On The Road Repairs

[Recycle]

This is not about a bike stand on a garage floor. This is about a 70+ lb E-Bike that needs a repair on the road or trail (even been here?, see image below). This is a question about how to repair a flat for instance, while on the road or trail. This could also be about other repairs where you need the tires off the ground. I have had flats on regular road and mountain bikes, not pleasant but fairly straight forward. I recently had my first flat on an ebike (rear tire). It took over an hour in miserable conditions and involved the use of rocks, logs and lots of foul language. This question is not necessarily about tools for wheel/tire removal or patch kits, but more about bike positioning for repairs. During my after action analysis, I asked myself how I would handle this situation differently for the next flat. So, my question for you, is how you handle road repairs? Thanks in advance for your comments.

PS: I did some research and found this product that looks very interesting. Anyone using this product or have comments about a "flipped" approach.

The Original Handlebar Jack Ultra Portable Bicycle Repair Stand

The Original Handlebar Jack is a portable bicycle repair stand. Protect your handlebars, expensive accessories, ebike displays, carbon fiber handlebars, break levers and more.

www.handlebarjack.com

 

[fooferdoggie]

I don't want to flip a heavy e bike over its way too much. I use the kickstand to lean the bike on so I can get the rear wheel off and on. you thin ka regular e bike is hard try a e tandem it was to fall over if my wife can even lift the rear up.

 

[Recycle]

I don't want to flip a heavy e bike over its way too much. I use the kickstand to lean the bike on so I can get the rear wheel off and on. you thin ka regular e bike is hard try a e tandem it was to fall over if my wife can even lift the rear up.

I hear you, ebikes are heavy. During my adventure I was down on my hands and knees during the adventure. I would prefer to work standing up (bad knees!). Does the "kickstand" method work for front tire flats?

 

[harryS]

I don't mind flipping a bike over, but you have to make sure you don't break any displays. For that reason, mine are somewhat loose so I turn them out of harms way. Handlebar jack? Hahaha.

.

 

[Recycle]

In the Area13 video, his ebike is without fenders. Not sure his technique would work with fenders and rear rack.

 

[BlackHand]

In the Area13 video, his ebike is without fenders. Not sure his technique would work with fenders and rear rack.

It works ok on my bike. The fenders are plastic, so they deform for a second before the rear rack takes the weight. A taillight could be a problem, but mine sits flush under the rear edge of the rack so it doesn't ever take any weight.

If you have Ergon or similar grips you can loosen them a bit and rotate the 'wings' up about 90 degrees to give about another inch of clearance to the handlebar. On my bike thats enough to keep everything safely off the ground.

 

[indianajo]

When my bike had a display, I mounted it to the front column instead of on the handlebar. This is so I could turn the bike upside down on seat & handlebar when I need to repair a tube or put a chain back on or untangle a weed or whatever. I have zero need to look at the display. Battery voltage is on the throttle mount.
Loaded with tools, supplies, water, my bike weighs 94 lb. Put the tools supplies & water on the ground, almost 80 lb. I roll the bike over on the side and then its back, not lift the front tire over or anything that clumsy. I work out with weights (5 lb one arm, 36 lb both arms biceps)) & do the Army daily dozen exercises to maintain the ability to lift things at age 72. Good also for cutting up trees, carrying trash wood to the sinkhole, and carrying out the garbage (used roofing).
I've put extra slack in the wires to my front hub motor so I don't have to unwire it to change a tube. Just clip & replace some zip ties holding wire to the front fork. Torque arm on the front motor comes undone with one screw & nut. I do have fenders on the bike, and they are out of the way. Help me align the tire properly as I'm putting the axle back in the slot.
Front tube replacement ~25 minutes, rear 10 minutes more for fooling with the chain and taking a pannier loose. For rear I have to carry a 10" chanllock plier to wind up the derailleur takeup; my fingers aren't that strong. I have spare zip-ties & 7 mm thick gloves in a ziplock bag in the pannier. The spare tire folds up, a panaracer. Took me 2 days to get a spare tire out there when I blew out a sidewall in a used but good looking tire. I keep 3 tubes in the bag and 2 more at each end of my commute. Non-slime, since slime tubes plug up the valve stem where I can't inflate it anymore. I average less than 1 flat a year but one time the spare tube blew out immediately when inflated. Tubes are not made in USA anymore. Sometimes I can miss a sharp object through the tire & wear out a tube a 2nd time. I don't carry reading glasses on the bike, my nearest focus is about 10".

