Skylark Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 (edited) Over the years I've done a fair bit of damage to the various bikes I've owned when they've fallen over while pumping the tyres/applying chain lube, fiddling with the brakes/RD/FD, washing it etc etc. You lean it up against something, get going and then the bike falls over and the tubeless valve stem snaps off in the pump head... Normally the front wheel rolls out, the bars spin around and the bike crashes on your head/finger/hand/cheek bone. Often whilst the bike is falling the pristine paintwork on your new frame/Thomson seatpost/Hope Stem gets torn along the facebrick wall it was leaning against, if you have terrible luck then your fork stanchion may even get scratched....I've also had lights smashed/seats torn, various parts mangled on the way down. So bladdy irritating, nevermind sometimes expensive and that it normal happens just before you are about to go ride. So anyway I have seen some guy made this rubber band thing that you hook round the bars/grip and brake lever and that locks your brake and his idea was that you can lean your bike on one pedal, supa kif. Well never seen it in SA and I've tried rubber bands that looked the same, tyre inners, nothing really works easily or effectively.Ok found the original bike brake rubber strap thing.http://bikebrake.com/ So yesterday it occured to me that a velcro strap would work perfectly, so I thought of making something up but then the light went on and I remembered I had some old straps from a RAVX frame mounted pump in the toolbox, I have also seen them at the lbs sold in pairs on their own. Tried it out, works perfectly, such a useful thing. Lock the front brake and the wheel/bike can't move while leaning up on something, all that falling over movement needs the front wheel turning. Quite amazing how rooted to the spot the bike becomes with the front locked, bike literally doesn't move an inch. I've stored the strap loose on my bars for quick access but you could also store it elsewhere, that may defeat the object though. Also good for roadside/trailside repair jobs, the worst ones where you trying to use a multi-tool to loosen some seized part and the bike falls over every 2 seconds till you are forced to use one hand to hold the bike and the other to loosen the crazy tight part till it finally feels like a tendon deep in your shoulder will never be the same again.... Obviously you can also use this like the other guy to lock your brake and use your pedal as a bike stand, that also works a charm - the strap must be on the rear brake lever for that to work and you need some object like a rock or pavement etc to lean the pedal on. Should work on any mtb or road bike with brake levers! Edited March 28, 2014 by Skylark El Scorcho, fanievb, SimpleDom and 7 others 10
2wheelsgood Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 Simple and effective - excellent! Thanks for sharing.
Skylark Posted March 28, 2014 Author Posted March 28, 2014 That bikebrake site also mentioned another great use for this.Locking the wheels when the bike is in a bike carrier - stops the cranks turning on the back wheel and possibly nice to have on the front wheel. I wouldn't lock the brakes too tight when doing that, you don't have to anyway and I wouldn't leave the brakes locked for longer than a day or 2.
deanbean Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 I just cut a piece of tube, and it stays on my grips, till I need it. It's always there.
Cruz Addict Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 Ok found the original bike brake rubber strap thing. http://bikebrake.com/ thats a frikken good idea of what to do with all those stupid bloody balance bracelets everyone has lying around, rebrand and sell NixM 1
nimthor Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 (edited) Thanks for sharing! Super usefull tip. You should post it in one of the bicycle mags where they have a column for such usefull tips, think Bicycling Mag used to have and usually have some nice price for the best tip. Thinking of it and looking at the Bike Brake site, a good use for those old Livestrong armbands nobody is wearing anymore. Edited March 28, 2014 by nimthor
MaXiMuM Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 Too cleaver by half... Like! I saw a stretchy kind of ring my daughter had. I think I might have to "redistribute" it...
Active Monkey Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 Awesome... Used yesterday too test. Just one q.... Won't it stuff up your brake lever or spring?
Butterbean Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 (edited) Cajees had the bike brake for a while, when I bought my first cheapie they gave me one for free! Think I still have it somewhere? Edited March 30, 2014 by AfdElite
arendoog Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 Nearly chopped of my finger yesterday while setting my brakes on up upside down bike .It got caught in the disc brake while the wheel was rotating .Almost like one of those biltong slicers in the butcheries
SportySpice Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 Used the fantastic idea yesterday and works very well!! Thanks for sharing
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