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Measure twice, cut once.
Clearly I clean forgot about this as I barrelled into chopping a steerer tube down on my wifes latest bike build.
Measured and marked the cut point carefully, even took a measurement of 35mm from the existing top - just so I had a back up to the mark I made once taken out of the frame.
Yet - for some stupid reason I totally ignored it, instead choosing to pick a totally random previous mark also on the steerer and cut about 95mm from the top, leaving it barely long enough to go through the head tube. Idiot!
Luckily they were bargain s/hand forks that costs <£100 but, trying to replace them as cost effectively is proving difficult.
Tit.
Ouch!
If it makes you feel any better I mixed up a left and right hand bb cup Saturday afternoon - very narrowly avoided ****ing the frame!
Although the free hybrid would not have been much of an actual cash loss the hassle of finding another that fitted before kids go back to school would have been 😬😬😬
Less expensive but more time consuming, I once spent an entire afternoon making a piece for the ceiling in my van which turned out to be an exact mirror-image of the piece I actually needed.
Picked up my once used ooni pizza cooker last night and out slid the stone, landed on my foot then smashed on the patio. Foot agony. Got it 2nd hand so not a full-price cock-up but still...
😀 , I've also done similar to both the above in my time.
First one resulted in me having to buy a tap and facing kit as I very nearly wrote off a brand new £1200 frame.
Hand tightened an old Hope bottom bracket into the frame before it got stuck half way in. Gave it a slight tweak with a spanner before realising something was up, then it was an absolute git to get back out.
Cutting and shaping mirror image pieces is so easy to do as well, especially when dealing with things that are not too easy to visualise and offer up samples to. Draw round something and cut it out, only to realise what you made a template of was upside down etc.
Last month I managed to completely wreck a pedal (Mallet dh) by having it upside down when I used the supplied drift to remove the plastic bushing whilst servicing it. This, instead of pushing the bushing out of the pedal, bent/partly snapped the lip that stops said bushing from going too far inside the pedal when refitting it. I've serviced it a few times without issue over the years and couldn't believe I'd been so stupid when I realised what I'd done
Oh & there's me thinking that that is what coloured party string spray is for- marking steerer tubes 😛
I gave my 9 year old the car keys a few weeks ago to retrieve something she’d left. 3 hours and £250 later, I got them back.
Not expensive but stupid mistake I mistake I made a couple of weeks ago. Trying to fit a new dropper leaver to my sons very old dropper post half way through realised the dropper was shot and I’d be as well getting a new Brand X one. I decided to cut the outer in the middle of the frame to remove the cable. Only it was his rear brake hose doah.
I decided to cut the outer in the middle of the frame to remove the cable. Only it was his rear brake hose doah
My father did that on his car, trying to change a washer fluid bottle, cut the washer pipe and ABS sensor cable which were tied together. Not a cheap fix on a 30yr old Jag!
Do people not fully assemble the front end of the bike (fork, headset, stem and spacers), draw a line around the steerer level with the top of the stem? Then cut 3mm below the line.. or is that just me?
It's amazing how you can draw a line that you think is obvious but when you disassemble it's suddenly not obvious at all.
Or just completely ignore it.
I had the bike fully built and the wife had ridden it with a stack of spacers to get the right bar height.
Then meticulously marked the height required by taking a 3mm spacer out from under the stem and drawing round the top - even putting a hash mark upwards from the line - in hindsight a hugely more obvious marker pen or something should have been used, not just a pen.
Took the fork off and still cut it wrong, basically went into auto pilot and completely forgot attention to detail.
Even cutting it with nearly 100mm of post to the right of the cut didn't alert me, baring in mind I knew it should be 35mm.
I nearly fell into another trap last night too whilst trying to find replacement forks. Got fed up looking as there are now no 'cheapies' out there, so started thinking 'I'll get myself some new forks for my HT and give her my old Fox 34s'. Again this is stupid as there is nothing wrong with the way my HT rides and suddenly I'm trying to justify £600 ish for ultimately a bike the wife will barely ride.
Have now stepped away from the basket 😉
'Someone I know quite well' once made a lovely angular unit section for some loft space storage in oiled Oak veneer.
He didn't bother measuring the stair access as there seemed plenty of room.
Came to install it.
Yup. Wouldn't go up the stairs.
It was all glued together so I, sorry,I mean HE, had to remake it.
😭
It’s amazing how you can draw a line that you think is obvious but when you disassemble it’s suddenly not obvious at all.
I use a Sharpie permanent marker and mark all the way around the tube.
It might be cheaper to get a new steerer tube pressed in. ?
slicknslide did a tapered one for about £120 but the prices vary.
He didn’t bother measuring the stair access as there seemed plenty of room.
On a similar note I replaced out loft hatch with a proper loft ladder set up. Whilst the new hatch is larger, it is slightly narrower. As a result, a lovely Victorian tub chair we own is stuck in the loft.
Cutting steerer on expensie new forks always freaks me out a bit. I've never cut wrong, but I was poised ready to do so once upon a time before some internal spidey sense told me to stop.
