If you have a bumper-mount car rack for carrying your bikes (the type with two arms that protrude), use it as a repair stand. Rest the bike on the uprights and itll be at the perfect height for making adjustments. On some racks youll even be able to pedal to adjust the derailleurs. BACK
When rounding up your tool kit, dont think you need beautiful matched wrenches and screwdrivers. Often odd flea market tools and things you find around the house can work just fine for basic bike repairs. And theres an advantage to having these in your collection: they make it easier to find the right tool when youre searching through a tool box or your work bench because they look different. BACK
Want a great toolboard over your workbench? Do this: cut a piece of cardboard out of a bike box (or?) the size of your toolboard (3/4-inch plywood screwed to the wall works nicely). Lay the cardboard down on the bench or floor and lay all your tools out on it the way youd like them to hang. Put frequently used tools near the center and dont put tools too high or youll have trouble reaching them. Next, draw a quick outline around the tool and mark where a nail would support the tool. Remove the tools, rest the cardboard against your toolboard, drive nails through the marks you made, remove the cardboard template and hang your tools on the nails (use the outlines on the template as your guide). They should be organized exactly the way you planned. Try the arrangement and if you like it, use a Sharpie marker to outline the tools and youll have completed your custom toolboard. Hints: you can reuse the toolboard template so dont throw it away. For a screwdriver and Allen wrench rack, just drill some holes in a section of 2 x 4 stock and screw it to your toolboard. BACK
This tip is from Jeff Gilmore of the Third Hand: To do a nice job cutting down mountain bike handlebars, all you need is a simple hose clamp, one of those constricting clamps you can buy for $1.50 at any hardware store. Mark the bar where you want to cut (careful, better to remove a little and try it than to ruin the bar by cutting too much) and tighten the hose clamp on the bar so the outside edge rests right on the cut line. By resting your hacksaw against the edge of the hose clamp and sawing carefully, you can cut the bars as neat as can be. Use a little emery cloth or sandpaper to smooth the rough edges. BACK
The most common cause of poor shifting on todays bikes that click with each shift, is a stretched cable. When the cable has slack in it, one click of the lever cant move the derailleur far enough to push the chain onto the next cog. Fortunately, derailleurs have small adjustment barrels on them designed to be hand turned (look where the housing meets the derailleur). And its easy to remember which way to turn them. If the derailleur is hesitating shifting toward the spokes (the most common affliction); turn the barrel toward the spokes in 1/2-turn increments until the shifting occurs with each click. Take the opposite approach if the derailleur is hesitating shifting away from the spokes. BACK
Next time your hands are all grimy, squeeze a little orange juice on them and rub. It wont get them spotless but it does a pretty nice job of cutting grease for something you can eat. BACK
If you keep your chain in good condition, your cassette cogs and chainrings will last longer, which will save you money and prevent shifting glitches. To tell how your chain is holding up, measure it. Take a ruler and try to measure exactly 12 inches between any two pins. If the chain measures 12 1/8 inches or more, its worn out and should be replaced. If its really worn, youll probably need to replace the cassette as wellor a few worn cogs if you are lucky enough to be able to find someone who sells individual cogs. BACK
An easy way to remove mountain-bike handlebar grips, even ones seemingly bonded to the bar, is to slide a long thin screwdriver beneath the grip, lift it, drip a little isopropyl alcohol under the grip and twist. The alcohol will work its way beneath the grip, simplifying removal. To reinstall, drip some alcohol inside the grip and swish it around (hold your finger over the hole in the end if there is one). Then slip on the grip. The alcohol will evaporate quickly, and as soon as that happens, the grip will be secure. BACK
Ever grab your bicycle and stick yourself on a frayed cable? Ouch, that smarts! Avoid the pain and also protect your cables, which can weaken and slip if they fray, by always installing a cable end after cutting them (cables ends are also known as cable caps; theyre small aluminum ends that slips over and seal the cable stopping fraying). You can pick these up at any bicycle shop for cheap. I like to crimp them on the ends of the cable with a diagonal cutter so they cant come off. If you dont have cable ends, there are many alternatives, such as super glue, spoke nipples, heat-shrink electrical tubing, a small section cut from a ballpoint pen refill, and you can also solder many cables simply by heating with a match or lighter and touching with solder. Use your creativity and save your cables and yourself. BACK
All of this with the guaranteed support of Jims Group – the biggest franchise in Australia with over 3,200 franchisees – how can you go wrong?
Don’t miss out on this excellent business opportunity – download the information booklet to get your inside view of how you can be a part of such a growing industry.
Full training at Jim’s Group Head Quarters in Melbourne, Victoria (including transfers and accommodation)
And everything you need like business manuals, business cards, invoice books, bin cleaning chemicals and deodorizers, promotional items and more.
Jim’s Bin Cleaning are looking for franchisees in all states and territories of Australia and we want you to team up with us to help clean all those dirty bins out there. Doing our bit to clean up Australia!
So download your information booklet now and find out more about the business opp owning your own Jim’s Bin Cleaning franchise today.
Owning my own Jims Bin Cleaning franchise has changed my life. It’s so easy and the support is terrific. I enjoy what I do every day!