Most/Least Liked Wrenching Tasks
#26
2-Wheeled Fool
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One of the best things I like about the work I do is making a beautiful old rustbucket into a working rider again.
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#27
señor miembro
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Love: rebuilding and adjusting pedals and loose ball bottom brackets.
Hate: polishing old spokes in a wheel.
Hate: polishing old spokes in a wheel.
#28
Hoards Thumbshifters
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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.
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#30
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I love cleaning up a frame and repacking the headset, then getting it to this state. All possibility, no frustrations yet.
#32
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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.
#34
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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.
#35
señor miembro
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#36
Sunshine
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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.
#37
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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.
#38
Edumacator
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#39
feros ferio
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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.
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"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
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#40
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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.
#41
Used to be Conspiratemus
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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...
#42
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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.
#44
Senior Member
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https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/bbcups.html
Cheers
#45
working on my sandal tan
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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.
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#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)
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#48
Extraordinary Magnitude
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I've got a VERY VERY nice wheel set waiting for one- and yet I'm dragging my feet...
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*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.
#49
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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.
#50
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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)