Random acts of bicycle maintenance

This is weird. Last night I swear I saw someone walking away from my bike. Then on my commute home I found my front brake didn't work property for some reason and I therefore went head-on into a Land Rover.

This is weird. Last night I swear I saw someone walking away from my bike. Then on my commute home I found my front brake didn't work property for some reason and I therefore went head-on into a Land Rover.

Funnily enough, that was the same Land Rover whose brakes I fixed earlier, when I spotted it parked in the street and thought it could do with a service.

I fixed a french girls bike at the side of the road once, Got a snog outta it..... I then had freshers flu for the next few days.

iv also done up qr skewers, but its usually best to point out to the rider that they'd got it wrong so next time they need the wheel off they can do so & they can re-fit it properly!

i think its good to do as long as

you are not on foot and wearing a hoody and also carrying a bolt cutter
the owner doesnt catch you and get the wrong idea
you have all the tools to do the favour swiftly

it would be nice to write a note to say "your brakes needed adjusting and i had the tool on me, ride safely" put this on the bike somewhere and then start the repair. i know its a bit drawn out but if the owner comes back and sees you crouched beside their beloved machine with spanner in hand at lest if they read the note they can know your intentions were decent. its just a thought, tell me if there's a fail in my method.

I fixed someone's Storck locked outside the chippy last weekend. It was lucky I was able to run a 'magic gear' as I only had freewheel spacers in my manbag. If anyone wants some Sub-Zero calipers or a Lightweight deraillleur pm me.

turned a guys forks round once, told me he was surprized halfords could make such a simple building mistake (oh really) then offered to return the favour with drugs.
Had to decline...definatly shifty looking.

Well most of the time I'm a little less hardcore. If I see a chump has left his light on ill switch it off. Or even guys who leave their lights on their bikes lying in the streets ill stick a note on saying its probably not a good idea. As Coppi says, its all about the note.

I know what you mean.. I saw this bike..

and thought it could do with some work...

The owner was happy and bought me a beer and three quality midgets.

I pick up bikes that have been knocked to the ground when left leaning against a signpost or lamp post.

I kick bikes over that have been left resting on my precious signposts and lamp posts.

I follow hippy around and cover his bikes in stickers featuring rude words.

I go around putting gears onto fixed and single speed bikes

I really want a non fixed wheel familiar theif to try and steal my bike from me conviniently at the top of a gnarly hill.
Ofcourse my bike will be brakeless. is it possible to learn to skid stop in a matter of seconds?

I really want a non fixed wheel familiar theif to try and steal my bike from me conviniently at the top of a gnarly hill.
Ofcourse my bike will be brakeless. is it possible to learn to skid stop in a matter of seconds?

he'd have to try and get on the bike in the first place when he realise he can't turn the pedal back let alone starting off is quite different with a fixed wheel.

Well most of the time I'm a little less hardcore. If I see a chump has left his light on ill switch it off. Or even guys who leave their lights on their bikes lying in the streets ill stick a note on saying its probably not a good idea. As Coppi says, its all about the note.

I do that a lots actually, turning off the light I mean.

I really want a non fixed wheel familiar theif to try and steal my bike from me conviniently at the top of a gnarly hill.
Ofcourse my bike will be brakeless. is it possible to learn to skid stop in a matter of seconds?

Or flip the back wheel to ss if you have a flip-flop hub, when leaving it for a while.

Hah! that'd be a sight.