Since then, the process goes a bit like this -
1. Slow down, breathe, study the fork.
2. Assemble with appropriate spacers and stem.
3. Stare at assemblage for a bit.
4. Mark all the way round with marker pen.
5. Disassemble.
6. Leave the shed and do something else for a while.
7. Return, reassemble.
8. Stare some more, ask myself if everything is in place.
9. Disassemble.
10. Cut.
Stuid inattenive error on Saturday, stacked my vintage, very expensive road bike. Custom made for me, custom paind job and Dura Ace everything, except for a pair of Campag Record C Carbon Look pedals. Made a much bigger mess of myself. Bike just needed brake lever straightening and the bars and saddle. Rear wheel needed 5 mins with a spoke key. Me, skinned knee, both elbows, two stiff shoulders, holed a mitt (done it's job), and put a rather deep cut into my forearm. Just patched it for now, just leaking fluids now - bled alot at the time but clotted quickly.
I was more bothered about the bike.
Ahhh yes measure, measure again.
Custom coloured glass splashback instead of tiles in our new kitchen years ago. Measuring was conducted with my wife, I wrote down 2100mm but the tape measure said 2010mm. Once glass was delivered there was a fair amount of swearing and finger pointing between me and my wife.
We went with tiles in the end 🙁
On a similar note I replaced out loft hatch with a proper loft ladder set up. Whilst the new hatch is larger, it is slightly narrower. As a result, a lovely Victorian tub chair we own is stuck in the loft.
😂😂😂
Sorry.
OP, I've got a set of Crappy suntour forks in the garage that I was going to donate to cycle charity place once I had a few more bits to go with them. They really are shite but do work I suppose. You could have them for postage if they get you going.
I have a (truly excellent) Silky BigBoy trail saw that ended up costing me £400. I shopped around for the saw and got it delivered to my SIL in France so it was about £85.
I'd measured my camelbak to make sure it would fit. And it did, when I wasn't wearing it. But when I was wearing it the saw pressed on the screen of my phone in the phone pocket until it broke it (internally - the top layer was fine, but the one underneath was cracked and stopped working entirely over about a day). So another £100 for a new riding pack and over £200 for a new phone screen....
Also have very carefully measured and cut a set of brand new Fox forks without putting the stem on. you only do it once. And I've also lost a day diamond drilling holes into a 120x60 porcelain tile to take hidden shower fittings, and got them all in the perfect position relative to each other, but offset by 100mm from where they needed to be
Yesterday,
Trying to track down the source of creaking steering in the car. Thought I'd put some oil in the suspension coil spring bearings. To access this required removing wipers, bloody Citroen.
Put it all back correctly or so I thought and the wiper jumped it's mount and gouged the windscreen. You wouldn't believe the power in a wiper motor, nothing was stopping it!!
Now waiting on insurance getting back to me about windscreen repair which despite being covered will still cost me 250 quid.
Worst bit is I hate the car but to replace it just isn't possible due to the absolutely mental second hand car prices. Wanted hybrid, not at those prices!!
Oh, the crash has cost me my warrenty repaired Samsung smart watch - only had it back (brand new repacement) for a week.
Ouch. I didn;t trust myself to cut my new forks so had the shop do it. It seems whenever I try to do jobs myself, even the simple ones, I cock something up drastically.
Decided to grease my lower link the other week. Managed to get a grease gun. I have a lower grease port. Thought it'd be easy. Turns out there's a knack for removing the grease gun and I pulled and yanked it too hard (Ooh err Missus) and snapped the nipple off. Bent the internal thread so whilst it rides okay for now if I ever want to re-grease I'll need a new lower link.
This was a fairly costly mistake at the weekend. As in, I saw and heard my bike pick up a small stick and the sound of it amongst my drivetrain and remember thinking that it could damage my mech, like has happened 3 or 4 times before, but somehow I just didn't have the thought or speed of thought to stop...until it ripped my mech into my wheel and sheared the casting in two 😭😭😭
Always good when it's literally after one run too...
Got to the point in a new build where I needed to add the drivetrain. Got all the back end on and alligned the mech without chain and all went perfectly. Put the chain on and could not get it to stop dropping from the front ring. Got on this forum, had a lot of help, got it into my head that all it could be was the fact I was using non-boost crankset, or an incorrect chainring.
Bought a new chainring fopr £45 which made no difference. Sucked it up and bought a new SLX boost crankset plus Unite silver chainring for £120, this also didn't work. Threw a lot of tools around the garage and then called my bike shop and booked it in. £30 later and I have the solution provided by the bike shop, I hadn't fully locked in the quick link FFS! In my defence it was a fraction of a mm out and it took the shop a while to see it but that was £200 I didn't need to spend.
Anyone want a set of cranks and a Superstar Chainring?
Over the weekend I found out the UDH Hanger on my one ride old bike has a reverse thread. You can guess how I found out.
On a similar note I replaced out loft hatch with a proper loft ladder set up. Whilst the new hatch is larger, it is slightly narrower. As a result, a lovely Victorian tub chair we own is stuck in the loft.
