20
I finally understood what an old timer meant about 'listening' to a bike
I was helping a guy in his 70s, Frank, with a simple flat fix on his old three-speed. He watched me pump the tire and said, 'You know, you can hear when the pressure is right. It's a different sound on the rim.' I've been using a gauge for 15 years, so I just smiled. But later, on a kid's bike with a busted gauge, I tried it. I pumped slowly and listened. There's a faint, higher-pitched 'ping' when the bead seats fully that you miss if you're just watching numbers. It's not a replacement for a gauge on a carbon rim, but for a quick check on a steel beater? It works. Frank's trick was about paying attention to the bike itself, not just the tools. Has anyone else picked up a little trick like that from an older rider?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
mila_murphy2127d ago
My grandpa taught me to set bearing preload by feel on an old cup and cone hub. He'd have me spin the axle and slowly tighten until the spin just started to drag, then back off a hair. Said the wrench should talk to your fingers. I still do it that way on my old bikes. A torque wrench is more exact, but his way builds a connection to the parts.
5