Talk Bike Shop to Me.

Some 'o y'all wanted a forum to have yer bikecycle questions answered direct from the source, well here I am in the cyber flesh ready, willing and able to answer all of yer dumb questions in a mostly judgement free manner.

Ask away you unwashed chumps.

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Permalink Reply by Hey! Bike Shop Guy on September 25, 2013 at 12:21pm

Not mines; I fix dem bikecycles real good like so's dey keep me on all de year.

Most customers ain't that dumb but some of them, de ones whos don't like gettin' dem stoppy brakes fixed, is less smart den de rest.

Of course you could use this posting as a way to ask intelligent questions or you could be shitty to a good bike mechanic trying to help you goddamn savages  and have a little fun all at the same time.

El Dorado said:

To the OP, thank you for helping us dumb bike customers out. Sadly, it will soon be the season that the bike business declines & your hours will be cut.

Permalink Reply by Hey! Bike Shop Guy on September 25, 2013 at 12:25pm

There is a lot to say about the subject of chain lube.  It's easy to do but gets a little complicated when it comes to frequency, cleaning and choice of lubricants.

Look for an upcoming post on the subject quite soon.

Michelle said:

Oooh! 

Chain oiling. 

I have a feeling that this is something I should already be doing. How is this done? What product should I use if I love my bike but am not wealthy? How often to a) keep my bike working but b) not spend every moment of free time on this? 

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 25, 2013 at 12:36pm

I liked teaching the classes and if I ever get some free time I am going to try to start them up again both at Element in both the city and Oak Park stores but possibly at some other venue.

In fact, if anyone had venue suggestions I would very much like to hear them.

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

I went to a couple of classes as well, it's a pity that shop has such high staff turnover.

Lisa Curcio 6.5 mi said:

There was this bike shop guy who was holding free classes last winter.  I was the only one who showed up for a couple, and another woman and I were at another.  That bike shop guy was really helpful.  I learned a lot, and I even remember some of it. 

So what tools?

Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on September 25, 2013 at 4:03pm

The other day, I was pumping up my rear tire.  When I tried to disconnect the pump (Topeak Joe Blow Pro with a "SmartHead" clamp lever), the pump gripped the tire's Schrader valve stem and wouldn't let go.  While trying to wrestle it off, the entire valve stem popped out of the tire, still stuck in the pump, releasing all the air in one big blast.  So, was it because I wasn't gentle enough, or because the tire had some sort of dry rot going on, and the stem was gonna fall off anyway?  And how do you remove grippy pump heads from tire valves?  Do I need to start spraying mineral oil or silicone or something on the valves before inflating so they release cleanly?

Permalink Reply by Hey! Bike Shop Guy on September 25, 2013 at 8:33pm

Oh, dats a rough one.

See thing is I have never torn a valve out like that.  Hows youz people get dem damn things on that tight I have no idea!

Here's my method.  

First off I never jam that thing all the way down on the valve stem, I just goes enough I know it will seal.  

After it's all pumped and I have to pull the thing off I make sure it is released 110% and then give it a lil side ta side twist to break the seal and pull STRAIGHT up on it.  I think the key to not pulling the valve out is to exert NO side load on the valve.  It can be tricky but you can do it.

Personally I dislike da Joe Blow head cuz it seems to have a harder time releasing compared to other pump headz.

Thunder Snow said:

The other day, I was pumping up my rear tire.  When I tried to disconnect the pump (Topeak Joe Blow Pro with a "SmartHead" clamp lever), the pump gripped the tire's Schrader valve stem and wouldn't let go.  While trying to wrestle it off, the entire valve stem popped out of the tire, still stuck in the pump, releasing all the air in one big blast.  So, was it because I wasn't gentle enough, or because the tire had some sort of dry rot going on, and the stem was gonna fall off anyway?  And how do you remove grippy pump heads from tire valves?  Do I need to start spraying mineral oil or silicone or something on the valves before inflating so they release cleanly?

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on September 26, 2013 at 1:43am

I know this is a little gross, but if a pump head is having a hard time making a seal, I will spit a tiny bit of saliva into the pump head. The saliva provides lubrication and helps make a firm seal. Obviously, it makes it easier to remove the pump without damaging the valve stem.  My topeak hand pump is especially bad at holding a seal and is super tight and this trick has worked great. YMMV.

Thunder Snow said:

The other day, I was pumping up my rear tire.  When I tried to disconnect the pump (Topeak Joe Blow Pro with a "SmartHead" clamp lever), the pump gripped the tire's Schrader valve stem and wouldn't let go.  While trying to wrestle it off, the entire valve stem popped out of the tire, still stuck in the pump, releasing all the air in one big blast.  So, was it because I wasn't gentle enough, or because the tire had some sort of dry rot going on, and the stem was gonna fall off anyway?  And how do you remove grippy pump heads from tire valves?  Do I need to start spraying mineral oil or silicone or something on the valves before inflating so they release cleanly?

