Things You've Learnt From Fettling

[Racing roadkill]

Hitting stuff with a hammer works well.

 

[Jenkins]

Wear overalls or have specifice bike repair clothing. Chain oil & road grime mix is the most difficult substance to wash out and no matter how careful you are, it will get on whatever clothing you wear.

 

[Drago]

Teeth do not make a good substitute for pliers.

 

[Reynard]

Cable ties are a useful thing to have for when you don't appear to have enough hands to undertake the task at hand.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

A length of bootlace or sash cord can be useful for restraining a stubborn Schwalbe Marathon at one point when trying to fit to a wheel without resorting to the use of tyre levers. Cable straps also work just so long as you have cutters to hand afterwards.

 

[freiston]

A length of bootlace or sash cord can be useful for restraining a stubborn Schwalbe Marathon at one point when trying to fit to a wheel without resorting to the use of tyre levers. Cable straps also work just so long as you have cutters to hand afterwards.

In that sort of situation, I tend to use a toeclip strap. I haven't used toeclips for decades but I make sure that I have a few straps available. I sometimes use one as a front parking brake and I usually cinch one around my cape to stop it unrolling. They can come in handy in non-bike applications too.

 

[Drago]

My buttocks, as firm and tight as they may be, are not strong enough to crimp on a cable end.

 

[Dec66]

Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres are a b@stard to fit, and will happily chew up any misaligned brake block.

I found out the latter bit approaching a busy roundabout in the pouring rain the other night. Imagine my surprise and delight as I pulled the brake lever.

 

[freiston]

My buttocks, as firm and tight as they may be, are not strong enough to crimp on a cable end.

Better stick to opening beer bottles with them then

 

[Drago]

You been spying on me?

 

[Blue Hills]

Never ever adjust anything at all serious (including gears) on the day of a big ride/tour. I would even try to avoid touching the thing the day before. Save that time for packing etc.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

If you've forgotten to do something like grease a bolt before tightening, then undo the bolt, grease it, then tighten up again. It's guaranteed that if you don't do it there and then, then you won't do it later. Next time you'll encounter the said component , it'll be corroded in place and you'll curse not correcting that minor mistake months or years back.

 

[sheddy]

Get big releasable zip ties - handy for so many jobs.

 

[Jenkins]

I carry a pair of latex gloves in my saddle pack for fettling/tube changing on the road - I discovered today that they can be used as emergency waterproof phone covers, although the powder does make a bit of a mess!

Note: Edited for clarity/spelling - see next post for original fat fingered input

 

[Reynard]

I carry a pair of latex gloves in my saddle pack for fetttling/tyre changing on the road - I discovered today that they can be used as emergency waterproof phone covers, although the powder does maks a bit of a mess!

That's why I keep a plastic food bag in which to wrap my phone before putting it in my bar bag.