help him out.
Also what's up with the tin foil on the spokes?
All joking aside, I also have a straddle cable that I would ship for free to help him out.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,894
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 779 Post(s)
Liked 947 Times
in
456 Posts
Yeah I was thinking he likely just couldn't find a straddle cable easily. Although we have a co-op in the neighborhood that you'd think would have some lying around. He's always at the coffee shop so I'll check with him tomorrow morning and see what the deal is and report back. Thanks all!
Last edited by polymorphself; 11-28-22 at 05:24 PM.
Likes For polymorphself:
Likes For grant40:
#9
Tinker-er
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Posts: 273
Bikes: 1956 Rudge Sports; 1958 Rudge Sports; 1983 Univega Alpina Uno; 1981 Miyata 610; 1973 Raleigh Twenty; 1971 Raleigh Twenty; 1994 Breezer Lightning XTR, V4 Yuba Mundo aka "The Schlepper", 1987 Raleigh "The Edge" Mountain Trials, 1951 Rudge Aero Clubman
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 113 Post(s)
Liked 159 Times
in
110 Posts
What he needs is the clamp bolt on the left side canti. After that, it's just a straddle cable or even a short end of an old used brake cable.
Likes For PhilFo:
#10
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,058
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2543 Post(s)
Liked 3,020 Times
in
1,833 Posts
If you squint it's mint
Likes For dedhed:
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,894
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 779 Post(s)
Liked 947 Times
in
456 Posts
Not sure if he has a place to sleep at night but I know he doesn’t have a roof during the day, he usually stays at the coffee shop all day every day and is friendly with the staff and regulars. The baristas hook him up. Nice guy.
Likes For polymorphself:
#12
ambulatory senior
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Peoria Il
Posts: 6,030
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1848 Post(s)
Liked 3,177 Times
in
1,474 Posts
As an aside, I have worked on the less fortunate's bikes many times. Once I fixed an excons bike. It was a mess and I made it safe. About a month later he murdered a prostitute. No telling where things lead. I still help anyone I can.
Likes For 52telecaster:
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,894
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 779 Post(s)
Liked 947 Times
in
456 Posts
I delivered meals to old folks for years. Our organization also helped the homeless. Some are incredibly resourceful but this just makes me want to cry. The world is a tuff place and I can't fix it.
As an aside, I have worked on the less fortunate's bikes many times. Once I fixed an excons bike. It was a mess and I made it safe. About a month later he murdered a prostitute. No telling where things lead. I still help anyone I can.
As an aside, I have worked on the less fortunate's bikes many times. Once I fixed an excons bike. It was a mess and I made it safe. About a month later he murdered a prostitute. No telling where things lead. I still help anyone I can.
For what it’s worth he always seems in good spirits and keeps busy reading lots of books. I’ve recently seen him with a construction vest on as well some days so I’m thinking he may be working some gig now at least part time.
Lola Coffee if any other downtown Phoenix folks are reading.
Likes For polymorphself:
#14
ambulatory senior
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Peoria Il
Posts: 6,030
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1848 Post(s)
Liked 3,177 Times
in
1,474 Posts
Yep, definitely never know, which I suppose is as good a reason as any to help anyone you can!
For what it’s worth he always seems in good spirits and keeps busy reading lots of books. I’ve recently seen him with a construction vest on as well some days so I’m thinking he may be working some gig now at least part time.
Lola Coffee if any other downtown Phoenix folks are reading.
For what it’s worth he always seems in good spirits and keeps busy reading lots of books. I’ve recently seen him with a construction vest on as well some days so I’m thinking he may be working some gig now at least part time.
Lola Coffee if any other downtown Phoenix folks are reading.
Likes For 52telecaster:
#15
www.theheadbadge.com
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,351
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 4,031 Times
in
1,988 Posts
Likes For cudak888:
Likes For polymorphself:
#17
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,716
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3090 Post(s)
Liked 2,052 Times
in
1,335 Posts
I'm not convinced this is worse than the original equipment, except that it seems to be about 3x more zip ties than required to do the job. Maybe he's worried about twisting them
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
Likes For Darth Lefty:
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: North, Ga.
Posts: 2,361
Bikes: 3Rensho-Aerodynamics, Bernard Hinault Look - 1986 tour winner, Guerciotti, Various Klein's & Panasonic's
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 145 Post(s)
Liked 331 Times
in
141 Posts
Just another reason disc brakes are obviously better!
Likes For embankmentlb:
Likes For Imazagi:
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,356
Bikes: '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1524 Post(s)
Liked 2,007 Times
in
995 Posts
UV will kill the zip ties over time.
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Likes For SJX426:
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,993
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 721 Post(s)
Liked 1,784 Times
in
1,032 Posts
Like Russel , I have tried to help the homeless at my shop. They come around and rifle through the dumpster on their bikes . I give them whatever recyclables I have and even hired them for cash work like cleaning and painting. I have stopped doing it as it got a bit out of hand. It does not take long for the word to get out. I hired a man to paint my shop floor and he obviously has mental health issues. He showed up on foot right after I hired him and I asked him what happened to his bike. He told me it got stolen while he was asleep in the river bottom. I had an old mountain bike , a mid level Specialized that I had bought in 1990 but didn’t use anymore. I tuned it up and gave it to him with a nice lock. He showed very little emotion when I gave it to him and the next day he had taken the handlebars off and put hi-rise bars on. The grip shifters and brake levers were dangling off the bike as the cables were too short for his “new” bars. The front derailleur was completely bent and he traded the original front wheel for some painted one off a beach cruiser. Two days later the bike was stolen . I asked about the lock I gave him and he just looked at me. He clearly did not have the capacity to be on his own . It is very sad and in my area there are hundreds living without the help they need , and I’m not talking about hand outs .
Likes For Kabuki12:
#22
ambulatory senior
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Peoria Il
Posts: 6,030
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1848 Post(s)
Liked 3,177 Times
in
1,474 Posts
Like Russel , I have tried to help the homeless at my shop. They come around and rifle through the dumpster on their bikes . I give them whatever recyclables I have and even hired them for cash work like cleaning and painting. I have stopped doing it as it got a bit out of hand. It does not take long for the word to get out. I hired a man to paint my shop floor and he obviously has mental health issues. He showed up on foot right after I hired him and I asked him what happened to his bike. He told me it got stolen while he was asleep in the river bottom. I had an old mountain bike , a mid level Specialized that I had bought in 1990 but didn’t use anymore. I tuned it up and gave it to him with a nice lock. He showed very little emotion when I gave it to him and the next day he had taken the handlebars off and put hi-rise bars on. The grip shifters and brake levers were dangling off the bike as the cables were too short for his “new” bars. The front derailleur was completely bent and he traded the original front wheel for some painted one off a beach cruiser. Two days later the bike was stolen . I asked about the lock I gave him and he just looked at me. He clearly did not have the capacity to be on his own . It is very sad and in my area there are hundreds living without the help they need , and I’m not talking about hand outs .
Likes For 52telecaster: