Most/Least Liked Wrenching Tasks
06-16-19, 03:54 PM
#26
2-Wheeled Fool
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 2,346
Bikes: Surly Ogre, Brompton
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1385 Post(s)
Liked 677 Times
in
457 Posts
One of the best things I like about the work I do is making a beautiful old rustbucket into a working rider again.
Likes For J.Higgins:
06-16-19, 04:29 PM
#27
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,602
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3870 Post(s)
Liked 6,461 Times
in
3,194 Posts
Love: rebuilding and adjusting pedals and loose ball bottom brackets.
Hate: polishing old spokes in a wheel.
Hate: polishing old spokes in a wheel.
06-16-19, 04:49 PM
#28
Hoards Thumbshifters
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Signal Mountain, TN
Posts: 1,156
Bikes: '23 Black Mtn MC, '87 Bruce Gordon Chinook, '08 Jamis Aurora, '86 Trek 560, '97 Mongoose Rockadile, & '91 Trek 750
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 246 Post(s)
Liked 333 Times
in
192 Posts
I hate committing to a wheel overhaul, the cleaning, the greasing bearings, bleh.
I love a wheel overhaul after committing to it. The cleaning, truing, greasing bearings, all of it. So satisfying once complete.
I love a wheel overhaul after committing to it. The cleaning, truing, greasing bearings, all of it. So satisfying once complete.
Likes For mechanicmatt:
06-16-19, 05:57 PM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 3,265
Bikes: '82 Univega Competizione, '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '83 Mercian KOM Touring, '85 Univega Alpina Uno, '76 Eisentraut Limited
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1088 Post(s)
Liked 1,205 Times
in
701 Posts
I love cleaning up a frame and repacking the headset, then getting it to this state. All possibility, no frustrations yet.
06-16-19, 06:16 PM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wurundjeri Country
Posts: 2,468
Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1079 Post(s)
Liked 1,896 Times
in
930 Posts
Love: pulling components apart, cleaning, greasing, and putting them back together again - brifters and hubs especially.
Love: polishing parts. The more beat up to start with the better.
Hate: repairing punctures.
Love: polishing parts. The more beat up to start with the better.
Hate: repairing punctures.
06-16-19, 07:57 PM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 2,701
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1136 Post(s)
Liked 650 Times
in
336 Posts
Wrapping bar tape and overhauling cup-and-cone hubs or bbs are my favorite tasks. I also enjoy rust cleanup and polishing aluminum.
Least favorite would be cleaning chains and truing wheels.
Least favorite would be cleaning chains and truing wheels.
06-16-19, 09:48 PM
#35
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,602
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3870 Post(s)
Liked 6,461 Times
in
3,194 Posts
06-16-19, 09:53 PM
#36
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,605
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10947 Post(s)
Liked 7,474 Times
in
4,181 Posts
I love cleaning components, overhauling an old bike, and setting it up to work better than it did new.
I hate figuring out where a clicking noise is coming from. Pedals? Chainring bolts? Bottom bracket? Loose crank arm?
It makes a nose when riding, doesn't when its on the stand, etc etc etc.
I hate figuring out where a clicking noise is coming from. Pedals? Chainring bolts? Bottom bracket? Loose crank arm?
It makes a nose when riding, doesn't when its on the stand, etc etc etc.
06-17-19, 05:03 AM
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Evanston, IL
Posts: 5,085
Bikes: many
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1442 Post(s)
Liked 1,388 Times
in
758 Posts
I don't mind anything about the wrenching aspects of vintage bikes except wrapping handlebars. I currently am procrastinating on three bikes in that regard, mostly, I think, because I'm awful at it and haven't ever gotten better. I'm pretty bad at lacing wheels as well, so tend to procrastinate there too, but still enjoy it, and sense a modest improvement in my ability over time.
06-17-19, 05:20 AM
#38
Edumacator
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Goose Creek, SC
Posts: 6,779
Bikes: '87 Crestdale, '87 Basso Gap, '92 Rossin Performance EL-OS, 1990 VanTuyl, 1980s Losa, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 1987 PX10, etc...
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2434 Post(s)
Liked 3,108 Times
in
1,957 Posts
06-17-19, 11:28 AM
#39
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,793
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1391 Post(s)
Liked 1,322 Times
in
835 Posts
I hate tight tire/rim combinations, such as the Contis and Campag. Omegas on my Bianchi.
I hate breaking a really "fixed" fixed BB cup loose. When I had the 1959 Capo repainted, I had Jim Cunningham remove the fixed cup. Cyclart had a vise on top of a post in the middle of a room, and it took his BB tool and the strength of both of us, one on the head tube, the other on the rear dropouts, to break the thing loose.
I hated cutting cables and housings until I got a really nice cable cutter -- nothing like having the right tool for the job.
To generalize, I like most automobile, bicycle, appliance, and home repair tasks for which I have the proper tools, but I sometimes get frustrated if I cannot safely and efficiently improvise.
I have always enjoyed wheel building and truing, as long as the rim is in decent shape. I like using derailleurs, and I like installing and tuning them.
