Most/Least Liked Wrenching Tasks
#1
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Most/Least Liked Wrenching Tasks
The recent freewheel thread got me thinking. Some stuff I don't mind doing, others may not care to. Some things I don't like to do, others may enjoy.
Do you have a favorite wrenching task? A least favorite? I'll start.
I really like wrapping handlebars. Cloth tape, Cello, cork, ribbon...I like doing them all...
I dislike building wheels. I've done three, and they came out fine. But I found that I just don't enjoy doing it. My first one...
Apologies if this topic is redundant. I didn't see it in my searches.
Do you have a favorite wrenching task? A least favorite? I'll start.
I really like wrapping handlebars. Cloth tape, Cello, cork, ribbon...I like doing them all...
I dislike building wheels. I've done three, and they came out fine. But I found that I just don't enjoy doing it. My first one...
Apologies if this topic is redundant. I didn't see it in my searches.
#2
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I haven't found any tasks I dislike, but I've run across several needs where I just don't have the right tool. (chase, face a BB, etc)
BUT, I do dislike having to re-work something I already thought I'd taken care of. Another spoke breaks on the same wheel, that sort of thing.
BUT, I do dislike having to re-work something I already thought I'd taken care of. Another spoke breaks on the same wheel, that sort of thing.
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72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
#3
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Love building wheels, hate dealing with headsets.
#4
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Love: building wheels
Hate: changing a flat when on a group ride (guess why!)
Hate: changing a flat when on a group ride (guess why!)
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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Hate wrapping bars. I can always see the asymmetry and find fault in myself after I'm done.
But worst of all is bottom brackets. There is always some problem. Some stuck fixed cup that damages even my vise jaws before I resort to heating it red hot and destroying the paint, or bad threads that mysteriously are still bad even after I've chased them with my tap set or I have no idea which way it turns (French vs Swiss ) or weird 26tpi British Standard Cycle/Raleigh thing that is made of metal harder than my taps and only Phil Wood makes a non-cottered cartridge for. Or someone put in a threadless bottom bracket even though the shell is threaded ?!!
#6
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Cleaning and polishing. I have OCD, so I spend way more time at it than is necessary. Sometimes I'll remove all the spokes, hand-polish them, re-lace the wheel, true and tension it, only to decide I don't like it after all. Don't get me started on how many times I measure spoke tension, record it, graph it, etc.
#7
Senior Member
Changing tires. Hate it. Dumb. Stupid.
Give me some cleaner wax, degreaser, magic eraser, microfibers, and a bare frame, and I'm a happy guy for an hour
Give me some cleaner wax, degreaser, magic eraser, microfibers, and a bare frame, and I'm a happy guy for an hour
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I just overhauled the headset on a bike I ride a lot. First time since the early '80s. Grease was still good, shoulda left it. I had the nut off because I was putting a hanger on, so I felt compelled to do the overhaul
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Hate:
Installing square-taper cranks. Had one loosen up on me once, ruining it.
Cutting cables. Cutting wheel works, but melts the liner
Love:
Lubing the chain. Everything is smooth and quiet afterwards
Installing square-taper cranks. Had one loosen up on me once, ruining it.
Cutting cables. Cutting wheel works, but melts the liner
Love:
Lubing the chain. Everything is smooth and quiet afterwards
#11
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I enjoy building wheels - only done it a couple of times so far though. It appeals to my sense of making order out of chaos.
I hate installing saddles. I hate adjusting linear pull brakes, but that might be because I’ve only worked on the cheapos on my wife’s city bike.
I hate installing saddles. I hate adjusting linear pull brakes, but that might be because I’ve only worked on the cheapos on my wife’s city bike.
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#13
Pedalin' Erry Day
I like nearly all aspects of wrenching on bikes, the only things I don't enjoy are the simple tasks that sometimes become frustratingly fiddly: aligning disc brake calipers, running internal cable/housing, getting the end of the brake cable to stay in place in the anchor when setting up traditional brake levers, adjusting post style brake pad alignment, etc.
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#15
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I still enjoy building wheels. That's probably about it really. For some reason I used to enjoy patching sew ups, way back when. Not sure I would anymore, so please don't send me your flatted tubulars...
The rest I just endure. I've spent too much time wrenching.
The rest I just endure. I've spent too much time wrenching.
#16
Senior Member
Used to be I disliked wrapping bars.
Just couldn't ever get it even enough for my eyes. OK I got one right, Once.
But since I now use inner tubes not so bad.
Just couldn't ever get it even enough for my eyes. OK I got one right, Once.
But since I now use inner tubes not so bad.
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Love - riding, not wrenching
Hate - wrenching, not riding
Hate - wrenching, not riding
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#18
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Full overhaul of a new acquisition? Love it.
Routine maintenance? Grumble.
Routine maintenance? Grumble.
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#19
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Love: Headset fitting - very satisfying when the cups go in straight first try.
Hate: Trueing wheels. It's an art that I just don't have.
And removing cotter pins - the bike goes straight to the LBS.
Hate: Trueing wheels. It's an art that I just don't have.
And removing cotter pins - the bike goes straight to the LBS.
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I like 99% of it- brakes don't bother me, wheels are fun, even swapping tires and adding/removing fenders are fine by me. I like doing weird projects, too. Lug lining, polishing/brushing selective bits, etc.
BUT
I hate cleaning my bike. HATE. IT.
BUT
I hate cleaning my bike. HATE. IT.
#21
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I did find a simple solution, though.
#22
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Interesting takes, all, and thanks for sharing. One person's peeve is another's pleasure.
And count me as another who dislikes working on cottered cranks, although I think they are often better looking than most aluminum square taper cranks.
And count me as another who dislikes working on cottered cranks, although I think they are often better looking than most aluminum square taper cranks.
#23
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Love the tear down, perhaps because there is so much promise in getting it all cleaned up and polished and shiny and lubed and ready to be useful and pretty again.
Current hate, setting up vintage canti brakes. Just when I though I had it sorted %$#(*&!!
Current hate, setting up vintage canti brakes. Just when I though I had it sorted %$#(*&!!
#24
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Love the tear down, perhaps because there is so much promise in getting it all cleaned up and polished and shiny and lubed and ready to be useful and pretty again.
Current hate, setting up vintage canti brakes. Just when I though I had it sorted %$#(*&!!
(Image of twisted canti brake pad)
Current hate, setting up vintage canti brakes. Just when I though I had it sorted %$#(*&!!
(Image of twisted canti brake pad)
This would fit over at r/Justridingalong.
I found I really like wheelbuilding and oiling/greasing/loctiting parts.
Less enthusiastic about cleaning bikes and I always put it off too long. Even though I know I should do it before rebuilding a bike.
#25
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Most: Riding.
But for actual maintenance... maybe wheel adjustments. It's satisfying to watch a rim return to true. I just re-dished a wheel this past week and it was easier than I'd expected. I'd avoided this stuff for years, but might actually try building a wheel from scratch, although I'll probably start by borrowing time in a friend's shop since he already has the tools.
Least: Cleaning chain, cogs and chainrings. That's why I switched to waxing my road bike chains.
But for actual maintenance... maybe wheel adjustments. It's satisfying to watch a rim return to true. I just re-dished a wheel this past week and it was easier than I'd expected. I'd avoided this stuff for years, but might actually try building a wheel from scratch, although I'll probably start by borrowing time in a friend's shop since he already has the tools.
Least: Cleaning chain, cogs and chainrings. That's why I switched to waxing my road bike chains.
Last edited by canklecat; 06-16-19 at 08:14 PM.