Bike Tech Talk and Repair Tips

[Twitchin Kitten]

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OK So since I have my new carrier for a week sitting in the shed, today I get to have it fixed to fit my truck over at my hitch guy.

I've been doing nothing but the same, now boring, ride in the park around the corner waiting on this to get sorted. I'm bored to tears with this park!

Anyway, Twist asked to see what the fuck I'm talking about with the way this thing can be stolen with ease.

The holes for the pins are also only 1/2" on that thing and I need to make it either 5/8 or bigger - my guy will have all the stuff I need

So here ya go - all in pictures before I have that hole bored out at the shop.

This is the entire set up, you can see how it's in two pieces from the truck to the carrier.

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This is an "exploded view" of that thing.

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This is the itty bitty bit that goes into the receiver. You can see how loose it is in there!

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So I have this sleeve already and it seems to work -

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[Twitchin Kitten]

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OK so the hole has been drilled and I've got two locking pins in the thing.

I need some kind of shim to stop the wobbling. I see what you mean about that Twist but I can't use the screw/bolt insert with my hitch. They just don't make that bolt long enough. I'm going to have to find a packet of shims and keep them with me and shove one in there every time I slide the carrier on and off the truck.

No ride tonight.... go figure, it's pouring rain and we expect torrential storms for the rest of the night.

[twisteroo]

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OK, now I see what you were talking about. You know, I think my rack has the same kind of locking pin thingy in the middle where it folds, now I gotta go check and see if it could be taken apart there also.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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I spent 3 hours fiddling with that fucking thing today trying to get that wobble out of there with adding a thin rubber bushing between those split sleeves on the original. All for naught. I wound up gouging the aluminum a little and when you fuck with it, you also take that out of alignment for the hole for the hitch pin.

Good thing for C-clamps to hold it all in place properly and screw it back in.

So I rigged it up with plastic film folded to fit tight from the back end of that sleeve. It now cushions/tightens the carrier between the big sleeve and itself and It stays together.

You'll need a 1/4" locking pin for yours if it's the same one. Also, you'll need some plastic spacers (I've a mess of them if you need and I can mail them to you) because they don't make one short enough not to get a saw or bolt cutter in there. With the black spacers I have from Matt's TV hangs, it looks like it's part of the pin.

Next time I get it back on the truck I'll get a pic of that for you.

Now, how stupid is the whole idea of locking it to the receiver if they can turn two bolts and unclip a pin?

[Twitchin Kitten]

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OK I need an under seat bag for this thing. Every one I find that I like the look of and it's workings on Amazon is only attachable via velcro straps. Twist, can I trust a velcro only hook up? Last time I got something that was velcro only the velcro was 'weak' and I don't trust it at all.

It was a kit off of Ebay that was supposed to fit on my top bar and hang under. Well, guess who's frame is too small for even that? That's right, mine. So I figure if I can find a decent bag that attaches under the seat and fit everything, including tube, small pump, multi-tool, tire levers and a little room to spare for just in case, and have it utilize the screw set to hold it or at the very least, buckles made of metal and not plastic, I'd be good with it.

You got any recommendations? Yeah, I know - good luck with finding metal fittings.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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OK so far on Nashbar's site I like THIS bag and THIS is the list I got with a search on Amazon.

I loathe to buy from the local shop, he's just too damn expensive.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Shit! I found a SEAT too! I think I'm going to spend the money for both now. I can't go too wrong with this stuff and hopefully it works out in my favor.

Next is a rack for the back. What I really need is some kind of handle bar in front of the handle bar so I can put my phone and trip meter on there and maybe let a bag hang off that.

[twisteroo]

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I use these bags, I get them at wal-mart for about 8-10 bucks. The velcro is fine, and I stuff them full of more shit, tools, tubes, money, car keys, co2, patch kits, rubber gloves, cable ties, tape, pen, knife, pliers, bungee cords, etc, etc...

I should go out and take some pics of mine and all the shit I stuff in them.

Also, what I use for many things on the bike is tarp bungee cords, handy, handy. They are the little loop bungees with the plastic ball. You can also trim them to length if you need to snug them up for something.

I also don't have a good vibe about that seat you are looking at.
It's a seat for a tri bike, that is gonna be pretty long and skinny. But what do I know, maybe you have a long skinny ass.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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I thought about that bag too but I've used Bell bags on the front before and every time the fabric rips on me. Mostly the straps pull out of the seam stitching.

The seat says Tri Like a Girl on it for the shape of women's pelvic bones I was told. I called up and talked to the guy on the phone about it before buying because I wanted a longer seat and a narrower back end on it. I'm hoping the rails underneath will allow the seat to push farther back than the one I have. Why you ask? Because of my bolted together back. I can't bend like I used to there and I find myself pushing my seat bones to the very edge of the back of the seat now. This is hoping I stay centered on the damn seat instead of hanging off the back. Under the 'extra' ass I've gotten from not being able to exercise like I used to, the seat bones are rather close and the narrower seat and NO STITCHING along the sides is what appealed to me. The guy on the phone said I can buy, try and return seats until I find one I like.

Also I figured out why I can't ride standing up anymore - my bolted together back. When you pedal standing up, the bike should rock side to side some and to get that your hips flex side to side. My back does not allow that motion anymore MAYBE if I can get some bars to drop under the regular handlebars I can bend a little lower at the hip joint and be able to do it. That will come in time as I get a little more fit and need more stuff.

[twisteroo]

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I've got 4 or 5 of those bell under seat bags, some are so old and faded from the sun and shit, but they still work just fine.