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Really? 2/3 of people? Do you really find fitting a rear wheel that tough!?
Way to knacker your grips/GPS/stem/lockout lever!
I just saw that.
Very odd.
there'll be a full page in the next issue with the results in too so I hope the 'No why would you' crowd start voting soon so we don't all look like numpties with shagged brake reservoirs and gear indicators
Do you really find fitting a rear wheel that tough!?
Can be quite tricky to refit a 12mm bolt-up through axle with the bike upright
Way to knacker your grips/GPS/stem/lockout lever!
Bar ends solve that 🙂
Can be quite tricky to refit a 12mm bolt-up through axle with the bike upright
yup - much easier upside down with a bolt up hub
really, you don't?
Can be quite tricky to refit a 12mm bolt-up through axle with the bike upright
Why? The weight of the bike lines everything up so you just have to poke the axle through. I've had a bike where you have to remove the skewer entirely to fit the wheel (so basically a through axle) for several years and find it far easier with the bike the right way up...
Bar ends solve that
Sub in 'bar ends' to that list then if you want!
Always.
Wow, I really thought it was the preserve of the inept moron 🙂
Way to knacker your grips/GPS/stem/lockout lever!
It's a mountain bike FFS, a bit of dirt on the grips is hardly the end of the world, you would have to be one hell of a clumsy oaf to damage anything from just turning the bike upside down.
[i]I really thought it was the preserve of the inept moron[/i]
this [i]is[/i] stw.
Been turning bike upside down for wheels out for about 30yrs, never knackerd owt yet!
Scratched lock on collars would annoy me though!
dirty grips better than a bent mech/mech hanger if you ask me
All of my bikes except my bmx fall over if you put them upside down.
Either way works though, don't see what the fuss is about.
Scratched lock on collars would annoy me though!
Try knitting, mountain biking may not be the most suitable hobby for you.
The inverted bike is the universal sign of mountain bike distress - if you see it on the trail it spells 'HELP!'
Me too, for 30 odd years.
What do you do with yours?
Way to knacker your grips/GPS/stem/lockout lever!
Yep. Last time I fixed a puncture one of my grips got torn right off! And I had to ride home without it... 🙄 😉
Seriously. I've never broken anything by turning my bike upside down. I do it either way depending on my mood. I never thought it would anger anyone.
What do you do with yours?
Well I can't remember the last time I punctured whilst riding (genuinely), but whilst taking wheels in/out I just undo skewers and pick up the bike...
I'd lay it on the ground (and work on the wheel away from the bike) rather than turn it upside down though.
I never thought it would anger anyone.
Doesn't anger me, I just never realised so many people did it. I always chuckle when you see someone pumping away furiously on a bike that's upside down, scratching away!
Always turn mine upside down...I do have bar ends though!
Why wouldn't you turn it upside down more like?!
njee20 - Member
Scratched lock on collars would annoy me though!
So being that this happens almost every time you fall off, do you replace all scratched parts after every crash? Or do you not crash? I would spend an awful lot more on riding bikes if scratches annoyed me.
Why wouldn't you? It's like bikes were designed with a built-in work stand which is activated by inversion.
Normally I don't but with my current PA frame the rear hub sits so tight that having the bike upside down and stable is about the only way to get the wheel in/out without major grief.
Scratched lock on collars would annoy me though!
I shudder to think of the damage you are doing to that bike by lying it down to maintain it! In fact, are your tyres OK with all that contact with the dirt and stones? THE HORRORZ!!OMG!
Every time a wheel comes off, the bike is stood upside down first. Been doing this about 15 years with no noticeable side effects either mechanically, psychically or mentally.
The road bike stays upright (STI's look really bad if you turn the bike over), MTB get's chucked upside down as it looks scuffy within 5 minutes of me owning it anyway! Went out last night and was amazed how clean and scratch free everyones bikes looked, mine always seem a magnet for damage!
All you have to do is carry along three stale bagels in your backpack and simply insert the bar ends into two of them and the seat nose into the other before you invert the bike or you do it upside down on the grassy area found at the side of all trails. Otherwise, I get my support crew to put it in the bikestand.
So being that this happens almost every time you fall off, do you replace all scratched parts after every crash? Or do you not crash?
I don't crash enough to damage parts that often, I do generally replace things like grips if they get damaged though (not that I use lock-ons).
In fact, are your tyres OK with all that contact with the dirt and stones?
They get a good scrub when I clean the bike to ensure they're as clean as possible!
My bike cost a reasonable amount, I like to after it, can't really imagine genuinely not caring about damaging bits completely needlessly!
After 30 years of turning the bike upside down I recently bought my first workstand. What a revelation. Until I came to put the back wheel back in. My brain just could not compute how to do it right way up. I ended up taking the bike off the stand and standing it the time-honoured way to put the wheel back in.
Yes, I am a dunce. I don't care.
They get a good scrub when I clean the bike to ensure they're as clean as possible!
You are kidding, right?