I hate breaking a really "fixed" fixed BB cup loose. When I had the 1959 Capo repainted, I had Jim Cunningham remove the fixed cup. Cyclart had a vise on top of a post in the middle of a room, and it took his BB tool and the strength of both of us, one on the head tube, the other on the rear dropouts, to break the thing loose.
I hated cutting cables and housings until I got a really nice cable cutter -- nothing like having the right tool for the job.
To generalize, I like most automobile, bicycle, appliance, and home repair tasks for which I have the proper tools, but I sometimes get frustrated if I cannot safely and efficiently improvise. I have always enjoyed wheel building and truing, as long as the rim is in decent shape. I like using derailleurs, and I like installing and tuning them.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
Likes For John E:
06-17-19, 01:02 PM
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 580
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 254 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 182 Times
in
141 Posts
I’ll second adjusting seats. For some reason, whether it’s an old or new style clamp I always have to try three times to get it leveled. Also getting old style county brake pads just right. Every time I think I’ve got it, I find the total for the angle or something isn’t quite right.
On the other hand, adjusting derailleur cable tension just right is really satisfying. The feel of a smooth repacked bearing, whether it be a bottom bracket for wheel, is also really enjoyable.
On the other hand, adjusting derailleur cable tension just right is really satisfying. The feel of a smooth repacked bearing, whether it be a bottom bracket for wheel, is also really enjoyable.
06-17-19, 02:12 PM
#41
Used to be Conspiratemus
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hamilton ON Canada
Posts: 1,512
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 297 Post(s)
Liked 245 Times
in
163 Posts
The recent freewheel thread got me thinking. Some stuff I don't mind doing, others may not care to. Some things I don't like to do, others may enjoy.
Do you have a favorite wrenching task? A least favorite? I'll start.
I really like wrapping handlebars. Cloth tape, Cello, cork, ribbon...I like doing them all...
Do you have a favorite wrenching task? A least favorite? I'll start.
I really like wrapping handlebars. Cloth tape, Cello, cork, ribbon...I like doing them all...
06-17-19, 02:12 PM
#42
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,321
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 767 Post(s)
Liked 1,898 Times
in
889 Posts
I’ll second adjusting seats. For some reason, whether it’s an old or new style clamp I always have to try three times to get it leveled. Also getting old style county brake pads just right. Every time I think I’ve got it, I find the total for the angle or something isn’t quite right.
On the other hand, adjusting derailleur cable tension just right is really satisfying. The feel of a smooth repacked bearing, whether it be a bottom bracket for wheel, is also really enjoyable.
On the other hand, adjusting derailleur cable tension just right is really satisfying. The feel of a smooth repacked bearing, whether it be a bottom bracket for wheel, is also really enjoyable.
06-17-19, 03:07 PM
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,624
Bikes: iele Latina, Miele Suprema, Miele Uno LS, Miele Miele Beta, MMTB, Bianchi Model Unknown, Fiori Venezia, Fiori Napoli, VeloSport Adamas AX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1324 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
640 Posts
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/bbcups.html
Cheers
06-17-19, 04:30 PM
#45
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,627
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3870 Post(s)
Liked 2,563 Times
in
1,577 Posts
I like nearly all aspects of wrenching on bikes, the only things I don't enjoy are the simple tasks that sometimes become frustratingly fiddly: aligning disc brake calipers, running internal cable/housing, getting the end of the brake cable to stay in place in the anchor when setting up traditional brake levers, adjusting post style brake pad alignment, etc.
BTW, I do love building and truing wheels. In fact, I relish taking an old bent wheel and getting creative in restoring it to rideable shape.
I think all of this is predicated on having plenty of time to do the task, though. If my time is constrained, I enjoy the thing much less. I doubt I could be a profitable bike shop employee.
Likes For vintagerando:
06-17-19, 04:54 PM
#47
Optically Corrected
I enjoy cleaning, lubing, tuning. Drive trains in particular. I strive to make them purr.
Least enjoyable task would be dealing with ANYTHING “stripped” or “seized”.
(Although, l must admit, “freeing” a frozen fastener/whatever... is VERY rewarding! LOL)
Least enjoyable task would be dealing with ANYTHING “stripped” or “seized”.
(Although, l must admit, “freeing” a frozen fastener/whatever... is VERY rewarding! LOL)
Likes For KLiNCK:
06-17-19, 06:24 PM
#48
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,644
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2607 Post(s)
Liked 1,696 Times
in
935 Posts
I've got a VERY VERY nice wheel set waiting for one- and yet I'm dragging my feet...
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
06-17-19, 06:53 PM
#49
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: oregon coast
Posts: 235
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 76 Post(s)
Liked 76 Times
in
44 Posts
i loooooove building things. from wheels, to complete bicycles (i haven't made my own frame yet, but soon!), i just love wrenching.
i hate cleaning though. my bikes sit dirty for way too long because of it.
i hate cleaning though. my bikes sit dirty for way too long because of it.
06-18-19, 05:44 AM
#50
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Evanston, IL
Posts: 5,085
Bikes: many
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1442 Post(s)
Liked 1,388 Times
in
758 Posts
For the other procrastinators out there (I am perhaps a charter member in the club), I offer this recent article from the NY Times:
Why You Procrastinate (It Has Nothing to Do With Self-Control)
Why You Procrastinate (It Has Nothing to Do With Self-Control)