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What are these THINGS?

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Old 03-15-21 | 06:20 PM
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What are these THINGS?

First, yes, I could bike over to my local shop but with Covid still a presence, the less contact the better at the moment.

Just got a new Specialized e-road bike. While I believe that the yellow piece might be some kind of spacer to protect the disc brake calipers, the silver "fork" like thing was in the same plastic envelope. Actually, I'm not sure how to employ either item.

Then there are two studs on the non-chain side of the chain stay - well, when just now photographing them, I discovered they are rubber and protecting the side-by-side holes. There is a thickened plate on the inside of the chainstay. Purpose? Possibly a kickstand mounting position? Thanks in advance for any info.

Two "studs"

Tools or spacers of some kind?
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Old 03-15-21 | 07:04 PM
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Looks like a cheap spoke wrench and a disc brake pad spacer for when you removal the wheel. Keeps pads apart if you push the handle with the wheel removed.
I'd guess the holes are for a kickstand.

Last edited by dedhed; 03-15-21 at 07:07 PM.
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Old 03-15-21 | 07:35 PM
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Originally Posted by dedhed
Looks like a cheap spoke wrench and a disc brake pad spacer for when you removal the wheel. Keeps pads apart if you push the handle with the wheel removed.
I'd guess the holes are for a kickstand.
Thanks for the quick reply. I had not thought of spoke wrench. I will have to check its size. The only time I played with a spoke wrench was when one broke on a ride and I played trying to get the wheel to spin through the brake pads. Finally, undid the brakes - 40 miles of climbing a pass and descending 2,000 feet without that brake - carefully.
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Old 03-15-21 | 07:58 PM
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Not sure about the frame lugs, but I'd guess its a mount for a side stand. The yellow block goes in your caliper when bleeding the brakes, to prevent the brake pistons from moving. Your bike has a FutureShock, right? The silver fork thing is used when tensioning the headset bearings. The following video shows what its used for from the 6:52 mark.

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Old 03-15-21 | 08:58 PM
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Well, if it is a spoke wrench, it does NOT fit this bike's spokes (g)
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Old 03-15-21 | 09:12 PM
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Does your bike have a FutureShock?
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Old 03-15-21 | 09:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Kabuto
Not sure about the frame lugs, but I'd guess its a mount for a side stand. The yellow block goes in your caliper when bleeding the brakes, to prevent the brake pistons from moving. Your bike has a FutureShock, right? The silver fork thing is used when tensioning the headset bearings. The following video shows what its used for from the 6:52 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqG8ffTtenc
Ah, thanks for that. That bolt/nut must be very narrow (diameter) because that wrench would not even fit on the spoke. Its opening is very, very narrow.

But I hope you don't mind my asking another question before I hit up the bike shop - can the handlebar be raised on this type of complex connection? After three days of riding I'm thinking I would not mind the handlebar a somewhat higher. I saw where he had different plastic collars. (I begin searching web)
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Old 03-15-21 | 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by kahn
Ah, thanks for that. That bolt/nut must be very narrow (diameter) because that wrench would not even fit on the spoke. Its opening is very, very narrow.
Yes, 2mm.

Originally Posted by kahn
But I hope you don't mind my asking another question before I hit up the bike shop - can the handlebar be raised on this type of complex connection? After three days of riding I'm thinking I would not mind the handlebar a somewhat higher. I saw where he had different plastic collars. (I begin searching web)
There's two types of headset cap (short and tall) and you can add 15mm of spacers. So, do you have a FutureShock on your bike?

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Old 03-15-21 | 09:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Kabuto
Yes, 2mm.



There's two types of headset cap (short and tall) and you can add 15mm of spacers. So, do you have a FutureShock on your bike?

Yes, my three day old bike has Future Shock. It is: Creo SL E5 Comp

(I am an old guy and just learned about through axles four days ago!) What was nice, my body-float seat post fit this new contraption. And I see that same guy has videos on raising the height.

Thanks very much for the additional information.
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Old 03-15-21 | 10:26 PM
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Originally Posted by dedhed
Looks like a cheap spoke wrench and a disc brake pad spacer for when you removal the wheel. Keeps pads apart if you push the handle with the wheel removed.
I'd guess the holes are for a kickstand.
Wrong and wrong. As the OP now knows that is for the FS headset adjustment. The yellow block is obviously too thick to fit between pads...it's a bleed block. It only fits w/ the pads removed and pistons pushed back all the way.
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Old 03-15-21 | 11:10 PM
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Originally Posted by cxwrench
Wrong and wrong. As the OP now knows that is for the FS headset adjustment. The yellow block is obviously too thick to fit between pads...it's a bleed block. It only fits w/ the pads removed and pistons pushed back all the way.
I did think the yellow block seemed a bit thick to "replace" the disc when the wheel was removed. So I should find something to maintain the space (I recall blowing it on my mt bike years ago on my first and only flat) for a ride side flat repair. Road bikes are more prone.
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Old 03-16-21 | 05:40 AM
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Your bike shop should have supplied a similar spacer to use when you remove the wheel for transport, etc.
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Old 03-16-21 | 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by kahn
I did think the yellow block seemed a bit thick to "replace" the disc when the wheel was removed. So I should find something to maintain the space (I recall blowing it on my mt bike years ago on my first and only flat) for a ride side flat repair. Road bikes are more prone.
I don't know anyone that puts the pad spacer in whilst changing a flat. From what I've seen very few people put them in when transporting the bike on a roof rack or inside the car. I've never used one myself. I guess if you just can't be bothered to pay attention to what you're doing when handling the bike w/ the wheel removed they might be a good thing to have.
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Old 03-16-21 | 09:56 AM
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Originally Posted by redcon1

Your bike shop should have supplied a similar spacer to use when you remove the wheel for transport, etc.
I use this when I remove the front wheel and put my bicycle into the back of my SUV, as I will usually bump the front wheel brake lever while trying to finagle the bicycle between the seat backs.
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Old 03-16-21 | 10:47 AM
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I really want to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. I now know more about the intricacies of both the Future Shock and the disc brake. I will use my credit card - either as a spacer or to pay for the spacer and some other things
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Old 03-16-21 | 11:07 AM
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The silver piece of metal is the TOOL for seating and removing the electric wires for the bike. And as others have said the yellow is the spacer for the calipers.
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Old 03-16-21 | 11:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Bmach
The silver piece of metal is the TOOL for seating and removing the electric wires for the bike. And as others have said the yellow is the spacer for the calipers.
No, it's not for Di2. As posted previously it's for adjusting the FS headset. Shimano makes a tool specifically for connecting/disconnecting Di2 wires and it looks like this:


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