Fantastic. well done sir!
I fumbled a nice bottle of whiskey in the car park of sainsburies last week. 30 quids worth of "angels share"
Looks like the stupid as club isn't just a few members then 😂🤣
Cheers @ADS678 Very kind offer but won't fit unfortunately.
Forks needed are 120 - 130mm travel, Boost 29" and tbh as much as I say 'anything will do', they are going on a new everything else apart from wheels so have to be half decent really.
The forks for it were X-Fusion RC32 forks in great condition bought from Wiggles second hand ebay store for £80. They had loads more when I bought mine but none now, so I guess a fleet of ex rental bikes came through or similar. Was quite pleasantly surprised how capable they were tbh.
I use a Sharpie permanent marker and mark all the way around the tube
Phew!
I hadn’t fully locked in the quick link FFS!
This is my favourite so far, kind of thing I'd do.
Almost changed frame bearings to fix a creak recently before I worked out it was an old ring/new chain noise. New one on me.
This is my favourite so far, kind of thing I’d do.
Well as long as it brings a £200 smile to someones face 🙂
Ahhh yes measure, measure again.
Custom coloured glass splashback instead of tiles in our new kitchen years ago. Measuring was conducted with my wife, I wrote down 2100mm but the tape measure said 2010mm. Once glass was delivered there was a fair amount of swearing and finger pointing between me and my wife.
We went with tiles in the end 🙁
I’ll see you and raise you.
We had a set of tempered glass coloured worktops made for a clients kitchen, they were £9k worth so a long time was taken measuring, remeasuring and double checking everything before the order was sent, the manufacturer uses a system with 6 digit codes rather than colours on the order form. 6 weeks later a lovely, fit like a glove set of worktops were installed in a nice clear glass green colour… shame they were supposed to be white.
The list is long. Most recently bought a brand new triple ladder, laid it on edge on my workbench (because there was a job laid out) turned my back to move something and turned back to see it topple forwards off the bench and bend one end.
1) You can't straighten aluminium ladders
2) Why I didn't put it on edge on the ground I don't know!
These are really good.... and make me realise that it's not just me who does idiotic things sometimes...usually when I actually tell myself what's going to happen before it does indeed go pear shaped.
I gave my 9 year old the car keys a few weeks ago to retrieve something she’d left. 3 hours and £250 later, I got them back.
Posted 1 day ago
How has nobody wanted to ask more about this!?
A glass worktop? Who spends any money on a glass worktop, let alone £9k?
The constant chink chink noise when you place anything on it would drive you mad wouldn't it?
How has nobody wanted to ask more about this!?
We were at a pub on Mull, 6pm ish on a Friday evening. Sat down at a table outside ready to order food. My daughter wants something out of the car. I give her the keys which she subsequently manages to lock in the car. We were due to camp and all of our gear is in the boot. My wifes handbag with the spare car key is also in the car. Oh dear.
So I ring the breakdown company. Not covered for this so will have to pay. But wait, there’s no agent available on Mull at 6pm on a Friday apparently anyway so you’re on your own. Go to the bar and ask if they know anyone who can help before I resort to smashing the window. Got given a number. Can’t help but given another number. Now on to a very helpful person who can help, but is on the opposite side of the island 2 hours away. They kindly drove over and with some wizardry, managed to get into the car. Now almost 10pm and we’re on the road to pitch our tents in the dark, turning a cheap night’s camping into an expensive one! We can laugh now!
Distracted by lots going on a couple a weeks ago, particularly a good mate’s funeral… Garage had pointed out at last MOT car needed new pads soon and that was ages ago. Easy job, done it dozens of times before. Except this time I tightened the calliper bolts rather than loosen. I have no idea what was going on in my head but when they wouldn’t budge I kept trying harder. Sheared one, rounded the other.
“Only” £30 for a couple of new slider bolts but 2hrs lost in getting the old ones out.
The ****ing pads didn’t even need changing in the end either!
Discovered yesterday that I might understand Shimano MTB shifters and drivetrain setups, that roadie stuff is a ‘dark’ art. Bought a new cassette to give me slightly lower gearing, a mech and a chain. These are for my basic Specialized ‘gravel’ bike.
Figured I’d set it all up then, if needs be, fit a new cable so that I’d definitely only need to cut and ferrule it once.
Three hours later, and was still trying to prise the cable nipple from the depths of the shifter.
It would be easy to suggest it’s all road bike shifter design bollocks, but we all know the truth.
Cock sure lazy, slightly hungover ineptitude is what it really is.
On the mismeaasuring of kitchens, my neighbour did this.
Granite worktops, one of them about 4.5 metres long, 2 digits transposed in the measurements. So now has a worktop 4750 mm long instead of 4570mm.
And he's got all the guys there to fit it and the units underneath are now too short/in the wrong place.
Fastest kitchen remodel i've ever seen.
still trying to prise the cable nipple from the depths of the shifter.
If you change gear the bit housing the cable end rotates so you can slide the cable out through the enlarged hole