Zip Ties To The Resuce!!!

Zip Ties...my new best friend! They are very versatile. I am stocking my seat bag with a small handful from now on and here is why...

Today my rear shifter cable broke. The cable evidently frayed off inside the shifter and the whole thing just fell right out. Zip ties to the rescue! I zip tied the saggy cable to my bike frame and zip tied the loose cable end to my handlebars. Luckily I was on a mostly flat bike trail so my one gearing option (middle ring, little gear) was acceptable. Unluckily, I was 12 miles from the car.

Then about 5 miles from the car, something came loose in the back...I'm assuming because there was no cable tension...and the chain was rattling all over and it felt like it was trying to jam up. Zip ties to the rescue again! I'm not exactly sure what I zip tied to what, but somehow two zip ties and a hair rubber band supported part of the rear derailleur and it kept my chain in the right place. Bike is now in the shop. The shop guys said, "Hey! Zip Ties! Wow, good idea!"

I have a cheap back flat fender that's tied down to my bike rack underneath by zip ties. So cheap and effective.

I'm not sure I could be so creative on the fly, but I'm holding not only my rear blinky light but also both of my Wald folding grocery baskets to my commuter's rear rack with zip ties. Way easier (and more secure, it seems) than the brackets that came with the stuff, which always seemed to work loose on my bumpy-road commute. Yep, zip ties are pretty fabulous...

Way to go!

If you can't fix it with zip ties, paper clips and duct tape, it ain't broke. ;)

Add velcro to that list!

You are such a McGyver! That is awesome! I love cable ties and that reminds me that I just used the last of them and need more!

you can fix anything with zip ties and duct tape!

That is awesome. There have been many days that I often wished that I had cable ties with me. A couple in my saddle bag might not be a bad idea!! :)

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Originally Posted by annielynn

That is awesome. There have been many days that I often wished that I had cable ties with me. A couple in my saddle bag might not be a bad idea!! :)

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And they weigh virtually nothing so you won't notice any extra weight ;)

I always carry a couple of reusable Zippies too, it's amazing how useful they can be.

Clock

reusable? Never heard of such a thing, can you post a link? Those would be GREAT for my stupid cadence sensor, among other things...

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

reusable? Never heard of such a thing, can you post a link? Those would be GREAT for my stupid cadence sensor, among other things...

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Copy this link into your browser and you will see how cheap they are, also the generally come in various lengths.

If you have trouble getting any, let me know and I will send you some. :)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Zip-Tie-reusab...item2a04b95da5

Clock

Cool, thanks!

On centuries or long trail rides, we zip tie a spare tire to the seat post or frame. They are also great for attaching race numbers or maps to the handlebars. Of course, I'm married to a mechanic so we have HUNDREDS (in different lengths and colors)! With a few zip ties and a pocket knife, he could build you a new bike on the side of the trail.

If it's a temporary installation, ust don't cinch them down to tight or they are hard to cut off.

Good Job! :D

I always carry a few zip ties with me, and I keep a 12" Velcro tie strap wrapped around the downtube for emergencies. Used it to hold a loose cable housing and kept it from rubbing on the front tire every time the fork compressed. When I got home, I re-routed the cable and used a zip tie, but being able to quick-fix on the trail before it damaged the housing was great.

Thinking ahead will keep you going on two wheels instead of walking home.

I like that velcro wrap idea! Must add a piece of that to all of the bikes.

I love them too, and since they started coming in colors I love them even more!