I've been turning my bikes upside down for trailside repairs for over 40 years and a slight scratch to shifters, brakes or grips is the worst that's happened. It's a mountain bike ffs, it's not supposed to be immaculate...
I turn mine upside down to remove/replace wheels, but that's all. It gets turned right-side-up again for pumping up tyres etc (or they're done before putting the wheel back on). The only annoying thing is the brake levers need pumping like billy-o once it's back on it's wheels (Maybe a Shimano-ism? Never used to be an issue with my Hopes) to get the bite point back where it should be.
I try not to leave it upside down for any extended period of time (I've seen a fair few cars on the motorway with bikes upside down on the boot rack, for example) as I'm not sure I'd trust the brake reservoirs not to leak.
Punctures? Really?
In fact I'm surprised there isn't "Yes, why wouldn't you?" option as it's clearly the default.
They get a good scrub when I clean the bike to ensure they're as clean as possible!
A friend of mine lived with a bloke who used to take his tyres off to clean them. He was a complete gooner though.
ooh I'd never lay down the bike on its side - might irrepairably scratch the frame/fork/my nail polish
Even if I was a racer I'd imagine turning it over would take no longer than laying it down only to then pick it up again
Mind, haven't ever given it much thought; I'd have dismissed the idea of a poll on the subject on the grounds that nobody would even answer it, let alone generate threadage on it 😯
You are kidding, right?
Nope! Particularly make sure they're clean when I take them off, who wants to fit muddy tyres!?
A friend of mine lived with a bloke who used to take his tyres off to clean them.
They're much harder to clean off the bike, dunno why you'd remove them to clean them!
I find it easier to slot in my rotors when I can see the pads, while the bike is upside down. It scratched the lock ons but... maybe I could heli tape them or use that sugura stuff. If I was bothered.
You scrub your tyres clean ?
Yet have the nerve to scoff at people turning their bikes upside down............I'd p1ss myself laughing if I saw you scrubbing your tyres clean.......
In Njee's defence, his bike probably cost more than my bike and car together, and looks in considerably better condition than either!
You scrub your tyres clean ?
Definitely! Takes a minute when cleaning the bike! I realise that's an alien concept to most though!
Trailside what are your other options? lay it on it's side, paint first in the gravel? have a friend hold it upright? Carry a workstand at all times? Grips and saddles don't take much hurt from the dirt. Just watch out you don't get dog crap on you contact points... It's nice to have gravity on your side with certain droputs.
Of course in the garage it's a different story, a concrete floor will ruin your lock on collars pretty quick so you might as well break out the workstand...
They're much harder to clean off the bike, dunno why you'd remove them to clean them!
Yes but he wanted to make sure there was no dirt that had seeped between the bead of the tyre and the rim. In essence he scrubed the tyre then took the tyre off and scrubbed the rim
I only clean the rim up when I take the tyre off, just extra work otherwise!
You scrub your tyres clean ?
Yet have the nerve to scoff at people turning their bikes upside down............I'd p1ss myself laughing if I saw you scrubbing your tyres clean.......
I do too, but my bike lives in my bedroom so it has to be clean.
Why would you not do it? 'Oooh I don't want to scratch my levers' - MTFU son.
I thought it was compulsory to have your bike upside down when the obligatory "Woodpile" photo is taken?
When scrubbing said tyres do you wear Marigolds as well............?
Nah, I'm never clean, just the bike.
That's ok then,I was starting to get a bit worried........ 🙂
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Very good! Very good! 😉
I'm biting...
Way to knacker your grips/GPS/stem/lockout lever!
Only a muppet wouldn't take the computer/GPS off first. Only a muppet would care about getting the grips dirty. Why haven't you got the lockout lever fitted below the bars? Although it took me a year to work out I could fit it under the bars! 😳
And yes, if I take the rear wheel out, which is very rare, I will turn the bike upside down. Otherwise I look like one of those muppets on the video "Shit Mountain Bikers Say...".
No, it's really not. And none of the guys I ride with do it either, come to think of it!
my ergon grips have neat little rubbery flanges that the bike stands on when upside down. unexpected bonus feature.
Scratched lock on collars would annoy me though!
i had one guy on tour who would produce a sock from his saddle bag and pull it over the bar-end/grip if leaning his bike against the wall. he had a second sock in there in case he got a puncture....
njee20 - Member
No, it's really not. And none of the guys I ride with do it either, come to think of it!
And nor do I...
So that's 4 folk on this thread who don't do it, I'm genuinely surprised!
Nowt like a good inversion here, everything goes in much easier!
Helps keep fork rings nicely lubed too!
It was explained to me a long time ago that its one of the differences between cyclists and people who ride bikes. Turning the bike over shows a lack of mechnical sympathy/understanding. Its not like bikes are supposed to up side down.
I guess its like rolling your car over to work on the underside. You could but theres better ways, if you (can)think about it.
Can have an effect on your forks as well, both good and bad depending on your forks.
If your bike is upside down is it easier the throw tubes in to a tree?
I always do cos it's miles easier (back wheel only though)to line everything up. My mate doesn't & usually ends up cursing.
