All fixie newbs BEWARE

[earth]

I learnt a very important fixie lesson last week - the hard way.

You may have heard of a technique for cleaning your chain called the 'mickle method'. While this is a great method for quickly cleaning your chain don't ever - repeat - EVER use it on a fixie.

Our very own Mickle described the technique where (correct me if wrong) you essentially dowse the chain in lubricant and run it through a rag to clean the outer plates and remove debris from inside the chain. I do/did this by turning the bike upside down and turning the pedals by hand. I have never had any trouble with a freewheel bike but with a fixed the motion of the rear wheel will keep the drive train moving and the rear wheel can have significant inertia.

The upshot is if the rag gets caught in the sprocket it will be pulled in. The drive train will not stop as it would if the rear wheel had a freewheel, the momentum will keep it moving. This is a problem if you are holding the rag with your fingers.






My finger remained attached but the bone at the end was broken (first broken bone) and the tissue was almost cut through. I went to a plastic surgery clinic and they say it should be ok but it may not grow back completely straight and I will have a bump on the nail when it grows back.


BTW - Mickle if you are reading, don't worry. I blame nobody but myself for spinning the wheel too fast and not considering what might have happened.

 

[totallyfixed]

Been there, done that a long time ago now, but one thing is for sure, you are unlikely to do it again. Welcome to our exclusive little mad world.

 

[Hacienda71]

Ouch that looks very painful

 

[Fab Foodie]

Ouch that looks very painful

Ouch indeed!

But you're not the first...
Hope it gets better soon.

 

[zigzag]

ouch.. been there, only got away with less damage (one nail). showed the pic to my mrs (who deals with similar traumas every day), she said both nails should have been taken off, everything washed properly and stitched - there would be no marks after fingers heal up. which town/clinic did you go to?

 

[skudupnorth]

Ooooo that looks nasty ! I'll pass on joining your club if you don't mind

 

[Theseus]

Ouch!

Been there as well, but got away with just a nip to the finger as I was able to stop the wheel (just) in time. One of the things that I took note of when reading Sheldon's page on fixed.

I now do a version of the Mickle method where I turn the wheel with one hand and then hold it steady while wiping the runs of chain that are available, turn, hold, wipe ... repeat.

 

[fossyant]

Don't click on the pic if you are squeemish................. heh heh FULL detail !!

Doh........ Looks painfull..... bet it stung a bit..........

You can use the wipe method, just wipe the chain where it's running towards the sprocket, not the chain ring..... ouchy ouch.

I usually wipe the chain whilst static, spin it, stop, wipe again.

Urgh........... looks 'orrible !

 

[Rob3rt]

Hope you get well soon!

I find that instead of using the pedals to turn the chain when cleaning a fixie's chain, if you use the wheel, turning it with your hand, you have much more control of the inertia and indeed a finer level of control in general.

 

[DrSquirrel]

I do this, but I dont wrap my hand around the rag, I hold it at a distance - if the rag is pulled in my hands are far enough away and I let go.

Although serious stuff

Sheldon has some better pictures though, sorry mate (cant find the correct page)

 

[Theseus]

Sheldon has some better pictures though, sorry mate (cant find the correct page)

Bottom of this page!

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

 

[earth]

ouch.. been there, only got away with less damage (one nail). showed the pic to my mrs (who deals with similar traumas every day), she said both nails should have been taken off, everything washed properly and stitched - there would be no marks after fingers heal up. which town/clinic did you go to?

The only nail damaged was my index finger. My middle finger has a deep laceration between the middle and end knuckle. The blood on the middle finger nail is just a splatter. The hospital did what your wife suggested so I hope you are correct and it will heal perfectly. I fear I will have some scare tissue though.


It did not hurt as much as I thought it would. Just a dull pain really.

 

[Coco]

Ouch hope you heal soon. Very timely post though. I need to give my bike a thorough clean after sitting in the shed over the holidays. I'll be sure not to do what you did.

 

[Zoiders]

I did this last year and I had to pull my finger off the chain ring.

Cut half way through the nail, broken the tip.

I am surpised they sent you to the plastic surgery clinic, I pulled the tip straight my self straight away after I did it to pop the misaligned sides of the nail back in place.

It looked like I had a bit of wire tightened up around it until it reached bone, it soon went back to it's original shape.

Looks fine now, all I had as treatment was anti biotics, if you had actualy managed to sever it they wouldn't have bothered trying to sew the tip back on.

 

[robin IX]

You can use the wipe method, just wipe the chain where it's running towards the sprocket, not the chain ring..... ouchy ouch.

I wouldn't do it that way either, have a mate cut his finger off (hanging on by a bit of skin) in the sprocket.
Managed to get on Bizarre ER with it though