My good deed for the day

[redjedi]

As I was stopped in traffic at the Wood Lane road works (NW London), I saw a lady on a Ridgeback struggling with her chain.

I decided to give her a hand. When I got there here hands were black from all the crud all over her chain. I whipped out my latex gloves and got stuck in

Her chain had got stuck between the cassette and the spokes, so she was lucky she didn't come flying off.

After wrestling the chain back onto the cassette, I tried to work out what had caused it. My novice conclusion was that her chain was far too loose, as the rear cage was not taking up any slack.

I checked she would be able to change gears, but warned her not to shift back into first so it wouldn't happen again. I also advised her to get it looked at and have the chain shortened and the gears indexed.

She went on her way to work at the hospital, and probably spend the rest of the day washing oil off her hands.



One thing I did notice on her bike, was that the gear cables were crossed over under the downtube. Is this common or a badly set-up bike?

 

[fossyant]

Badly set up I'd say. Well done

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Mine cross over too, no other way to get a cable from the left hand shifter to go to the rear derailleur, is there?

 

[Black Sheep]

i've had two mountain bikes that cross over under the downtube or on a little plastic thingy under the bb like on the trek i'm building for millie

its normal on many bikes - provided they don't rub

 

[redjedi]

These cables were rubbing, and thinking about it, it must have been a really shoddy job.

The gear housing crossed over at the front then went into the frame bosses. Then they crossed over again half way along the down tube.

 

[thomas]

My good deeds on the bike usually include asking if people need a hand when they've got a puncture, in the hope they say they're alright so I don't have to stop and embarrass myself ...at least if they need a pump or something I can offer that

 

[mickle]

It's not particularly bad practice but I can't stand the look of crossed cables. Kona seem to do it a lot. I always run the cables on the side they originate, this allows shorter cable runs and ensures that the cable outers can have no detrimental effect on the steering.

Her mech was out of adjustment from a knock I reckon. Lots of new bikes have exceedingly soft replaceable mech hangers which will bend towards the wheel at the slightest provocation.

 

[Maz]

As I was stopped in traffic at the Wood Lane road works (NW London), I saw a lady on a Ridgeback struggling with her chain...

This thread is useless without links.


Coat. Get. I. Will.

 

[MacB]

This thread is useless without links.


Coat. Get. I. Will.

you really should be ashamed of that one Maz

 

[ianrauk]

My Specialized Globe has this

One thing I did notice on her bike, was that the gear cables were crossed over under the downtube. Is this common or a badly set-up bike?

 

[Lurker]

On a practical note - and speaking from personal experience - if you don't have Swarfega or similar at work, a mix of sugar and washing up liquid makes a good, mildly abrasive, cleaning agent for oily hands.

 

[Arch]

The cables on my FCR cross, it's how Tom set it up for me so it won't change now. I can't remember if he said there was a benefit, I think he said he was trying it out as a tactic. Can't ask him now

Anyway, they work fine.

Mind you, he also sneaked the rude pony sticker on to the bottom of the downtube without telling me, and I never noticed until the day my bike was handed down to me from the back of a van, some weeks later. (the pony in question appears to have 5 legs...)