In praise of cable ties

[mangid]

I've been carrying cable ties around with me for ages, and finally they found a use. Poor guy at Waitrose discovered his rear wheel lock had comes loose, one like this:



One cable tie later and a thank you he was on his way. Last time I used them was three/four years ago when a ladies front brake had come off, and the nut had gone missing. Obviously the brake wouldn't work, but the cable ties got it out of the way and allowed a limp home.

 

[13 rider]

@Supersuperleeds had to borrow some cable ties off me on our last ride to strap up a broken mudguard . Always carry a couple in the saddle bag no weight but plenty of possible usages although I never needed them myself yet

 

[slowmotion]

I used a dozen releasable ties on my first attempt to get a Marathon Plus tyre on the rims. It was still a major struggle.

 

[PeteXXX]

And congratulations for not calling them zip ties

I always carry a few cable ties with me on rides. Last time they were used was on the Dunwich Dynamo to help another rider hold a part of his bike together!

 

[Heltor Chasca]

...Poor guy at Waitrose...

Discovered an inaccuracy in your post.

 

[DRHysted]

Cable ties and gaffer tape were always carried off-road driving when I had a 4x4. We once “repaired” suspension using them so we could get a truck off the Plains.

 

[cabbieman]

An oxymoron of the 1st degree

Discovered an inaccuracy in your post.

 

[mjr]

I actually used one yesterday to tie a cable to a stay. Radical move.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

@Supersuperleeds had to borrow some cable ties off me on our last ride to strap up a broken mudguard . Always carry a couple in the saddle bag no weight but plenty of possible usages although I never needed them myself yet

Borrow? If you want them back I'll have to get them out of the bin


Mudguard now fixed

 

[alecstilleyedye]

i've used them to tie a chainring to a crank and they were better than the bolts

 

[Ajax Bay]

From LEL - this lasted 200km before the rider managed to get to a bike shop (in daytime) get the crankset replaced, and on into the fenland winds and LEL completion

"The outer part (nearest the camera) from the spider down to and including the pedal became detached from the inner part, which includes the chain ring bolts, leaving the pedal flapping about. The break was about 2 inches from the pedal, on the rear of the crank arm, then ran up either side of the arm to the area of the spider. I believe Shimano crank arms are hollow, formed of a U shaped front, including the pedal drilling, and a plate welded to the back, which includes the drilling for the chain ring bolts. The break was along the weld line. The cable ties held the two parts together."

 

[Threevok]

I use them to tie brake hoses to older suspension forks

 

[si_c]

Always have a couple in the saddlebag, last used to replace a mudguard stay bolt that had rattled out. Realised it was quieter generally so replaced the other side too.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

As long as you snip the end off when you've attached it. As someone who has had one jab them in the eye in the past I fecking hate them left like that.

 

[rrarider]

They're useful little gizmos for sure but I wonder just how strong they are. In particular would anyone hang their bike by a cable tie for long term storage? I'm thinking of getting my steel bike (about 20-25lbs weight) out from the damp garage and hanging it inside from a thinnish (~3mm) tie for the winter months.