Tops on the list of modifications to my new Globe Vienna was a pedal change out. I’m addicted to clipless pedals. It feels strange if I ride without them but sometimes on short errands I will wear flip flops or sneakers as the weather dictates and want pedals that are flexible. I thus have platform style clipless pedals with the locking mechanism built in to one side, giving me the option of cleat side and a flat side.
The shoes with cleats that I wear have a rubber walking sole so I can walk around in them without the fear of skating around like people do if they wear racing style shoes with a cleat that sticks out.
One hack of sort that everyone should practice (it should be standard fare for anyone who works on their bike) is to grease the threads of any object that you are going to screw on your bike. This helps to ensure that when the time comes to remove the object, it will come off easily and hopefully you will not lose any skin or strip the head of the bolt/screw in the process of removing it.
My standard operating procedure is to keep a tube of grease and some Q-tips on hand. I put a dab of grease on the threads and then spread it around with the Q-tip to ensure adequate coverage.
As someone who rides year round, including in winter in Michigan where they lay down so much salt that IT becomes a hazard (I’ve slipped on the salt more than on ice) I’ve found that even greasing threads isn’t enough.
I once had to drill out a screw that was holding my fenders to the frame, after snapping it off in the hole. And this is a hardened steel bolt going into aluminum.
I grease them, AND I have set up a schedule – every 6 months, I unscrew all the screws that are holding things to my bike, buff them on a wire wheel, regrease and reinsert them.
I’ve thought about going to all stainless steel but I’ve heard it can cause increased dielectric corrosion. At this point, I’m willing to risk it.
I may also try using blue Loctite; maybe it would insulate the threads from corrosion from salt exposure better than grease?
Let me know when this blog stops being about corporate sponsorship, and starts being about bike hacks again.
What Bethany said!
can’t believe you are skeered of a little grease. No pants to wipe it off on?