Product Modification: Wine Cork for a Brake

I am discovering that wine corks seem to provide solutions to a variety of bike related annoyances. I stumbled across this cool hack on Kevin Kelly's site. It's a simple yet brilliant idea for an age old problem.

I know some brakes have the ability to be engaged when the bike is not in motion, but I have seen very few. And if you don't rock a kick stand, you often return to a bike on the ground after you have leaned it against something only to have it move on you. I know I for one could have used this idea before as my road bike has a huge dent in the frame because it fell over into pole at a rest area one time. I'm pretty sure this would have kept that from happening.

Comments

[Chuck Davidson]

There was a product call the "Flick Stand" I had back in the day, that clamped to the down tube very simply. It had a heavy gauge wire bail that would flick down to engage and lock the front wheel parallel to the frame. It was very simple; one bolt clamped it to the tube, and acted as hinge for the bail.

Very sweet off the shelf hack.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adriennejohnson/3829278098/

[Benzo]

Chuck... could that flick stand be something like this VO Wheel Stabilizer ?

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/accessories/tools/vo-wheel-stabilizer.html

[S]

I had one of those flick stands as a kid in the early 90's!

[bg]

I use part of a clothespin to do the same thing.

[Peter]

Other options include hair ties or rubber bands to secure the brake levers. A short loop of velcro will also work.

[Georgine Carlos]

I'm pretty sure this would have kept that from happening.