 

[Taylor57]

This is not about a bike stand on a garage floor. This is about a 70+ lb E-Bike that needs a repair on the road or trail (even been here?, see image below). This is a question about how to repair a flat for instance, while on the road or trail. This could also be about other repairs where you need the tires off the ground. I have had flats on regular road and mountain bikes, not pleasant but fairly straight forward. I recently had my first flat on an ebike (rear tire). It took over an hour in miserable conditions and involved the use of rocks, logs and lots of foul language. This question is not necessarily about tools for wheel/tire removal or patch kits, but more about bike positioning for repairs. During my after action analysis, I asked myself how I would handle this situation differently for the next flat. So, my question for you, is how you handle road repairs? Thanks in advance for your comments.

View attachment 140561

PS: I did some research and found this product that looks very interesting. Anyone using this product or have comments about a "flipped" approach.

The Original Handlebar Jack Ultra Portable Bicycle Repair Stand

The Original Handlebar Jack is a portable bicycle repair stand. Protect your handlebars, expensive accessories, ebike displays, carbon fiber handlebars, break levers and more.

www.handlebarjack.com

I have a couple of those. They are ok. Just need to make sure the velcro is tight and secure...

 

[Tars Tarkas]

I don't mind flipping a bike over, but you have to make sure you don't break any displays. For that reason, mine are somewhat loose so I turn them out of harms way. Handlebar jack? Hahaha.

What is the hahaha about? I have and have used Handlebar Jacks and like them. Not meaning to go off on Slime, etc., but it's been a long time singe I've had to flip my bike for repairs while on the road. I'd rather have the Handlebar Jacks than not have them.

For flats, it's often possible to break the bead on the rear tire without removing the wheel, then pull enough of the tube out to find and patch the leak, stuff the tube back in, etc., and go again. Me, I would probably flip the bike to do that.

I have plastic fenders, and like someone else said, they deform in the flipping process but recover completely.

It may depend on your handlebars and what's mounted on them. You may not need Handlebar Jacks. I keep a pair in my rear rack bag along with everything else I hope I never need....

TT

 

[Taylor57]

What is the hahaha about? I have and have used Handlebar Jacks and like them. Not meaning to go off on Slime, etc., but it's been a long time singe I've had to flip my bike for repairs while on the road. I'd rather have the Handlebar Jacks than not have them.

For flats, it's often possible to break the bead on the rear tire without removing the wheel, then pull enough of the tube out to find and patch the leak, stuff the tube back in, etc., and go again. Me, I would probably flip the bike to do that.

I have plastic fenders, and like someone else said, they deform in the flipping process but recover completely.

It may depend on your handlebars and what's mounted on them. You may not need Handlebar Jacks. I keep a pair in my rear rack bag along with everything else I hope I never need....

TT

Yeah, it's not like they take up a lot of space. I have used them several times but never in the wild...

 

[fooferdoggie]

I hear you, ebikes are heavy. During my adventure I was down on my hands and knees during the adventure. I would prefer to work standing up (bad knees!). Does the "kickstand" method work for front tire flats?

front tire is the easiest just loosen the axle up lift the front off remove the wheel and set it on the forks. I have the bike on the kickstand. the repeat to put the wheel back on.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Rule #49, 'nuff said.

