Maintenance & Repair Parts
We Break Things…
Impermanence has kept me busy fixing things. Underneath all the frustration there lies an ego that is satisfied when the broken is restored. I can not help myself, I like to fix things. Last week I wrote about our bike tools, this is the story of the bits and pieces that make the tools functional.
Of Wheels
Riders may feel they are the hardest working mechanism on their bike but I can assure you this prize goes to the wheel. It is in constant flex and motion as it supports all the weight of the bike while at the same time absorbing the abuse of every conceivable terrain we roll it over. The wheel is poetry in motion and it is up to us to decide what kind of prose it sings.
The spokes are the string section that hold the emotion of the ride. Everyone of them must be evenly tuned for if one loses its note, the composition will fall spoke by spoke.
The tire is the wind section humming along with tread patterns scaled with a sustained cadenza. It is a aria, adding another object will deflate the song.
A hub is the conductor that keeps the wheel symphony flowing. There is no ensemble if the conductor can not take the stage.
Spokes, Nipples, and Washers
We need to carry two sizes of spoke. One size for the rear drive side and another size for the non-drive side and the front wheel. We have carbon fiber wheels so we have to have washers that slide over the spoke nipples.
I discovered that a champagne cork fits perfectly in our 31.6mm Salsa Mukluk seat post. After drilling a few holes in the cork to push the spokes into I tie the other end of the spokes with a rubber band. Then I press the cork into the seat post storing the spokes inside rattle free. A wine cork works great for our Surly ECR, it has a 27.2 seat post.
Something to consider is that replacing a rear spoke requires the removal of the gears and special tools are needed unless you have an internal geared hub.
Another alternative is to get yourself a Fiberfix Kevlar spoke repair kit. It is not a permanent solution but it works great for emergencies. I always carry one in my kit.
Keeping The Rubber Side Rolling
Thorns are one good reason to ride with tubeless tires and sealant.
We have converted to tubeless which has had a few advantages, especially on thorn cluttered desert trails. Tubeless is not without its frustrations as the sealant is messy when having to remove the tire and the sealant dries out over time needing to be replenished. I carry a small bottle of sealant and have been thankful I did a couple times.
However, there are circumstances where using a tube are necessary so we also carry spare tubes and patches. A sidewall may have been sliced by sharp rocks or debris or the sealant may have dried up.
During the icy winter months we ride with studded tires and I carry a few extra carbide studs.
So far we have not had to carry a spare tire. Perhaps one day we will enter a region where carrying one will give us a “what if” piece of mind.
