Friday, September 30, 2016

All in the Family Wrenching - Learning Patience

On warm, sunny afternoons one family member might tinker with their bike, which becomes contagious. There is comfort in numbers, it seems, with knowledgeable help ready to lend a hand or a suggestion. Such was the case when I decided to replace the chain and brake pads on my commuter bike.

My son hauls out his work-in-progress single speed, clamps the bike frame in the work stand, planning to put on newly acquired grips. To save money, primarily because this particular bicycle is a second, knock-around project, which seems to soak up money like a sponge, we had purchased simple rubber grips - the kind that requires lubricant instead of lock down screws - because the bike mechanic who sold them to us assured us that the process was relatively simple. His advice: use just enough hairspray or alcohol inside the rubber and twist the grips into place.

My past experience with this procedure dates to the 1990's when a soapy mixture of dish detergent and water was enough to lubricate and apply porous foam grips - the common style at the time. And the beauty of foam was that even with liberal applications of liquid, the grips would eventually dry if given a chance. At any rate, lock down grips weren't yet available.


Once I explained where to get supplies and rubbing alcohol, I left my son to figure out his task while I went back to my own project.

Swapping the chain went smoothly while replacing cantilever brake pads was the easy part - it's the fine-tuning that takes time. I was midway through adjusting each pad when my 14-year-old became cranky. He wanted the grips to slide on perfectly. As it turns out the alcohol dries quickly or not quick enough to satisfy my son. After 20 minutes of struggling and grumbling he threw the grips on the ground.

I'd acquired patience from sipping wine so I calmly told him to walk away and finish at another time. I also promised I'd take a look at his bike once I'd finished with mine. After a previous wrenching episode that involved a tirade, winging something metal (I'm now missing a wrench), throwing down his bike and storming off, well, I didn't want a repeat performance. Fortunately, this time around my son went indoors without a fight.

I often wonder what the neighbors think - they are witness to extreme behaviors, every now and then, especially from this particular guy. If he's not jumping off curbs in the street (thus the impetus to fix up a single speed) he creates wooden and dirt-filled mounds in our back yard. He is a physically talented young dude and creative thinker so once he surmounts his teen years, he'll find his way.

Later I played with his new grips, and sure enough, there was a fine line between too much alcohol and not enough, but after an arm workout I eventually got it to work, leaving only a little play. The following day the alcohol must have fully evaporated because the grips passed the teenage test.

Next time I'll seriously consider springing for the lock down style of grips.

14 comments:

  1. Annie tell your son that if can learn and apply the "Just walk away" lesson of bike wrenching at 14 he will be waaaaaay ahead of the game. It took me until about age 46 to really apply this lesson and when I come back after awhile calm and refreshed I almost always see something I'd missed that makes the once HUGE ISSUE see so easy I can't understand why I got so worked up. In the meantime - pour another glass Mom ;-)

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    1. I was very much like this son at his age. I wasn't fixing bikes then, but I put my parents through the ringer. This stage will pass.

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  2. I sympathize with your son. I'm usually pretty patient, but there are certain bike tasks that leave me wanting to rant and throw things. I don't because middle-aged women can't get away with such tirades.

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    1. Ah yes, we can't get away with such things now can we?

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    2. Wait, we can't??? (giggle)

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  3. You got it taken care of, but just sharing my experience: if you use a bit too much alcohol, it will still evaporate out just fine. May take a bit longer, but no harm done, just let it set. I use this method for slip-on grips myself.
    I find that cheap hairspray is good for a grip that needs just a touch of adhesive, if it is one that moves on the bars a bit with aggressive riding (and easily taken off with a bit of alcohol dripped under the grip).
    A small rubber mallet gently tapping the end of the grip will pop it up into place, if it's a bit too tight to easily slide on by hand. I'm sure a "pro" would cringe at that, but it's what I've discovered works without me needing to get frustrated.

    Wolf.

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    1. Good to know these alternatives! Thanks.

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    2. I often learn something by doing things the hard way or the "old" way. No harm done and my son learned (I hope) that projects are not always straightforward and a little ingenuity and patience, especially can go a long way.

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    3. Haha, sometimes I feel like the ONLY way I learn is by doing things the hard way...


      One of the best lessons I've picked up along the way is to walk away when I get frustrated (as has been mentioned in your post/comments), and come back with fresh eyes. This was difficult for the impatience of youth to handle, for sure. Also, your wine idea is top-notch, too.


      Wolf.

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    4. As an aside: When I read through the comments of a bike (any, really) blog and somebody mentions a difficulty with something, invariably there's a bevy of comments saying how it "should be done" and it always makes me roll my eyes when a comment comes off as know-it-all. I kinda' feel like my original comment comes off like that and I sure didn't mean for it to. I was just chiming in with what I've found that works for me.

      Wolf.

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    5. I never took it any other way Wolf. I always appreciate helpful tips.

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    6. Definitely agree with Wolf...sometimes (okay, most of the time), I just have to learn lessons the hard way. It sounds as though both you and your son handled this particular instance pretty well though. I think most of us have moments of frustration when things aren't going as we hope.

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  4. With a father who was extremely mean with money I learned all I needed to know about bikes by being given an old wreck, it even had two extra clid seats attached! That bike was stripped down to the ball bearings and the frame sanded down to bear metal removing all rust. He finally did cough up for new brake blocks, two new cotter pins which shows my age, a chain and two tyres from the seconds bin! I bought new grips and slipped them on with a bit of spit when nobody was looking. Nobody told me that I could have tantrums as a teenager...

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    1. Coline - I love the spit solution and I bet you learned a ton about bikes. :)

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