Velominati – Keepers of the Cog

www.velominati.com

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

Haibike Full FatSix. The drill: Find a nice, soft spot off the road that is friendly towards your saddle. If nothing is available, use the soft towels you carry in your repair kit to place under the saddle where it sits....... Remove the rear pannier bag or bags. Remove the front handlebar bag. Shift front chain ring to the smallest sprocket, Shift rear cassette to the highest gear. The purpose of this is to facilitate easy removal of the wheel from the chain...... Be sure to shift the derailleur clutch to OFF if you have a clutch. This allows free movement of the derailleur when you move the rear wheel off the frame mounting points..... Remove the LCD display.....Flip bike over. I have Cane Creek Ergo Bar Ends and the bike rests nicely on them when flipped over. I imagine these Handlebar Jacks are a great substitute for those not using bar ends like on my FFS....... For those having trouble flipping a heavy ebike, recommend you carry your battery lock in order to remove the heavy battery and thus, lightening your load.

I cannot imagine anyone doing a roadside repair in any other scenario than what I show here. But as they say, whatever floats your boat! And by the way, this pic was a real roadside flat repair situation. Over the years, I've had multiple dozens of flats with this bike as well as my analog Fatboy. and in 99.9 times, it was always the rear tire.

 

[Gordon71]

This is not about a bike stand on a garage floor. This is about a 70+ lb E-Bike that needs a repair on the road or trail (even been here?, see image below). This is a question about how to repair a flat for instance, while on the road or trail. This could also be about other repairs where you need the tires off the ground. I have had flats on regular road and mountain bikes, not pleasant but fairly straight forward. I recently had my first flat on an ebike (rear tire). It took over an hour in miserable conditions and involved the use of rocks, logs and lots of foul language. This question is not necessarily about tools for wheel/tire removal or patch kits, but more about bike positioning for repairs. During my after action analysis, I asked myself how I would handle this situation differently for the next flat. So, my question for you, is how you handle road repairs? Thanks in advance for your comments.

View attachment 140561

PS: I did some research and found this product that looks very interesting. Anyone using this product or have comments about a "flipped" approach.

The Original Handlebar Jack Ultra Portable Bicycle Repair Stand

The Original Handlebar Jack is a portable bicycle repair stand. Protect your handlebars, expensive accessories, ebike displays, carbon fiber handlebars, break levers and more.

www.handlebarjack.com

I carry a pair in my bike bag but never have had to use them on the trail as yet but have used them in my garage a couple of times when changing tires on my Rad Rover which weighs around 67 lbs without the battery. They work very well.

 

[kev123]

I carried A 1 inch, (thick) piece of foam. By about four inches wide. Rolled up. So I could set. The handlebars and stuff, and not damage anything. I guess you could carry the proper tools, to adjust. Any. Controllers and. Stuff out of the way, Such as small, Alan wrenches. Screwdrivers. Practice doing. it at home. Even if you don't have a flat. Will help you know what to do when you do.

 

[Gordon71]

I carried A 1 inch, (thick) piece of foam. By about four inches wide. Rolled up. So I could set. The handlebars and stuff, and not damage anything. I guess you could carry the proper tools, to adjust. Any. Controllers and. Stuff out of the way, Such as small, Alan wrenches. Screwdrivers. Practice doing. it at home. Even if you don't have a flat. Will help you know what to do when you do.

Sounds like the foam would take up more space in your bag than the jacks.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I use the kickstand to lean the bike over to take the back wheel off then repeat. may be a little more work then getting it on flipped over but overall less work. the front I just life the bike up to take the front wheel off.

 

[Dewey]

I use the handlebar jacks Kyle sells. Very handy. But because I have a leather saddle I need to remember to put a cloth under the saddle when I flip the bike upside down.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I honestly rarely flip the bike over for field repairs. And when I do I just remove the display and GPS mount before I flip the bike.

 

[kev123]

I have slime in my tires. Using slime or some other tire flat fix. Just to get me home. I guess it would depend on how much you pay for your tubes. Whether that worked or not. Or if you wanna continue your ride. Yeah in my bike saddles it doesn't take up that much the foam.