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Most amazing roadside spoke repair ever

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Most amazing roadside spoke repair ever

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Old 08-24-23, 01:59 PM
  #1  
Robvolz 
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Most amazing roadside spoke repair ever

Strange sized spoke. We had either too long or too short. And, no spoke cutting/threading tool.

this was for the Columbia Gorge ride. Car and driver consistently names it as one of the top 10 most enjoyable roads in America.

luckily I have a gent named Larry Black on the team.

he took two longer spokes, made hooks and zip tied them together, creating the length needed.

it’s now been 40 miles and Larry’s spoke trick is rolling true.

the pics:





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Old 08-24-23, 02:36 PM
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That is a wonderful repair.
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Old 08-24-23, 03:38 PM
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Nice work!

This reminds me I have a few of these somewhere: first aid spokes, by Simson. Maybe I should actually put one in my saddle bag ...

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Old 08-24-23, 04:31 PM
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Originally Posted by non-fixie
Nice work!

This reminds me I have a few of these somewhere: first aid spokes, by Simson. Maybe I should actually put one in my saddle bag ...

Larry's trick is probably the quickest, most painless fix for this.
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Old 08-24-23, 04:42 PM
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I'm impressed Larry has front jersey pockets.
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Old 08-24-23, 04:55 PM
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Low-key brilliant
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Old 08-24-23, 04:55 PM
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Larry was a hoot at the Auburn gathering last year. Lots of knowledge in that head of his.
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Old 08-24-23, 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Ex Pres
Larry was a hoot at the Auburn gathering last year. Lots of knowledge in that head of his.
...and a collection of bikes that numbers in the thousands I understand.
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Old 08-24-23, 07:35 PM
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Sure. What’s the big deal?
I mean, we ARE talking anout Larry Black, right?
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Old 08-24-23, 07:40 PM
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Wow, that's a great fix.
Send it in to GCN 'hack or bodge'
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Old 08-24-23, 08:32 PM
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If Larry can't fix it, it ain't broke

/markp
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Old 08-25-23, 06:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Robvolz
Strange sized spoke. We had either too long or too short. And, no spoke cutting/threading tool.
There must have been some way to cut it - it's cut.

And some way to bend it, it's bent.

Why not make just cut off the head and put a Z-bend in a too-long one?
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Old 08-25-23, 08:46 AM
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That’s a nice fix. What kind of rear hub is that? I would have guessed an internal geared but the rear derailleur argues against that. Is it some kind of tandem thing? At any rate that flange makes a drive side spoke repair a lot easier.
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Old 08-25-23, 11:32 AM
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Hmmf. So all we need to carry is two spokes of any length, 4 zip ties and a Leatherman. Leatherman - done. Several of my bikes carry two spokes under the left chainstay. You barely see the scotch tape and who looks at the left side? (besides me) Two spokes, one light for the front and left rear, a slightly shorter and one size heavier for right rear. My fix gears would need an extra for this.

And the zip tires, Free from electronics, etc. packaging, The length you get when you cut your merchandise free.

I like!
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Old 08-25-23, 03:40 PM
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Was the spoke to the rim from a 16" wheel? To have it that short would have to be from a different size wheel or threading way down a spoke with the rest trimmed off.
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Old 08-26-23, 06:43 AM
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Originally Posted by SJX426
Was the spoke to the rim from a 16" wheel? To have it that short would have to be from a different size wheel or threading way down a spoke with the rest trimmed off.
Yes -- two short spokes hooked together by bending one around the other's hub end nub. Pretty slick. The only spoke failure this wouldn't solve is the very common breakage of a drive side spoke at the hub, with no freewheel or cog removal tool handy, particularly with a low-flange hub.
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Old 09-05-23, 06:31 AM
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I would have thought some spoke wrench work would be the answer until a proper repair.
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Old 09-05-23, 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by 79pmooney
Hmmf. So all we need to carry is two spokes of any length, 4 zip ties and a Leatherman. Leatherman - done. Several of my bikes carry two spokes under the left chainstay. You barely see the scotch tape and who looks at the left side? (besides me) Two spokes, one light for the front and left rear, a slightly shorter and one size heavier for right rear. My fix gears would need an extra for this.

And the zip tires, Free from electronics, etc. packaging, The length you get when you cut your merchandise free.

I like!
Its hard to predict what spare parts to bring for a ride of 260 people (mostly tandems, but also singles and [gasp] some electric bikes).

Even though the ride is "Santana Adventures," all brands were represented.

Watching Larry work reminds me of the scene in Apollo 13 when Gene Kranz, played by Ed Harris, gathers the engineers and asks, "alright, what have we got to work with people."
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Old 09-05-23, 11:37 AM
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Call him the real 'Larry King'.... he's got the largest hoard of vintage bikes and parts imaginable. En'cyclo'pedic of the bicycle world. Can hammer fixed gear. Hardcore and one time used to race a high wheeler. Didn't exactly end well, but... you got to hear his stories from him. Cheer's
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