BikeHacks

Blinding Bicycle Hack

One recurring question I have is, "Why don't bike companies paint frames with reflective paint?" Readers might have more wisdom than I on this topic. Is it too expensive? Is it too difficult? It just seems like common sense to me. 

Until bike companies start coating frames with reflective paint, that leaves readers like Sara exploring their own creative ways to improve visibility at night.  Take it away Sara . . .

* * * * * * * * * * * *
Covered my commuterized Specialized Myka Elite Disc in cheap reflective tape from ebay.
Really effective and also makes it look like an undesirable rubbish bike!

P Clamps for Rack Stabilization

Attaching stuff to your bike can be tricky.  Yes, certain parts come with an express purpose in mind, but they do not always function the way you want them to.  Reader CamoDeafie, who also submitted a post on Military Bags as an affordable bike bag option, did not like the parts his rack came with so he came up with his own solution.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I recently got a Sunlite Alloy rack for one of my bicycles, which does not have rack eyelets on the seat stays, after trying to get the OEM clamps to stay, since the seat stays tapered upwards, the OEM stuff kept wriggling and loosened by going further down the seat stays, so I decided to go get a couple P clamps, and mounted them to the original mount holes on the rack itself, it is now very secure and a rather clean looking rack :)

This is the Sunlite clamp system; a V bar and a straight bar, the straight bar is supposed to be on the outside of the seat stays, while the V bar is supposed to be inside, between seat stays and seat tube; due to the V shape, it would not stay in place on a seat stay system that tapers towards the seat; thus after riding it a while, or putting any load on the rack, the clamp would wriggle and fall down towards the crossbar;

I replaced the OEM clamp system that kept falling down on the tapered seat stays with two P Clamps; here is the relatively clean installation; I say relatively, because compared to the OEM style of mount, it is better, but it is not as clean as a braze-on system (which would really be awesome to see..)

a view from the seat tube area;

overall view of the rack area from above;

And yes that is a Cat Eyes rear light mounted in place of the rear reflector.

Fix It Sticks Haiku Contest Round #3

Thank you to everyone who has submitted entries for our Fix It Sticks haiku contest.  This is the third summary post (first summary here and second here) and I have to ask for patience on the part of all the rest who have submitted as I dig through my email .  There are still a few days prior to the March 1st entry deadline so visit the original post for details.

Ty: Milwaukee, Wisconsin


what!? a loosened bolt
with clever tool light and quick
mechanic's delight


Joyce: Houston

1) Flying free on our bikes . . .
2) Oops!  Technical difficulties!  But we won't worry.
3) Fix It Sticks save us!

:)

Kat: Ontario, Canada


Five and six hex bits
Phillips and flat screwdriver
That’s how I roll saaan!

Two little orange sticks
Interlock them together
Creates my dream tool

Happiness is love
Fix It Sticks make me happy
I love Fix It Sticks


JonD:   London, Ontario


Little orange sticks
Is there nothing I can't fix?
Yeah, OK. Puncture.


Brian: Near Syracuse NY

Fix / It / Sticks / are / kicks
Brok / en / down / but / out / a / town
It’s / an / eas / y / fix


MikeMega: Bemidji, MN


D.I.Y. Pride in your Ride
You hack it yourself
Like you push your own pedals


Matt:   Tacoma, WA


Bit by bit we hack,
Fixing with sticks, riding well;
These are tools we need.


Art: Whitewater, WI

Got a problem little space
Storage easy in bike bag or jersey
Fix it sticks awe yeah.


Josh: Southern, AZ

the number she gave
it was actually hers
thank you fix it sticks

wish I had a car
said no sane person ever
fix it sticks are cool

my bicycle broke
the fix it sticks I had won
I was rescued by

I need something small
that will fit inside my pants
she never said it

crashed into a tree
handlebars twisted sideways
i need fix it sticks

drunk biking is fun
yeager and bikes dont mix well
my seat came un-did

I got her number
at a critical mass ride
I fixed her shifter



Richard: San Bruno, CA

international
orange - the Golden Gate Bridge
of bicycle tools


Felix: Seattle

If trouble finds you while
Riding your bike, then fix it sticks
You want to head home.

