Trail Side Repairs

[Talisman]

So I'm curious if you don't work on your own bike at home, can you do your own trailside repairs?

Stuff like:

Replacement of a broken spoke
True a taco'd wheel
Fix a flat tire
Fix a torn tire side wall
Adjust brakes, shifters, seat, handel bars etc
Repair a chain by adding or removing a link.
Turn your multi speed into a single speed to pedal out if you explode the derailleur
Stitch your buddies knee up with a shoe lace

 

[Greg]

If a wheel is considered "tacoed" can it really be straighten out? Not even sure I have spoke wrench, maybe on the multi-tool. Flats are no problem and probably the most common repair. Sidewall seems simply enough - that's what duct tape is for. Brake/shifter adjustment is usually done pre-ride and I don't normally have to mess with either during a ride. Never had to break a chain and relink, nor convert to a SS. Hoping I can figure that out when it happens.

 

[bvibert]

I work on my own bike at home, so I guess this doesn't really apply to me. I've done most of those things, but not necessarily trail side.

Replacement of a broken spoke

I don't carry spare spokes on the trail, but I've done it several times at home, so I could do it on the trail if needed.

True a taco'd wheel

I've never actually taco'd a wheel. I guess if it wasn't too bad I could try and bend it back as much as possible using a log or something to bend it against, then do whatever I could with the spokes. Might be able to get it good enough to ride out on.

Fix a flat tire

Done more times than I care to count

Fix a torn tire side wall

I've only had a sidewall tear once or twice, but never noticed on the trail. The tires were old so I just replaced them. It's a simple enough procedure to stick something in there to hold the tube in though.

Adjust brakes, shifters, seat, handel bars etc

I've made adjustments on the trail

Repair a chain by adding or removing a link.

I've never had my own chain break, but I have helped fix other peoples on the trail, and...

Turn your multi speed into a single speed to pedal out if you explode the derailleur

I've done this on my wife's bike. I had a hard time getting the chain tensioned, but it was good enough to ride out.

Stitch your buddies knee up with a shoe lace

I don't think I'd go so far as to stitch it up, but I do carry a first aid kit, hopefully I could wrap it up enough to get him out of the woods.

 

[Marc]

Yeah, I'd recommend against doing any medical field stiching... definitely not with a shoe lace.

Carry some butterfly bandages or 3M Steri-Strips instead.

 

[Gremf]

I mostly ride single speed so blown deraileurs haven't been much of an issue but I have experienced it in the past with my own bikes to know what to do. Same goes for chain repairs. I keep some spare links and a quick link.

Never had a sidewall tear but I have read where a dollar bill or powerbar wrapper will work as a quick fix.

I keep enough goodies on me to get me out of the woods if I get into a jam.

 

[JD]

A tacoed wheel can be fixed on the trail. Because of the way the spokes keep the wheel straight, you can pop it back into form whith a good whack on a tree or the ground. I've done it 5-6 times maybe. In fact, it's never not worked enough to get out of the woods. If you have rim breaks, you may have to ride w/o them. Now, "tacoed" is a pretty effed up rim. I've seen alot of wheels "potato chip", and that is fixable. If the rim creases or truely folds...obviously she's done.

 

[Talisman]

A tacoed wheel can be fixed on the trail. Because of the way the spokes keep the wheel straight, you can pop it back into form whith a good whack on a tree or the ground. I've done it 5-6 times maybe. In fact, it's never not worked enough to get out of the woods. If you have rim breaks, you may have to ride w/o them. Now, "tacoed" is a pretty effed up rim. I've seen alot of wheels "potato chip", and that is fixable. If the rim creases or truely folds...obviously she's done.

A potato chip'd or taco'd (grossly out of true) wheel can be field repaired. I haven't wacked the wheel against a tree (but felt like it), but have used a forked tree to work the rim close to true and then used a spoke wrench to get it good enough. This is when having a few spare spokes taped to your pump can help out.