Permalink Reply by Michelle on September 26, 2013 at 7:29am

This is more a legal question, but I'm not sure where else to ask it (we should have like a "sticky" questions thread... that would be cool) Anyway, my security guard at work keeps telling me it's illegal to lock my bike to a traffic sign (which I only do if all the nearby bike parking is taken, and which is right outside my office so the guard can watch it in person all day, which is great!) and that I'm going to get a ticket. It's just a standard sign with red letters that tells cars where they can park on the street... I've never HEARD about this being illegal, so I think he's joking, but he's kind of hard to read so he has me wondering.

Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on September 26, 2013 at 7:36am

--- Do *NOT* do the following!!! ---

If you ever want to really learn bike repair inside-out (and money/time are not an issue or you want to get into the exciting world of bicycle repair professionally) there are two well-know dedicated bike schools out there:

http://www.bbinstitute.com
http://www.bikeschool.com

There are other schools as well, these two are just the best known.

I looked into it one afternoon. Most people agree they are very comprehensive but also say experience matters most.

Permalink Reply by Michelle on September 26, 2013 at 7:40am

Ok I won't? Im confused.

Tom Dworzanski said:

--- Do *NOT* do the following!!! ---

If you ever want to really learn bike repair inside-out (and money/time are not an issue or you want to get into the exciting world of bicycle repair professionally) there are two well-know dedicated bike schools out there:

http://www.bbinstitute.com
http://www.bikeschool.com

There are other schools as well, these two are just the best known.

I looked into it one afternoon. Most people agree they are very comprehensive but also say experience matters most.

Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on September 26, 2013 at 7:43am

Yea, I hear you :) I'd be scared to touch a beautiful/expensive new bike without knowing exactly what I'm doing too. I started with a cheap bike off eBay and learned from that. (I actually did end up stripping the bottom bracket threading on that bike lol so let that be a warning to everyone to not touch a bike you care about until you've had experience w/ a bike you don't care about!)

There is a huge market for used vintage bike parts on eBay. A good way to learn without breaking the bank might be to find an old 70s or 80s beater. Mess around with that -- see what's inside the bottom bracket, the head tube, the wheel hubs, etc -- and sell of what you don't break. Just a thought :)

Michelle said:

Oh man Tom - the idea of that terrifies me! I wish I'd kept my older bike if I was going to pull that one - I don't want to take apart my new beautiful one!!!!! But its awesome that you don't have to pay to maintain your bike. 

Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on September 26, 2013 at 7:51am

Sorry, I should have been more clear. The reason not to is because it's very expensive, totally overkill, and even if you do become a bike mechanic, the pay-back period is too long to justify it, especially considering that you can gain a similar amount of knowledge by just becoming an apprentice in a bike shop which will make you money rather than taking money from you. There's also the opportunity cost of not learning something else instead as bicycle mechanics unfortunately don't earn very much money.

At least that's what the people on other popular bike forums say.

Michelle said:

Ok I won't? Im confused.

Tom Dworzanski said:

--- Do *NOT* do the following!!! ---

If you ever want to really learn bike repair inside-out (and money/time are not an issue or you want to get into the exciting world of bicycle repair professionally) there are two well-know dedicated bike schools out there:

http://www.bbinstitute.com
http://www.bikeschool.com

There are other schools as well, these two are just the best known.

I looked into it one afternoon. Most people agree they are very comprehensive but also say experience matters most.

Permalink Reply by BruceBikes on September 26, 2013 at 8:24am

If it's in the public way, it is totally legal.  From the Municipal Code:

9-52-070 Parking.
No person shall park a bicycle upon a street other than upon the roadway against the curb or upon the sidewalk against a rack, parking meter or sign pole to support the bicycle or against a building or at the curb in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic.



Cameron 7.5 mi said:

It depends on who owns the sign. Locking to a CTA sign is prohibited and the CTA has been know to cut locks. So avoid any signs that say something about a bus stop.

Michelle said:

This is more a legal question, but I'm not sure where else to ask it (we should have like a "sticky" questions thread... that would be cool) Anyway, my security guard at work keeps telling me it's illegal to lock my bike to a traffic sign (which I only do if all the nearby bike parking is taken, and which is right outside my office so the guard can watch it in person all day, which is great!) and that I'm going to get a ticket. It's just a standard sign with red letters that tells cars where they can park on the street... I've never HEARD about this being illegal, so I think he's joking, but he's kind of hard to read so he has me wondering.

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