Tools that work
One name comes to mind
Fix it sticks!!!

Say no more
All I need is you
Fix it sticks!!

Riding down the beaten path
And adjustment on the fly you need
Fix it sticks can help

Tape Handlebar Tape

Reader Ronan converted a bike recently and in an attempt to save some money, ended up using tape for handlebar tape. I might want to contact Roland in a few months to see how this hack stands up to the test of time.  In my experience with tape, it eventually begins to separate and the sticky adhesive might then be, well, sticky on the hands.  Others who have employed a similar hack are welcome to comment.

Take it away Ronan . . . .

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I recently converted an old Claud Butler 10 speed hybrid road bike into a single speed bike.  After spending nearly £200 on paint and parts for the bike I have finally finished.

But I had forgotten to buy myself some handlebar grips for my bike, so being the every resourceful person that I am I decided to try and not spend any money on the handlebar grips, so I used some black electrical tape wound round the bars as the grips.

The tape offers a very very very grippy surface to hold on to and even better than that they are very comfy little grips for less that 50 pence a side. I will be using more electrical tape handlebar grips in the future.

U-Lock Hose Hack

Don't want to bang up your frame with a u-lock? Reader Jean-Marie from Portland sent along this easy and ingenious hack. His hack also reminded me of a similar tactic for chain locks employing corduroy.  Take it away Jean-Marie . . . .

Here's a simple hack to make your Kryptonite look better ! I used a piece of gardening hose to embellish my lock.

Simple and cheap. It looks good and protect your frame.

After the Storm

The icebergs that formed along the streets of Boston after the storm are starting to melt away and this has made for some horrifying sights along the sides of the roads.  The snow beside roads becomes covered in dirt and salt and this sight made me sad.

It will take a whole lot of TLC to get this whip back in riding shape.

Sunglasses Shop Giveaway Bonanza Supreme

As I wrote in a recent post, Sunglasses Shop is going to give a pair of Oakley Fives Squared glasses to a BikeHacks.com reader. Here is what the bad boys look like -

It's easy to enter, and your odds increase from what I understand because Facebook is unavailable to about 20% of the world's population. Instructions and details are below.

Instructions to Enter and Winner Selection

1. Go to the Sunglasses Shop Facebook page and Like the page.

2. Post "Enter BikeHacks.com Oakley Giveaway" on the wall of the Sunglasses Shop Facebook page.

3. A random drawing will be conducted and the winner will receive as standard pair of Oakley Fives Squares (p0lished black) with the lenses of their choice (non-prescription).

4. The winner will review the glasses and the review will be posted to Bikehacks.com

5. Deadline to enter is March 8th, 2013.

DIY Bicycle Saddle Bag

Reader and hack minded Karen wrote to us about solving that pesky problem of carrying necessities when you ride.  She gained inspiration from Acorn Bags and with some materials that were laying around and some good old hand sewing, she came up with a dope hack.  Description and pictures below.  Thanks Karen!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I have been looking for a cool and practical way to put my wallet, cell phone, keys and essentials while riding. I found the Acorn Roll Bag and really like the look of it so I decided to make my own version of it. I butchered a couple of reusable shopping bags to make the body of the bag and most of the pockets.



I don’t have a sewing machine, so I hand-sewed everything together old-school style with a thread and needle. I found a zippered pouch that used to hold my Thermos and pinned that on too. What I think is the coolest part is that the bag itself actually opens up to form a giant pouch.


The whole thing is cinched together with a leather belt. I put leather toe straps through the loops in the bag (the loops used to be part of the handles). The toe straps will be what attach the bag to the saddle. I haven’t tested out the bag on an actual ride yet, but I’m pretty pleased with it.


