road side repairs...

lef

When changing an inner tube is it safe to carefully sit the rear end of the bike down so its resting on the derailleur when leaning against a tree / wall etc?

The bike is light so not a lot of weight on it.

Ben6899

I wouldn't, but I'm a bit OCD with this kind of thing.

Bobbinogs

I definitely wouldn't. For a start, I figure it would be easy to screw the alignment of the rear mech, etc. (I just had to buy a new one after a mechanical, but that's another story). I would also be very wary about resting the chain/mech in the dirt and crud. I can see lots of grit and crud getting picked up by an oily chain, with a potential of wrecking the cassette, etc.

AndyOgy

What's wrong with flipping the bike upside down?

neilgwhite

I believe I have a solution

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoon ... yn904l.jpg


Sorry, couldn't resist

Smokin Joe

It absolutely is NOT ok to rest the bike on the derailleur.

Upend it.

balthazar

Upside-down damages saddles, computers, bar tape and it may still fall over. Put the bike on its side (and remove/refit wheels with the bike the right way up).

MichaelW

Remove the wheel with the bike upright. Place the bike down drive side upwards whilst you change the inner. Insert the wheel, holding the bike upright.

Smokin Joe

balthazar wrote:

Upside-down damages saddles, computers, bar tape and it may still fall over. Put the bike on its side (and remove/refit wheels with the bike the right way up).

Take the computer off.

The only "damage" saddles and bar tape will suffer can be wiped off with your glove.

AndyOgy

Smokin Joe wrote:

balthazar wrote:

Upside-down damages saddles, computers, bar tape and it may still fall over. Put the bike on its side (and remove/refit wheels with the bike the right way up).

Take the computer off.

The only "damage" saddles and bar tape will suffer can be wiped off with your glove.

Exactly! And if you want to make things even more stable - Take the relevant allen key with you and rotate the bars upward slightly. It'll then be the hoods in direct contact with the ground and computers/lights etc will not get damaged. It'll add about a minute to the total repair time.

Monty Dog

Why wreck your saddle, lever hoods and bar tape when you can usually find a convenient fence, tree of ride-buddy to hold your bike for you? Otherwise, there's plenty of ways to lay-down a bike without resting it on the rear mech or needing to up-end it.

arthur_scrimshaw

balthazar wrote:

Upside-down damages saddles, computers, bar tape and it may still fall over. Put the bike on its side (and remove/refit wheels with the bike the right way up).

+1

Why would I want to risk scuffing an expensive saddle and hoods?

softlad

I always rest the bike on the mech when dropping the rear wheel out - right or wrong, it's never been a problem...

sundog

balthazar wrote:

Upside-down damages saddles, computers, bar tape and it may still fall over. Put the bike on its side (and remove/refit wheels with the bike the right way up).

+100

Lay the bike on its side, if your worried about scratching your pedals or levers then take up knitting

1_reaper

Can't see the problem with the saddle and bars on the grass verge(if there is one) just going to get wet at worse and will dry and or wiped off. Job done

lef

...okay i better stick to the knitting! So clearly two schools of thought on this one. I'm somewhat ocd about scratches, at least about the exoensive stuff. If its my commuter then yeah I'll chuck it wherever but my good bikes get looked after.

So has anyone actually damaged the mech or mech hanger from doing this?

sheffsimon

softlad wrote:

I always rest the bike on the mech when dropping the rear wheel out - right or wrong, it's never been a problem...

Same here, wont be a problem. Bit of grit on the chain isnt going to ruin your cassette, bikes are made of metal not cheese.

jibberjim

Or you could carry a repair stand on your back?

gregster10217

Just find a nice patch of grass and place it down drive side up. Wouldn't rest it on the rear mech, and wouldn't want to scuff the saddle/bars by upending, but thats just me.

jackthelad

this is basically quite easy I carry a plastic bag in my saddle bag with 3 rubber bands,
gloves of place one on each hood with an elastic band cover the saddle with the plastic bag and wrap a rubber band around the saddle ,then turn the bike upside down.

jackthelad

sheffsimon

jackthelad wrote:

this is basically quite easy I carry a plastic bag in my saddle bag with 3 rubber bands,
gloves of place one on each hood with an elastic band cover the saddle with the plastic bag and wrap a rubber band around the saddle ,then turn the bike upside down.

jackthelad

:shock:

bilirubin

jackthelad wrote:

this is basically quite easy I carry a plastic bag in my saddle bag with 3 rubber bands,
gloves of place one on each hood with an elastic band cover the saddle with the plastic bag and wrap a rubber band around the saddle ,then turn the bike upside down.

jackthelad

Looks like knitting for you then!!, please tell me you are winding us up, its a bike not a priceless antique.

bam49

I usually rest my bike upside down on a patch of grass - if you are worried about the speedo then you can stick your gloves underneath it to avoid any scratches.. I then put on a pair of latex / surgical gloves ( a mate at work gets them off his hairdresser chum , not me honestly :oops: ), to actually change the tube etc , they are easy to carry & stop your hands getting covered in crap...

feltkuota

I always carry a sky hook.

jackthelad

bilirubin wrote:

jackthelad wrote:

this is basically quite easy I carry a plastic bag in my saddle bag with 3 rubber bands,
gloves of place one on each hood with an elastic band cover the saddle with the plastic bag and wrap a rubber band around the saddle ,then turn the bike upside down.

jackthelad

Looks like knitting for you then!!, please tell me you are winding us up, its a bike not a priceless antique.

why create damage when it can so easily be avoided,what weight is their in a small plastic bag and a couple of rubber bands

ooermissus

feltkuota wrote:

I always carry a sky hook.

+1 - essential equipment

dilemna

Why not buy better tyres so your bike doesn't suffer punctures? Problem solved.

softlad

feltkuota wrote:

I always carry a sky hook.

I always levitate my bike off the ground using the force....