Cool ideas to re-use old bike parts
07-23-18, 04:13 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 144
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 86 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Cool ideas to re-use old bike parts
So most of us already know there a million and one ways to re-use old inner tubes. They make great shims, by the way. I'm just curious what other cool ideas out there. For example, I'm trying to think of a use for all these used bearings I have left over. The best idea I could come up with was to make a little plinko board for them, but it would probably only work for one size of bearing.
Please share your cool ideas for whatever old bike parts. They don't even have to be your own ideas.
Please share your cool ideas for whatever old bike parts. They don't even have to be your own ideas.
07-23-18, 05:38 PM
#2
Often on Fritz
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 536
Bikes: Franken-Fritz, Horse-Feathers, Junker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 117 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I took an old spoke, bent one end to an acute angle and use it to clean hair out of the traps in the sinks around here...
The wife gets grossed out by cleaning the sink traps, but it's got to be done. Nothing like pulling a big ol' honking hair clog out of a poorly draining sink!
I've also used the rollers from old chains as washers and spacers on some quick fixes here and there. I like to think that when we sell this place, someone's gonna find these bits of pieces incorporated in small places and be like "What the heck?..."
That's about it, I look forward to some cool ideas from this thread!
The wife gets grossed out by cleaning the sink traps, but it's got to be done. Nothing like pulling a big ol' honking hair clog out of a poorly draining sink!
I've also used the rollers from old chains as washers and spacers on some quick fixes here and there. I like to think that when we sell this place, someone's gonna find these bits of pieces incorporated in small places and be like "What the heck?..."
That's about it, I look forward to some cool ideas from this thread!
07-23-18, 07:05 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 144
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 86 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by DanBraden
I've also used the rollers from old chains as washers and spacers
Nice!
07-23-18, 07:17 PM
#4
:D
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 6,172
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,182 Times
in
1,459 Posts
Used an old chain, seat post, seat collar bolt & nut to serve as a chain whip to remove cassette cogs.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
Likes For Troul:
07-23-18, 09:05 PM
#5
Often on Fritz
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 536
Bikes: Franken-Fritz, Horse-Feathers, Junker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 117 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by toast3d
That's brilliant! I've used presta valve nuts as spacers when installing a front rack before, but using the outside of a chain roller never even occurred to me. I wonder if they're big enough to fit your standard size braze-on screw.
Nice!
Nice!
Should've gotten the correct sized bolt (I'm sure i intended to...), but it was probably late and it worked so I never bothered!
Edit: wasn't the braze-ons, they are too wide on Fritz, it was the lower rack mounts.
Last edited by DanBraden; 07-23-18 at 09:20 PM.
07-24-18, 05:49 AM
#7
Senior Member
People in the third world use bicycle parts in lots of ingenious ways; such as using cranks and chains to hand power a grain grinder, or pump water.
07-24-18, 06:06 AM
#8
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,205
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 148 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3245 Post(s)
Liked 2,648 Times
in
1,539 Posts
07-24-18, 06:16 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 36,148
Mentioned: 205 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16661 Post(s)
Liked 11,762 Times
in
5,625 Posts
I toss old bike parts.
07-24-18, 06:21 AM
#11
Senior Member
If you have a spare rubber c-ring that is usually supplied with handlebar accessories to go on the inside of the accessory handlebar clamp to a provide grip and/or spacing for narrower bars, you can use it as a marker for setting your sag if you don't have one as standard on your shocks. Easy on, easy off and no messing around with zip ties.
07-24-18, 06:30 AM
#12
All Campy All The Time
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,402
Bikes: Listed in my signature.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Liked 82 Times
in
55 Posts
In my other hobby- radio control model boats and helicopters, I use leftover stainless steel bike spokes for pushrods, guy wires, etc.
Empty co2 cartridges make great handles for small files.
I used a quick release skewer to make a quick release rip fence for my band saw.
I attached a blinky bike tail light to the end of a load of long lumber sticking out of the pickup truck coming home from Lowe’s.
Empty co2 cartridges make great handles for small files.
I used a quick release skewer to make a quick release rip fence for my band saw.
I attached a blinky bike tail light to the end of a load of long lumber sticking out of the pickup truck coming home from Lowe’s.
07-24-18, 06:57 AM
#13
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 9,716
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2403 Post(s)
Liked 2,733 Times
in
1,664 Posts
07-24-18, 07:05 AM
#14
Knurled Nut
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 14,869
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7836 Post(s)
Liked 8,376 Times
in
4,679 Posts
I've turned old chains into flails for use against attacking dogs. Much easier to use than a bullwhip.
07-24-18, 07:27 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 3,921
Bikes: Trek 1100 road bike, Roadmaster gravel/commuter/beater mountain bike
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2259 Post(s)
Liked 1,680 Times
in
921 Posts
I've seen a flea market which used entire old bikes to make a decorative fence around the front of the property.
07-24-18, 08:09 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Groningen
Posts: 1,297
Bikes: Gazelle rod brakes, Batavus compact, Peugeot hybrid
Mentioned: 82 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5402 Post(s)
Liked 876 Times
in
668 Posts
We used to have a big central square christmas tree made out of old bicycle frames here. I met the artist once, years before, and he also had plans to make festival tents out of bicycle frames.
07-24-18, 08:20 AM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 832
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 90 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
15 Posts
Originally Posted by Milton Keynes
I've seen a flea market which used entire old bikes to make a decorative fence around the front of the property.
Originally Posted by Stadjer
We used to have a big central square christmas tree made out of old bicycle frames here. I met the artist once, years before, and he also had plans to make festival tents out of bicycle frames.
07-24-18, 08:31 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Groningen
Posts: 1,297
Bikes: Gazelle rod brakes, Batavus compact, Peugeot hybrid
Mentioned: 82 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5402 Post(s)
Liked 876 Times
in
668 Posts
@Philphine That's cool too, those are the parts that really have a beautiful shape outside their function.
And I use battery bicycle front lights to light the wardrobe, that's not really cool but quite practical.
And I use battery bicycle front lights to light the wardrobe, that's not really cool but quite practical.
07-24-18, 02:23 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 564
Bikes: 1976 Raleigh,2015 Bianchi Intenso, 2012 Specialized Secteur.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
There's a pub where my son goes to college that has several of these bull's head looking affairs hanging up made from a saddle and handle bars. Might make one for my man cave.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/500532...76172/?lp=true
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/500532...76172/?lp=true
07-24-18, 02:59 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Posts: 2,632
Bikes: 2015 Trek Emonda SLR, 2002 Litespeed Classic, 2005 Bianchi Pista, 2016 Devinci Hatchet, Some BikesDirect MTB I never ride.
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 636 Post(s)
Liked 119 Times
in
80 Posts
I have a wall clock made out of a used chainring, and a sprocket with a short length of chain as a pendulum.
07-25-18, 02:05 AM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,319
Mentioned: 216 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17218 Post(s)
Liked 3,963 Times
in
2,943 Posts
There was a recent episode on Forged in Fire where they made knives out of bicycles.
Forged in Fire episode last night
And they parts they didn't make knives out of were used for chipping blocks.
I might have to try a chain knife.
Forged in Fire episode last night
And they parts they didn't make knives out of were used for chipping blocks.
I might have to try a chain knife.