If readers have a used a hack to carry essentials, feel free to send it along to us for posting.

Fix It Sticks Haiku Contest Round #2

Thank you to everyone who has submitted entries for our Fix It Sticks haiku contest.  This is the second summary post (first summary here) and we will definitely have more posts to come as I have time to dig through my email .  There is still plenty of time to enter so visit the original post for details. Brian over at Fix It Sticks sent along this picture to give readers a hand in writing =)

Steve: Tucson, AZ

Fix It Sticks, so cool
No need to hunt for a tool
Bike bag's hidden jewel


John: Reno, NV

Elegant tools
Cut from solid metals
It just works


John: Indianapolis

Pacing, straining... rattling... cursing... stopping
Screaming wind silenced by a lazy bolt
The T reveals the answer


Tom:  Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Old red Schwinn rides on
Both are the loves of my life
My wife's gift to me


Alex: Provo Utah! 

fasteners beware
the time for torque is present
too legit to quit


Tom: Torrington, CT

On the road in ruins,
In need of a fix quickly,
The Sticks do nicely!

Kevin:  Perry, OK

Tools you need on ride
Do it with less junk in trunk
Work those Fix It Sticks


Nick:  Birmingham, AL

The dark miles from home
This danged derailleur sprung
Fix It Sticks single speed


Rick:  Minnesota!

Things break. Who knows why?
Fix It Sticks will save your ride
But can't save the world.


Peter: Boerne, Texas

Joy Bike

Riding my bike, BAM!
Fix-it sticks to rescue me
I love riding now


Alfred: New Haven, CT

i have one from Klein
it folds like a pocket knife
thank you but I'm set

Dominic:  WI

King hubs need two 5s
Old tool only had one 5
Fix it sticks have 2!

Irvin: Detroit Rock City

I love to ride bikes
I hate to take excess crap
These sticks rock my world!

DIY Bicycle Light and Mounting Bracket

Reader Ross wrote to us with an enlightening hack.  In his own words he states:

I came up with this hack because I entered a 24-hour mountain bike race and didn't have a high powered headlight/backup headlight system.

He labels his hack:  Cheap and easy 340 lumen bicycle light and mounting bracket.  I would officially change it to:

BADASS Cheap and easy 340 lumen bicycle light and mounting bracket

The pictures and instructions are all Ross.  Makes me want to go out a buy a Dremel.  Thanks Ross!



PARTS

-Old handlebar stem

-(4) medium hose clamps

-(2) high-power LED flashlights


TOOLS

-Dremel with cutting wheel

-Metal file

-(optional) Pipe cutter


Note: I found two 170 lumen LED flashlights on sale at Kmart, but you can use any aluminum-body flashlights you have on hand or see for sale cheap. Use aluminum-body flashlights for better heat dissipation (the mount works as a heat sink).


STEPS

1. Remove and discard the stem binder bolt and cinch (the triangular/cylindrical piece that holds the stem against the inside of the fork tube)

2. With a pipe cutter or Dremel with cutting wheel, cut off the pointy part of the stem and file off any rough edges. Wouldn't want to impale somebody with that!

Caution: You MUST wear safety glasses when cutting metal. Don't force the cutting wheel -- let it do the work on its own. Aim the sparks away from your eyes. Cool the stem with water as it gets hot.

3. Using the Dremel with cutting wheel, cut eight 1/2" slots in the stem tube. Cut four slots (upper and lower slots) on each side of the stem tube. Cool the stem with water as it gets hot.

4. Unscrew a hose clamp. Insert the clamp tip into a lower slot in the stem, then out through an upper slot. Repeat for the remaining three clamps.

5. Secure the flashlights to the modified stem using the clamps.

6. Attach the assembly to your handlebars. I prefer to hang the assembly below my handlebars.

7. Adjust beam angle, as needed.