Helpless in Nevada: How do you secure this fender?

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

My dearest wish is to move to a city where there is a group of Riv people so I no longer have to come to public forums and share my ignorance about bike mechanics! 

Here’s my latest. I got my pretty VO fenders (I call them my waterfall fenders) installed a few months ago and they work great. Nearly silent, lovely to behold and they actually work. However, the rear fender is wiggly. It’s because - and the mechanic showed me at the installation - there doesn’t seem to be a way to secure the fender to the frame. Well, actually, the frame has a place but the fender doesn’t seem to have a way to attach itself. The mechanic couldn’t figure it out so I certainly am not going to. He told me it would wiggle but it didn’t make any noice, so he hoped I could live with it. I was riding around fine this way because I am full of quirks and what is one more? But that was until Roberta noticed my one wiggly fender and thinks there’s a fix for it, and suddenly I cannot live like this. 

Do you know how to fix it?

I’m attaching a video in a reply to this post, which I think will work on the desktop version of this Google group. I think it will prompt you to download, and then you can see the mess I am in. Or else this video won’t work at all and then I’ll have made an even worse mess! 

Thanks (again),

Leah

PS I think Wiggly Fender would make an excellent name for a rock band.

[Leah Peterson]

[Mark Roland]

Your fender should have come with something like this:

[Kurt Manley]

You need one of these. It crimps on the fender and attaches to the seat stay bridge. 10 minute install and easy to do.

https://velo-orange.com/collections/fender-parts/products/vo-sliding-fender-bracket-wide

[Mark Roland]

P.S. I'm going with excellent name for a dance...

BBDD wrote: PS I think Wiggly Fender would make an excellent name for a rock band.

[Steve Palincsar]

According to VO, your fender came witha hardware kit that includes: 5mm polished aluminum stays, R-clips and screws, L bracket, reinforcement plates, stay-to-fender closed eyelet bolts, fork crown daruma, sliding bracket, leather washers, and detailed installation instructions.

I believe the part you're looking for is the "sliding bracket."

You don't want to leave it wiggly.  That will fatigue and break the fender.

I'm kind of surprised your mechanic couldn't figure a way to mount that fender.  Even an L shaped bracket bolted to the fender with the other end bolted to the brake bridge would do it.

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[Joe Bernard]

Here's the unbent doohickey your installer should have bent and crimped onto your fender, then bolted to the brake bridge. Was it not in the package? Did he toss it and tell you "it'll be fine, lady" ? I have questions and I'm annoyed, that's not how you install fenders when someone hands you money and says, "Hey, can you install my fenders?" 🤨

https://velo-orange.com/products/vo-sliding-fender-bracket-wide

Joe "annoyed in California" Bernard

[Leah Peterson]

So, do I need a bolt, too? Where do I get THAT? I don’t think the mechanic gave me back the extra parts. I’m off the garage to dig around and see!

Sent from my iPad

> On Mar 13, 2020, at 7:23 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Here's the unbent doohickey your installer should have bent and crimped onto your fender, then bolted to the brake bridge. Was it not in the package? Did he toss it and tell you "it'll be fine, lady" ? I have questions and I'm annoyed, that's not how you install fenders when someone hands you money and says, "Hey, can you install my fenders?" 🤨

>
> https://velo-orange.com/products/vo-sliding-fender-bracket-wide
>
> Joe "annoyed in California" Bernard
>

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[Joe Bernard]

That's how I installed Honjos on my Clem L which already had a hole in the fender from being on my Atlantis and I had an L-bracket from some other fender and...none of this is helping Leah! But here's a pic.

> send an email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.

[Steve Palincsar]

It is beyond belief that a bike shop would not have the requisite bolt.   And I'm with Joe: this is beyond slip-shod.  I'm sure the included instructions mentioned that bracket and how to install it.

On 3/13/20 10:26 PM, Leah Peterson wrote:

So, do I need a bolt, too? Where do I get THAT? I don’t think the mechanic gave me back the extra parts. I’m off the garage to dig around and see!

