I put it in mutual_aid since these threads are basically hexbear helps hexbear with bikes and I dunno where else to put it since main is dead.

Imagie via https://motherfuckingbike.com/, stylized by the creators from their Song "Motherfucking Bike" 'cause everybody who's on a bike occasionally has to ride the Tour de Fuck you.

Anyways, I bring y'all some tips on what to look out for if you wrench on your bike. It's hardly a dangerous task , but maybe ya boi can save you some bandaids.

  • Whenever you wrench shit near either the front chainrings or the rear cassette, such as the rear derailleur, rear derailleur hanger, the chain, the crank or the pedals - double check as to which why you apply tension and where your hand escapes to should it slip. I.e. if you're trying to crack loose a pedal, apply the force as such you do not ram your hand into the chainrings. Those fuckers are sharp.

  • Brake Discs are sharp, too, act accordingly

  • If you're fucking with old cables, for brakes or gear shifters, beware that they tend to unravel if you fuck with them and then you get prickly strands of metal which are very easy to insert into a finger. It's not especially painful or bad but it is fucking annoying. Use pliers if ya can.

  • If you're wrenching near a wheel and you have to check if it rolls okay, i.e. when you dial in brakes or gears or maybe when you're setting in your wheel with old style lugs or an old Quick-Release-Skewer, make sure you stop the wheel before you get your grubby hands near it. I've nearly broken my finger once or twice because I though it was fine, but a regular sized bicycle wheel can store a surprising amount of energy and you do not want your fingers caught in the spokes. Imagine putting a stick in a spinning bicycle wheel, except the stick is your finger.

That's it, that's the tips. It's not dangerous, I just thought it'd be a good post because I nearly had to go to the ER recently disregarind one of those (I'm fine now).

What else is on your mind regarding bicycles? Questions? Wanna show off accomplishments?

I recently managed to finagle a 1/2"x1/8" Singlespeed chain through a rear derailleur hanger by skipping the quicklink and opting to manually bolt the chain back together and I'm kinda proud that one worked out, even if it does rattle a bit. At least I can ride the fucker again now.

  • CptKrkIsClmbngThMntn [any]
    ·
    3 years ago

    <brag>I biked 30k on Friday and another 55 on Saturday! Wanna get back into shape for the summer and potentially doing a bikepacking trip.</brag>

    Also, did you lose your last account 4bicycles?

    • 5bicycles [he/him]
      hexagon
      ·
      3 years ago

      <brag>I biked 30k on Friday and another 55 on Saturday! Wanna get back into shape for the summer and potentially doing a bikepacking trip.</brag>

      Nice one, what's the terrain look like for you? I often look wistfully at even the slightest hills as where I live is just entirely goddamn flat.

      Also if you can do those distances already, I think you're basically good to go for a bikepacking trip, allthough more fitness never hurts. It's a whole day activity anyways, I always try to plan for 2/3 of the way, big rest with lunch, then do the last 1/3. The resting really helps.

      Also, did you lose your last account 4bicycles?

      Yeeeeeeeeep. Kinda salty now the pun don't work anymore but alas, life is nasty, brutish and short.

      • CptKrkIsClmbngThMntn [any]
        ·
        3 years ago

        It's more about being in shape for the season, since winter biking isn't that easy around here. I did one from Toronto -> Ottawa -> Montreal a few years back, averaging about 100k a day, with the biggest one 167, just over the 100 mile mark. Rest and especially lunch is a huge thing - there's nothing like food in your belly on a long ride to perk you up.

        life is nasty, brutish and short.

        :graeber: