Always store your bike in the mechanic's position: small-small to ease tension on the derailleur springs. Photo: Pedale.Forchetta
To hold opposing truths in one’s heart is a beautiful thing; to find resonance within contradiction is a liberating force that opens one’s mind to a wide world of possibilities. Life lived in black and white is a bland, simple world, after all: everything interesting in life happens in the gray space in between.
There is nothing outwardly in conflict between Rules #26 and #65, but within the application of Rule #26 we run the risk of violating Rule #65. Whenever storing one’s bicycle, whether for the evening or for an extended period of time, one is to take care to place the chain in a little-little configuration. This is done by Pro racers out of respect for their mechanic by making their life just a little bit easier when they remove the wheels before getting the bike a clean and sparkling for the next day’s training or racing.
We, the humble plonkers, presumably don’t have a personal or team mechanic who rubs our beloved steed with a diaper post-ride. But there lurks another reason why this practice is an important one to undertake: leaving the chain in the big dog and mid or high cassette as we would when gussying our girl up to be photographed puts the springs in the derailleurs under tension, causing them to wear out more quickly. Placing them little-little leaves them nice and relaxed, all rested up for your next soul crushing session.
I can not overstate that this in no way allows us to photograph or allow someone else to photograph our steed in this relaxed state, much like we would not allow ourselves to be photographed while laying on the couch wearing compression socks and moaning about our guns.
[rule number=26]
[rule number=65]
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
The last shift of every ride is to the correct gear for starting the next ride. Too low and the first stroke does not give you enough speed for a smooth and straight clip in. Too high and the first stroke is awkward. The bike left in a middle gear also looks better on the stand, with the derailleur partially tensioned and the top/bottom chain lines roughly parallel.
@pistard
I'd do the same, but my bikes prefer to repose on the airbed covered in think down-filled pillows, in a meticulously maintained 72 degrees at 50% humidity. That way they are well rested before the next ride!
It can not overstate that this in no way allows us to photograph or allow someone else to photograph our steed in this relaxed state, much like we would not allow ourselves to be photographed while laying on the couch wearing compression socks and moaning about our guns.
Love it!
-Ted
But little-little looks so ugly as the bike hangs on the wall hooks. So ugly in fact, that I might not be bothered to walk to my bike room just to look at the stable.
@emerson
No worries. We all do a brain fart from time to time.
@Puffy
The Japanese have a word for it I'm sure (doing something right and exact). As I remember it, I've had two people instruct me on the matter. The first was along the lines of "this is the right way to do it" and the second was more along the lines of "it doesn't help much because blah-blah-blah-I like to hear myself talk-blah-blah."
I paid attention to the first fella.
@DavyMuur
Trying to work out whether that is @frank excepted or @frank especially.......
I've always stored the bike in the small ring, but I thought it was to make your chain last longer.
Really? Really? Where do we keep the kool-aid honey?
Until someone shows me some f'ing data that putting the rear derailleur into the 12 every day makes one little difference to the bike's shifting performance, I'm not buying. Or is this done to keep the bike happy? My bike won't talk to me, is it mad at me because I'm not doing this?
OK, I'm going to write a post on wiping off one's tires after riding through debris. Does it help anything? Probably not. Do I keep doing it? Yes. Will I keep doing it even if I know it makes no difference? Yes. Will I instruct everyone else do the same? Hell yes.
Oh, and I forgot...you damn kids get off my fucking lawn!