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 13, 2020, at 7:23 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:

Here's the unbent doohickey your installer should have bent and crimped onto your fender, then bolted to the brake bridge. Was it not in the package? Did he toss it and tell you "it'll be fine, lady" ? I have questions and I'm annoyed, that's not how you install fenders when someone hands you money and says, "Hey, can you install my fenders?" 🤨 

https://velo-orange.com/products/vo-sliding-fender-bracket-wide

Joe "annoyed in California" Bernard

-- 
Steve Palincsar
Alexandria, Virginia 
USA

[Leah Peterson]

This always happens to me. I even printed the directions for the guy. He mounted them beautifully, though. I’m running out of mechanics to try here....

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 13, 2020, at 7:34 PM, Steve Palincsar <pali...@his.com> wrote:



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[Abcyclehank]

Leah,
To bad you can not go back and ask the mechanic who installed them. 😂🤦🏻‍♂️. Poor guy. Just kidding trickle down big box stores are about profit not doing things 100% right or perfectly serving the customer. Sometimes both the company and mechanic are victims.
Now I am nervous how Joe will interpret my packing job.

Ryan “ still believes Leah can learn to be her own mechanic; it is easier than her high level family meal creating” Hankinson

[Joe Bernard]

Seriously, have you seen her cooking on the Instagram?? I can fix bikes all day but I can't do THAT!

[Leah Peterson]

What Ryan is referring to and the rest of you don’t know, is that the mechanic in question packed my Clementine so I could ship it when it sold...and he didn’t zip tie the front wheel. You might imagine what happened next. When my buyer received the bike the paint damage would make most Riv-lovers feel faint. I actually lost sleep.

The mechanic before him at a different shop had a few foibles as well, but he went out of business and as you can see, I’m running out of mechanics here.

Ryan is right, as incompetent as I am here, I’m a whiz in the kitchen, but it was easy to get there with great, prolific chefs to teach me their methodology in their cookbooks. Wrenching would be better taught (at least to me) in person. And Riv bikes are different than the typical bikes that an instructor might demonstrate on within a collective class.

I need Riv friends in the same city as me!
Helpless in Henderson,
Leah

Sent from my iPad

> On Mar 13, 2020, at 8:22 PM, 'Abcyclehank' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
>
> Leah,

> To bad you can not go back and ask the mechanic who installed them. 😂🤦🏻‍♂️. Poor guy. Just kidding trickle down big box stores are about profit not doing things 100% right or perfectly serving the customer. Sometimes both the company and mechanic are victims.
> Now I am nervous how Joe will interpret my packing job.
>
> Ryan “ still believes Leah can learn to be her own mechanic; it is easier than her high level family meal creating” Hankinson
>

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[Abcyclehank]

I will come out next March and lead the Riv Girl group through basic survival mechanics if you feed me and allow me to shoot hoops and or rollerblade with your boys at the part when you all are on your home based U24H girl coffee rides.

Ryan “ lost without coaching maybe I will hit up a bike building course for the next 2-3 weeks” Hankinson
West Michigan

[Hetchins52]

The video downloads and plays just fine. 

This is really distressing to see and read about. Both the cluelessly unattached fender and the thoughtless packing job of your bike. So sorry for what this shop has put you through.

David Lipsky

[kim young]

Leah - do you know if your REI’s bike shop is any good ?

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[ascpgh]

After I finish my weekend shifts I'll send you a copy of the fender installation instructions Rene Herse (nee Compass Cycles) put together with Peter Weigle. 

Bicycle mechanics is a lot like learning anatomy and physiology; structure and function. If you can determine one, you can surmise the other. Trying to learn "The 175 Steps of Bicycle Fender Installation" is a mindlessly bad pattern that much education seems to copy, when seeing the situation, getting your hands on things and observing the results (sounds familiar to other processes) really plugs this task into your mind. With it you are able to overcome variables and apply your skills as situations evolve and obsolete that list of 175 steps.

Off into the new world today, not sure what's coming next, but not my first round of plans changing on the fly. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

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[Joe Bernard]

I don't think you're going to get those instructions to work for Leah any more than she could tell me how to make her chicken: Theoretically we can both be taught these things, but in reality that's just not gonna happen.

