I finally have a job that I can ride my bike to and from. And, as such, I rode there this morning. I unlocked and set off on my way home as usual, but quickly noticed something. My handlebars were loose. Like each of the faceplate bolts on the stem had been backed off a few turns. I had a 6mm wrench for my rear wheel, but nothing else, so I just rode the 3 miles home bars shifting around all the while. Total suck. I now know what it's like to ride with really narrow and loose flat bars - the drops were utterly pointless to even hold on to while cruising on the flat, to say nothing of going up hill or down or when stopping. Also, 4 people tried to take me out with their cars. This, of course, has nothing to do with my loose bars as a cause, but it made the whole of the experience all the worse.

Blah. Loose bars suck.

remove, grease, and tighten. won't happen again. grease makes the world go 'round.

i hope you mean grease the bolts

Go grease lightning you're burning up the quarter mile
(Grease lightning go grease lightning)
Go grease lighting you're coasting through the heat lap trial
You are supreme the chicks'll cream for grease lightning
Go grease lightning you're burning up the quarter mile
(Grease lightning go grease lightning)
Go grease lighting you're coasting through the hit lap trial
You are supreme the chicks'll cream for grease lightning
Lightning, lightning, lightning
Lightning, lightning, lightning
Lightning

bad idea! greased lightning will actually take the grease off.

Maybe you have gremlins.

My buddies are pretty mischievous. Any unattended bike or car gets molested (gently). Especially if they've been drinking.

That being said, we wouldn't do things like loosen bolts. That's dangerous. We just let air out of tires lift windshield wipers.

I left my bike in our building's "bike room" the other day for five minutes while I ran back up to our apartment to get a roll of film. I came back down and my handlebars were at a 45 degree angle and the seat was at about 15 degrees. Wierd. I don't know who messed with it, but I didn't notice the seat until I hopped on to ride and nearly took out my left boy.

To clairify: They only mess with the bikes and cars of the other buddies. Not people we don't know.

I still can't figure out how they came loose - it had to have been deliberate. The difference between what it was like when I went into work and when I left was huge - not something that I wouldn't have noticed on the ride in.

Which makes me wonder: who the hell packs allen wrenches when going to the mall?

Well, I do, but I don't mess with bikes. And I'm able to fix my bike if someone messes with it.

That said, I don't go to the mall very often...