What I learned at UBI

[DebW]

Here are some little tips and tricks I learned at UBI:

Cow magnets can be used to remove loose bearings from hubs.

A Park pin spanner tool can be used to hold bar tape tight before the job is finished.

When breaking and replacing a pin on a Shimano chain, the new pin should go in from the same side the old pin was pushed out from. Mark that side of the chain with a Sharpie.

To toe in brake shoes (necessary on linear pull brakes), put a folded business card under the rear 1/3 of brake shoe and tighten flat against rim.

Rubbing alcohol should be the go-to solvent for general cleaning of parts and bearings. Stronger solvents can be used if needed. Never soak a chain, as that removes the internal grease which can't be easily replaced.

If removing bars to work on headset, strap the bars to the bike with a toe strap.

Little things that don't really matter but indicate professionalism: hub labels readable while sitting on bike (and through the valve hole), tire label at valve stem and on drive side, bar wraps are mirror image R/L, bar plugs with upright graphics, headset cup logos lined up.

[snapdragen]

Cow magnet?

[VeloVT]

I was thinking something more along these lines:



Regarding toeing in, an emery board works well too...

[DebW]

I was thinking something more along these lines:

Apparently they are magnets that cows are supposed to swallow. They collect metal that the cow has been ingesting and then all the metal ends up in a cow pie. Which apparently the farmer then collects and uses again.

[snapdragen]

Oh my, who knew.

http://www.magnetsource.com/Solution...s/cowmags.html

[madscot13]

Oh I thought cow magnets were used so that the cow wouldn't have nails floating along their intestines. I never thought the farmer would get the metal/magnet back!

[Zen]

To toe in brake shoes (necessary on linear pull brakes), put a folded business card under the rear 1/3 of brake shoe and tighten flat against rim.

That's clever

Never soak a chain, as that removes the internal grease which can't be easily replaced.

I knew soaking wasn't right!
Glad you're my camping bud

[smilingcat]

And don't forget about about front/back of the chain link to remove the pins. The instruction sheet on ultegra/DA chains will tell you. SRAM doesn't have the pin just a master link.

Smilingcat

[lph]

Oh, I loved this info! Who knew cow magnets existed

To toe in brake shoes (necessary on linear pull brakes), put a folded business card under the rear 1/3 of brake shoe and tighten flat against rim.
.

I was once told to use a match. It works ok, but something flat is better.

If removing bars to work on headset, strap the bars to the bike with a toe strap.
.

NIce - I was just wondering where the heck to do with the bars and all their attending cables when changing my stem recently!

Little things that don't really matter but indicate professionalism: hub labels readable while sitting on bike (and through the valve hole), tire label at valve stem and on drive side, bar wraps are mirror image R/L, bar plugs with upright graphics, headset cup logos lined up.

I mostly lurk on a Norwegian mtb forum, and it's had a hilarious style police thread full of stuff like this, which way to have your decals etc, what colour socks and how long they should be, etc. Lots of bike builders and bike shop people there.

[SouthernBelle]

How long should your socks be?

[lph]

Er, I forget. i think after somebody posted a pic of Lance wearing longish white socks they agreed that if you ride fast enough you can wear as long socks as you like. As long as they're not black

[maillotpois]

Oh, I loved this info! Who knew cow magnets existed.

Seriously! I have learned a LOT from this thread - not the least of which being the whole cow magnet thing!!

One magnet works for the life of the cow!

[VeloVT]

ok... can someone please tell me what a "toe strap" is ???

[OakLeaf]

Ah, how soon they forget.

It's what you used to use to clamp your foot down into a toe clip.

Fewer still (apparently) remember what kind of cleats we used to have to put on our cycling shoes to use toe clips.

I have to admit though Deb... I was wondering whether anyone still has toe straps lying around... and if so whether the leather isn't all dry rotted and unable to take even a the weight of a pair of handlebars!

[DebW]

Ah, how soon they forget.

It's what you used to use to clamp your foot down into a toe clip.

Fewer still (apparently) remember what kind of cleats we used to have to put on our cycling shoes to use toe clips.

And how we had to nail them to the bottom of our shoes.

I have to admit though Deb... I was wondering whether anyone still has toe straps lying around... and if so whether the leather isn't all dry rotted and unable to take even a the weight of a pair of handlebars!

Actually, they had the newer nylon variety, and they kept two attached to each workstand.

I took the two week professional mechanics course. More info in the Northwest thread.