It was explained to me a long time ago that its one of the differences between cyclists and people who ride bikes. Turning the bike over shows a lack of mechnical sympathy/understanding. Its not like bikes are supposed to up side down.
Oh dear god. What do you think is going to happen to it exactly? And as above it's recommended for Fox forks (maybe other too).
guess its like rolling your car over to work on the underside.
Um......... yeah..... It's just like that. 😕
so the person who is too cool for lock-on grips is astonished that turning the bike upside down helps get a wheel in/out. not really surprising is it?
Ah - that explains it. I'm obviously only "a person that rides bikes" and not a cyclist - even though the 10,000km I did last year might suggest otherwise.Speshpaul - Member
It was explained to me a long time ago that its one of the differences between cyclists and people who ride bikes
Spesh paul. Thats crazy talk!! id flip my car over in an instant if it were possible so would most folk whove spent many winter evenings on cold concrete trying to get a bolt undone !! Christ on a bike !! the worlds gone mad!! 🙄
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Upside down? Pffft! It's what trees were built for
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketdog/3399567692/ ]IMG_1872[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/rocketdog/ ]rOcKeTdOgUk[/url], on Flickr
I completely understand the car analogy. In fact, I carry a small shovel with me at all times so that in the event of needing to change a wheel or fettle with the rear mech I can dig a 5' deep inspection pit to stand in while I work on the bike. Sorted.
I'd rather be some guy who rides bikes than a cyclist. When what you do defines who you are you need to question whether you have any personality.
so the person who is too cool for lock-on grips is astonished that turning the bike upside down helps get a wheel in/out. not really surprising is it?
I'm not too cool for lock-on grips, they just solve a non-existent problem whilst adding a load of unnecessary weight!
It doesn't make it easier though, that's the point. I worked in a bike shop for 10 years, I never once saw any staff member (in fact I've never seen it in any bike shop) do it. Must have fitted many thousands of wheels.
Can you imagine if pro-tour riders started turning their bike upside down to change a wheel at the roadside, utterly absurd!
Bike upside down=frame fixed in place/, wheel drops in under it's own weight virtually. Bike upright = front wheel flops around, rear frame flops all over the place, wheel flops all over the place-aaaaarrrgghhhhh. (always try to find a patch of grass to turn it over on mind)
It doesn't make it easier though, that's the point. I worked in a bike shop for 10 years, I never once saw any staff member (in fact I've never seen it in any bike shop) do it. Must have fitted many thousands of wheels.
During that time you didn't manage to work out that the ONLY job that is easier to do out of a stand is put the wheels in the dropouts. When the bike is upside down.......
Are you a tad special or are you making a huge effort to troll? I can't work out which.
Damn i must be just some person who rides bikes, some bloody stupid elitism going on here - let's wave our willies if we conform and fix punctures without turning our bikes upside down! Really? New one on me.
I remove my wheels when fixing punctures by turning my bike upside down, strike me down.
Good shout on turning the car upside down Speshpaul, i'd never thought of that. I guess that would make me just someone who drives cars then would it?
Scratched lock on collars would annoy me though!
It's a mountain bike, all mine are battered to f***. Dented tubes, deep scratches, torn saddles. If you ride knarly stuff often enough you'll flip over the bars every once in a while and scratched lock on collars will be the least of your worries! Many a time I've seen my bike fly off down a hill past me when I've exceeded my skills limit!
Can you imagine if pro-tour riders started turning their bike upside down to change a wheel at the roadside, utterly absurd
So your main concern is wanting to look like a 'pro-tour rider' - I see.
My mate told me off for turning his bike over to take the wheels off so I could put them in the car. I thought he was joking at first but he took the bike off me and but the bars on some grass. Apparently he didn't want to scratch his new XTR leavers. I'm not fussed about turning mine over a little bit of a scratch is no bother to me. I did scratch my light once when I did it and was bothered for about 2 mins, and I will remove my GPS if I remember to.
Wow, only 9% put the wheel in with the bike the right way up?!
SO MUCH easier to do it with the bike the right way up - frame weight overcomes the rear mech tension and it just drops in. Lean on the saddle to ensure the axle is fully home in the dropouts and do up the qr. There's a risk with doing it bike upside down that the wheel isn't actually in straight as the drop outs are holding it slightly out - i.e. the wheel doesn't fully home into the dropout.
The amount of people I see trail side with the bike upside down and faffing to get the wheel in. Bike right way up it just slots straight in.
To be honest, If I had the spare wheel in my hand as somebody passed over the already upright rim-braked bike to me, probably with the punctured wheel also removed, I'd just shove it in.Can you imagine if pro-tour riders started turning their bike upside down to change a wheel at the roadside, utterly absurd!
If I've just had to fix a puncture/sort a sucked chain/claen shite out of the cassette I'd have the bike upside own every time
Common trait on STW = believing that the way that the way you like to do things is some kind of universal example of best practise that everyone else should copy, otherwise they are dicks.
Bike right way up it just slots straight in.
Do you have rim brakes?