Bikes are simple machines but some adjustments need tuning finesse. Gear mechanisms and breaks are ideally adjusted with the bikes wheels spinning.
The common back yard method I used to use was flipping the bike onto its handle bars and seat. A few torn seats and some gears that never work just right later; my pedal fell off and I decided to get to work.
This time I chose a different route, a bike stand. You can buy these stands but they are a little pricey.
I decided to make one out of wood.
It was pretty simple and with basic hand tools one could make this for pretty cheap.
The tools I used were a drill, a small bit,a 1.5inch spade bit, a phillips screw driver attachment, and a compound miter saw. A wood handsaw and a miter box or a steady hand could do the same job.
I used 2 inch and 3 inch drywall screws, to attach the peices, and predrilled holes to prevent the wood from cracking.
The bike cantilevers over base of the stand. The key is to have a base that is bigger than the arm which holds the bike. Also the supports at the joints between the horizontal arms and the vertical arm are essential to keep it from folding up.
One tricky part was the bike holding part. At first I just screwed two 2x4's together close to the frame and shoved the bike in it. It worked but it ruined my new paint. So I cut a 45 degree angle in the inner 2x4 and attached a door hinge. Then I drilled a 1.5 inch hole by clamping the two boards together and then drilling in between them. I also drilled a second .5 inch hole through the wide faces of the 2x4s and attached a thin 5 inch bolt, washers, and a wingnut.
It works great and hasn't dropped the bike on my toe yet. It does seem to look a little evil at night though.
Jams for the work ahead
Tags:shimano, bike, breaks, specialized, stand, diy, DIY, gears, derailleur,
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