Bike
There's nothing worse than sending it on the trails when all of sudden your tyre goes pop or your shifter breaks. These top tips might just save you from a long push home.
We've all been there, out riding and having the time of our lives when snap, ping or hiss; something goes catastrophically wrong on your bike. There are obviously tools you can take to sort the issue on the spot, but even then, certain problems can't be fixed without a proper workshop and you may need to get creative with a trailside hack.
Although there are plenty of hacks out there, some are sketchy at best, so we've picked out three that can actually work and help you limp home after an untimely mechanical. Read on to find out more.
1. DIY tyre boot
The advent of tubeless tyres, which have sealant inside to help seal punctures, has made terminally damaged tyres almost a thing of the past. However, a slash or hole can sometimes be so big that sealant will simply gush out and even an inner tube will burst out of said hole.
In this event, a gel wrapper, crisp packet or even a new bank note can be put on the inside of the tyre to cover the slash. Then you just need to gently pump up the inner tube (fit one first, obviously, if you're running tubeless) and your DIY tyre boot will prevent it from bursting out of the hole.
Just like all the hacks on this list, it's only a temporary fix and solely designed to help you get home – slowly.
2. Using your bolts
A broken bolt in your shoe cleat is a surefire way to ruin a ride, but there is a temporary fix that might help you to make it home with minimal fuss. The bolts that hold your disc rotors in place are often the same size as the ones in your shoe cleats and can make a great temporary fix.
This does mean you're removing bolts from a part of your brakes, though, so we always recommend proceeding with caution after this fix.
3. Get home with a broken shifter cable
If your rear shifter cable happens to break, the lack of tension will cause the chain to shift into the smallest cog, which is obviously the hardest gear. Unless you live somewhere very flat or you have legs like a cross-country world champion, trying to get home in your biggest gear isn't going to happen, but there is a way to make your life easier.
Simply turn the high limit screw on your rear derailleur (this is usually marked with an H) until it pushes the rear derailleur into an easier gear. After this, lift your tyre off the ground and gently turn the pedals to shift into your new lowest gear.
Obviously, you'll have lost the use of some of your bigger, harder gears so won’t be able to travel fast, but you might be able to make it up any nasty hills, which sounds like a far better option to us.
Handy things to have
Bar the obvious riding spares you should always carry, here are some other handy suggestions that could help you out of a sticky situation.
- Zip Ties – The more the better. They can be used for a myriad of fixes and are easy to stuff into a backpack.
- Quick-links – These are obviously used to mend a broken chain, but it's surprising how many people forget them on a big ride.
- Pedal toe straps – Once again these old-school items can be used for tying or holding things together as a last-ditch resort.
- Electrical tape – It easily fits in your bag and again is good for strapping and holding stuff together.
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