The opposite of bicycle repair man

[hirez]

(Because that name does assume a minor amount of mechanical nouse)

Before the country started enacting its own Ballardian psychodrama - we do appear to be working our way collectively through his novels, and Shepperton has a splash-on part in the current Thames Television opportunity. I'm looking forward to Hello America, and plan to be hiding when it's time for the Atrocity Exhibition - the Nice Bike was emitting a creaking noise from one or other of the cranks. Of late it's been quiet and I put that down to a mildly more attentive maintenance regimen because otherwise the chain rusts up sharpish what with all this weather we've been never having it so good as before it were all watermeadows round here when I were a lass, etc.

Today the left-hand crank fell off. Which was something of a surprise. Thankfully I was able to collect all the bits, stuff them in various pockets and trudge off while pretending not to notice the set of people at the bus stop.

Unfortunately Halfords.

Hey ho.

Comments

[jarkman.livejournal.com]

What had happened to whatever was meant to retain it ?

[hirez.livejournal.com]

It had worked itself loose over time.

And indeed again this AM. Bah. I think the hole in the business end of the crank is no longer square. New chainset needed.

[silentq.livejournal.com]

I had a problem with a falling off crank a year or so ago. Very very very annoying. Turns out that even though I was tightening it at home with a tool (and on the road, and on the sidewalk, and... ), it took bringing it into the shop and having them use the Big Tool to tighten it before it would stop working loose again. I did buy a new crank arm, it's sitting in my bin of spare parts now. *sigh*

[hirez.livejournal.com]

Aha. Perhaps I should pay attention to the torque-wrench settings on the end bolt, rather than just 'make it as tight as the other one'..

[jarkman.livejournal.com]

That does sound pleasingly technical.

[oryctolagus.livejournal.com]

That last sentence of the first paragraph cracked me up. Genius!