scoho

I imagine most folks on this forum like or at least don't mind working on their bikes, but there's probably also at least one thing that you dread every time it comes up.

Me, I hate anything to do with installing or adjusting a saddle. The grit in every cranny, the bolts and washers and clamps sliding all around, that nagging feeling for the next day or two that I haven't adjusted the angle or front-back position correctly.

What's yours? Likewise, I'm sure tips to lighten others' dread would be appreciated.

rumrunn6

cleaning the chain

scoho

How do you do it, and what don't you like about it?

franswa

I think I pretty much enjoy all aspects of maintaining and setting up my bikes. It's relaxing to me. If I had to choose one it would be when mounting certain tire/rim combos, and even then, I don't mind it all that much.

Leukybear 

+1

From a mechanic's standpoint, I'd imagine it'd be dealing with stripped or seized components of customer bikes.

TejanoTrackie 

Retaping handlebars.

TimothyH

Removing pedals.

Always feels like I'm going to bust a knuckle or gouge the bike frame.

JeremyLC

Buy a big, cheap pot from a thrift store, or Dollar General, or Poundland, or whatever you have locally. Use it to boil your chain in water with automatic dish detergent (do NOT use regular dish soap, you don't wwnt suds). You can toss your chain rings and cassette in there, too, if you have room. Let it get up to a good rolling boil - you want the parts to get fully up to boiling temperature. Remove the parts and place them on a towel to dry. If you got them hot enough the residual water will boil off immediately after you pull them out. You may want to buy a cheap, wire mesh "skimmer" to skim the scum off the top of the water before you take your parts out. They'll come up gleaming, re-lube and remount and you're good.


Disclaimer: I'm a single guy, I don't have a wife or SO to yell at me for making a hideous mess in the kitchen - and this is likely to make a mess. If you do, then I'd advise you to find a way to do this outdoors or in a garage. I take no responsibility for the damage to your relationship caused by any arguments this may produce.

Mumonkan

bleeding hydraulic brakes
working vertical hops/dips out of a wheel
anything involving tubes

didnt we have this thread once before? i just had deja vu writing these replies

drlogik 

I too, like to work on my bikes. It's a stress reliever for me. If there's anything that I don't really enjoy doing it is probably working on an old bottom bracket. I have to get it spotless and all of the grit and grime that builds up, gets inside the tubes, etc drives me nuts. If I hear any grit at all inside the bearing after I repack, I re-do the whole thing...

Funny that when I got my first hydraulic brake bike, a nice Kona Cinder Cone, I thought I'd hate working on those brakes but I actually really like it. Maybe it's the Shimano XTR's that I upgraded to though. It's always fun to work on the good stuff.


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50voltphantom

But man, it is satisfying when you get the figure-8 around brake hoods perfect with no extra piece

Leukybear 

I will give this a try. I can imagine you're talking about the pod style ones and not the brick style ones correct?

JeremyLC

I mean the standard powdered automatic dish washing detergent. The heat helps activate it, and it's designed to cut grease and oil. The heat also melts off any wax-based lube you might be using, hence the need for a skimmer(*). You may want to have a nylon brush on-hand for your cassette, too. This will get everything pretty clean, but there can be some stubborn road "goo" you'll need to scrub off. I got the idea from Sheldon Brown's website, and it's very effective.


*) Skimmer

franswa

For cleaning chains I just place chain in a glass jar with mineral spirits and soak and shake. Rinse with water, wipe clean and spin chain around like a cattle horseman and air dry that *****.

franswa

For real. That's when the beer gets cracked open.

Leukybear 

Got it, thanks!

I can imagine this will give me solvent washer type results.

JeremyLC

One last, very important thing, get a pot with a lid.

Mumonkan

Man i love retaping bars, idunno what it is

Spoonrobot 

lol @chain cleaning

I just spray with a hose when it looks too gross.

I do absolutely hate installing/removing bottle cages. There's no satisfying tool/process for completing this task.

TimothyH

I skip the figure 8 and extra piece entirely on my fixed gear bike and just go up one side like the pro's do. I think it looks racy to leave that little bit exposed, is quicker to do and saves 0.00437 grams.

TimothyH

Washing grease into the ground water isn't a good idea.

JohnDThompson 

Working on cheap department store bikes with suspension. Always a recipe for misery.

Mumonkan

I was going to say we have a winner, but then I thought about the worst bike thing of all:

Snaking housing thru a frame with no internal routing guides.

franswa

Pros do this? Not that pros actually touch their bikes all that much prior to a race/ride...

Spoonrobot 

Oh come now, you can't seriously think this has any effect on anything? What a ridiculous thing to say.