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Show me your hacks

Old 09-30-19, 05:24 PM
  #1  
blackieoneshot 
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Show me your hacks

What bike related hack, bodge, or modification have you made this year? I discovered that my Abus 685 lock (6mm links, 76cm length) just barely fits in my Zefal bottle cage container. It’s been a great solution for me. The whole rig is under two pounds, it’s easy to move from bike to bike, and it looks clean on the frame.




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Old 09-30-19, 11:20 PM
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I guess all I've got right now is that I keep bike stuff (tools, flat stuff) on the bike, because it tends to be specific to the bike; and personal stuff (clothes, water, food, first aid) in the backpack.
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Old 09-30-19, 11:54 PM
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My hack is to leave my lock at work.
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Old 10-01-19, 05:40 AM
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Phil_gretz
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Originally Posted by alan s
My hack is to leave my lock at work.
Me, too.
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Old 10-01-19, 05:56 AM
  #5  
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I started buying the skinny Lezyne frame pumps, and storing them inside my seat tube, out of sight. Cleaner look than using the frame mount.

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Old 10-01-19, 06:56 AM
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@blackieoneshot - that cable lock looks pretty short. You must not lock the front tire?

As others mentioned, I leave my lock at work too. And a few different clothing items that I switch out once in a while.
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Old 10-01-19, 09:18 AM
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This is an old mouse pad that I shaped into a mudflap. Works but lasts only about two seasons.
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Old 10-01-19, 10:04 AM
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I started storing my spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, and multi-tool in an old water bottle. Cleaner than leaving them loose in the pannier and easy to swap between bikes.

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Old 10-01-19, 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted by mcours2006
This is an old mouse pad that I shaped into a mudflap. Works but lasts only about two seasons.
& as you might remember, I copied you! works great! THANKS!



I rarely yank it off so I'm on the fence about adding more secure fasteners. I kinda like the quick release feature
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Old 10-01-19, 02:04 PM
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mcours2006
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
& as you might remember, I copied you! works great! THANKS!



I rarely yank it off so I'm on the fence about adding more secure fasteners. I kinda like the quick release feature
That's awesome!!
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Old 10-01-19, 03:54 PM
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Here's a double hack, or maybe a triple, depending on what counts

1. use a cheap led flashlight instead of a spendy bike-branded light
2. affix the flashlight to the handlebars with interlocked hose clamps, instead of plastic bike-designed light mounts
3. use your stem to display motivational artwork

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Old 10-01-19, 10:15 PM
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flangehead
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Rubber Bike Rack Bumper

I use hose clamps quite a bit also.

The wave-style bike rack at my work was rubbing the paint. I found a used serpentine belt and attached it with hose clamps.

Viola! Rubber bike rack bumper!



Soft place to lean the bike.


Serpentine belt held in place with hose clamps.
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Old 10-02-19, 06:45 AM
  #13  
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I've been carrying my backpack to work like this for almost 20 years...
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Old 10-02-19, 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by flangehead
I use hose clamps quite a bit also.

The wave-style bike rack at my work was rubbing the paint. I found a used serpentine belt and attached it with hose clamps.

Viola! Rubber bike rack bumper!

Soft place to lean the bike.

Serpentine belt held in place with hose clamps.
Dang, this should be a standard design feature. It wouldn't be hard.

I might have gone the glue route
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Old 10-02-19, 03:27 PM
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I put a small 350 watt motor on my commuter 6 years ago. Does that count? Its drop bar and doesn't look anything like an ebike, so it rather surprises people with its speed (avg, ~25mph). Its a nice option when I don't feel like doing the 25mile round trip without a little boost, or when I'm just feeling lazy.
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Old 10-02-19, 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by chas58
I put a small 350 watt motor on my commuter 6 years ago. Does that count? Its drop bar and doesn't look anything like an ebike, so it rather surprises people with its speed (avg, ~25mph). Its a nice option when I don't feel like doing the 25mile round trip without a little boost, or when I'm just feeling lazy.
Many occasions when battling a stiff head wind, or in the middle of winter I wish I had some assist on my 24-mile RT commute.
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Old 10-02-19, 03:49 PM
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I should also mention that my mouse pad mudguard was a necessary hack because of this one commute:

This is without the mudflaps.


This is with the mudflaps.


Still lots of accumulation on the BB, but non from the front wheel spray.
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Old 10-02-19, 04:14 PM
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Originally Posted by chas58
I put a small 350 watt motor on my commuter 6 years ago. Does that count? Its drop bar and doesn't look anything like an ebike, so it rather surprises people with its speed (avg, ~25mph). Its a nice option when I don't feel like doing the 25mile round trip without a little boost, or when I'm just feeling lazy.
So your motor is in the rear hub, and the battery is taped behind the seat tube, or inside the frame bag?

BTW I like that half-triangle frame bag, which still allows use of your water bottle cage
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Old 10-02-19, 04:37 PM
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My hacks:

Electrical fittings (p clamps, conduit hangers) for attaching racks and chain guards on bikes that don't have eyelets.

Innertube rubber for bungee's and shims.
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Old 10-02-19, 04:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Gresp15C
Innertube rubber for bungee's and shims.
I use old innertubes as a layer of bar tape under my bar tape
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Old 10-02-19, 06:35 PM
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Innertubes also make a good frame protector if you're consistently leaning your bike against something like a metal pole or rack.
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Old 10-03-19, 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by RubeRad
So your motor is in the rear hub, and the battery is taped behind the seat tube, or inside the frame bag?

BTW I like that half-triangle frame bag, which still allows use of your water bottle cage
Battery is in the Relevate frame bag. I love those bags. (that is the controller behind the seat tube - I wanted it out in fresh air to keep it cool as I run it pretty hard.
https://www.rei.com/product/877047/r...sku=8770470001

Originally Posted by mcours2006
Many occasions when battling a stiff head wind, or in the middle of winter I wish I had some assist on my 24-mile RT commute.
Agreed. My ride home is west, which if it is windy is always into the wind. Its nice to have this option in the spring, when the wind is strongest and I'm at my weakest.

In the winter, it allows me to run studded tires (which normally are horribly slow) but still maintain my summer pace.
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Old 10-06-19, 12:38 AM
  #23  
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Old 10-07-19, 09:31 AM
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Originally Posted by alan s
My hack is to leave my lock at work.
+1

The plastic cover of my previous armored cable lock cracked and started coming off. I stopped by my LBS and asked if they had any MTB tubes they'd replaced recently. Cut off the appropriate length, slid it over the cable, and it lasted three years. Repeat lasted two more years until the lock got flaky and I replaced it.

Another hack is on my 12 or 13 year old Shimano brifters. Can't find replacement hoods that fit, so I've wrapped them with self fusing silicone tape. Took a couple tries to get the self-fusing to work (hint: you have to stretch it more than I thought), but it's working adequately.
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Old 10-07-19, 09:42 AM
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Originally Posted by devianb
What's going on here? Is that a guide for a front disk brake cable, bolted to the back of the fork at the caliper brake hole? What was that original piece of metal you started with?
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