Categories: Accessories and GearThe Rules

On Rules #26 and #65: Spring Theory

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]

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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RobSandy says:

Jan 8 2016 at 3:53 am

@Teocalli

@RobSandy

@PT

A good friend gave me a proper workstand for Christmas. So, from now on I will wash my bike properly and regularly. That will be enough of this arcane nonsense without delving into spring fatigue rates and the resting heartrate of carbon fibre….

Ok, I have what I’m sure is going to sound like a complete dullard question regarding the use of workstands.

If you have a bike in the stand and take the wheels off – how do you put them back on and be sure the axles are seated properly in the drop outs?

Always check with the bike back on the ground.

Yeh, I'd do that. I just find getting the wheels back on when it's up in the stand very awkward. Always feels like I could do with a 3rd hand.
Teocalli says:

Jan 8 2016 at 4:04 am

@RobSandy

There are always times when having a pet Octopus comes in handy...........
Ccos says:

Jan 8 2016 at 6:03 am

@Teocalli

Not Darwinian, more of a skill move. Back in the pre-sealant days of riding tubulars and having little money a quick wipe of the tires with a gloved palm after running through glass or other bits seemed to be a tire saver. I flatted exactly twice on tubulars while doing this but they were both thread bear at the time. The rear tire separates the men from the thumbless so to speak.

My S5 and its tight spacing takes care of the rear tire now. Though with a frame scraping "ZZIIIIIIT" as the announcement. Now that I don't wear gloves, it's best to avoid the practice.
wiscot says:

Jan 8 2016 at 6:04 am

@wilburrox

And to think that I could have gone on placing my bikes in the garage for another 40 years without ever having known the proper way to do that !? However, this only now has me questioning how much I still don’t know that I don’t know. Cheers all

Aye, and there's the rub. To paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, there are the known knowns, the known unknowns and the ones that really get you are the unknown unknowns. The latter you can't do anything about so don't worry about it!
frank says:

Jan 8 2016 at 11:29 am

@Ron

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.

This is the first legitimate concern I've seen raised on this matter.
frank says:

Jan 8 2016 at 11:32 am

@ILCapo

Rule #65 is of high importance, more so when you are limited to space, i.e – during/post ride @cafe stop where there is no option other than to lean ones bike against another bike. Not only must this be executed is a precise manner but also with an extremely delicate touch. Otherwise you are likely to get mouthful or a serious face off.

NB: Above

Indeed. Please see the below for reference:

http://www.velominati.com/etiquette/la-vie-velominatus-lean-properly/
frank says:

Jan 8 2016 at 11:35 am

@RobSandy

@Teocalli

@RobSandy

@PT

A good friend gave me a proper workstand for Christmas. So, from now on I will wash my bike properly and regularly. That will be enough of this arcane nonsense without delving into spring fatigue rates and the resting heartrate of carbon fibre….

Ok, I have what I’m sure is going to sound like a complete dullard question regarding the use of workstands.

If you have a bike in the stand and take the wheels off – how do you put them back on and be sure the axles are seated properly in the drop outs?

Always check with the bike back on the ground.

Yeh, I’d do that. I just find getting the wheels back on when it’s up in the stand very awkward. Always feels like I could do with a 3rd hand.

That, but you just pull up enough on the wheel to make sure it's seated correctly in the dropouts and then spin it to check if it's centered etc. But it's always good to check on the ground, also to make sure the QRs are seated correctly and won't creak.
Major VVald says:

Jan 8 2016 at 6:25 pm

@Teocalli

Actually do this all the time. Lightly rest your palm atop the front wheel as you spin along and all sorts of debris (glass shards, flint) come flying off. Harder to do for the rear tire but not impossible. Haven't had a flat for ages - if you get rid of the offending sharp bits before they have time to fully get through the tire you've saved yourself from being dropped due to puncture. Does help if you're wearing gloves, though....
HigherGround says:

Jan 8 2016 at 7:20 pm

Even if it is nothing more than superstition or the cycling equivalent of an urban legend, I still look at it this way: Even if I ride for 2 hours every day, that's still 22 hours that the spring is unnecessarily under tension. I still put my derailleurs in the small-small combo at the end of the ride.
sthilzy says:

Jan 8 2016 at 10:56 pm

Placing them little-little leaves them nice and relaxed, all rested up for your next soul crushing session.

.... and to wake up the electronic gear.....

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