I had the brilliant idea to buy that bracket and shape it to a fender here, then ship it to her to slide on her fender, but of course it's not that simple. She would need to remove her rear wheel (she doesn't have a workstand), unbolt the fender at the kickstand plate, tip it back, slide the bracket on, get that baby attached to the bridge, fender bolted at the plate again and wheel back in. Easy! 😂

I think the better plan is she's going to need a new bike shop - in Vegas I presume because she's out of them in Henderson - to finish the job she paid the last guy to do. I cannot BELIEVE he didn't use that bracket!

[Mark Roland]

As a gal who swapped out stems more than once, I do not believe this task would be that difficult for you. Yes, fenders can be a little tricky. But on the plus side VO fenders are more straightforward than Honjos.

I think the biggest obstacle with stuff like this is our mindset--and I admit, that is not easy to change! But you appear to have a somewhat...determined personality. I would get the VO instructions from its website, order the $5 bracket and some leather washers, or maybe a full kit so you have a bolt and some spare parts. You'll have that fender de-wiggled before it's time to cook supper. And who knows, eventually you could open a bike shop. The Henderson Helping Hand? No, The Wiggly Fender! (Or Bicycle Bell Ding Ding. That'd work too;^)

On Friday, March 13, 2020 at 10:43:29 PM UTC-4, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:

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[Steve Palincsar]

On 3/13/20 11:33 PM, Leah Peterson wrote:
> Ryan is right, as incompetent as I am here, I’m a whiz in the kitchen, but it was easy to get there with great, prolific chefs to teach me their methodology in their cookbooks. Wrenching would be better taught (at least to me) in person. And Riv bikes are different than the typical bikes that an instructor might demonstrate on within a collective class.

Some of the youtube videos aren't bad, and there are plenty of "how to"
bike maintenance books.  But sure, in person is excellent.

In this specific case, perhaps you can jump start your education with a
little concentrated thought.  Look at the way the struts attach to the
fender and to the frame.  See if you can visualize what they're doing. 
Now take a hard look at that fender and see if you can in your
imagination visualize what sort of attachment would stabilize it.

I can add three bits of information to the process.

1) if you need to adjust the curve of the fender, it works like this: if
you spread out the edges, widening the space where the tire goes under
the fender, the curve of the fender tightens and if you squeeze the
edges together, narrowing the space, the curve of the fender opens up. 
Aluminum is soft and can easily be squeezed together or opened up by hand.

2) unlike plastic fenders (you've probably installed and removed plastic
fenders before) you can't adjust the shape of the fender by pulling it
into line with the fender stays.  If you do, you put the aluminum under
stress which over time will lead to cracking. You've got to get the
stress out of it by reshaping the fender so it sits where you want it to
sit without tension from the fender stays.

3) you need holes in the fender to bolt it to attachment points on the
bicycle.  Fenders often come without the holes (because the mounting
points on frames aren't standardized).  Fenders are flexible, so mocking
up a fit (with masking tape, etc.) and marking all the hole locations
and drilling them all at once wont work because once you bolt down one
end of the fender the shape changes a tiny  bit and the other holes
won't line up anymore. This means you have to make a hole and bolt it
down, mark the next location, unbolt everything, remove the fender, mark
and drill the next hole, re-attach, mark the next location, unbolt,
drill, reattach.

[Leah Peterson]

The Wiggly Fender *would* make an excellent (and wildly inappropriate!) name for a Vegas bike shop. 

Swapping stems out was one thing, because it involved hex keys, of which I am the queen, but once you move to taking off wheels and crimping metal and all that, I’d rather pay someone to do it right. I mean, I am a liability to MYSELF at this point. I’ve been flying around on this Clem, my only bike, with the fender like this. I hit bumps and go off curbs and never once did I think this would stress or damage the fender. I looked at the stays, saw they were secure and thought, “What could possibly go wrong!” And that is why I should be mentored and one day, I hope I can find a way for that to happen. 

 I see these photos on Instagram of Riv people getting together for rides and meals and I always think you guys must work on your bikes together, but maybe I’m romanticizing. If I ever live in a city where there is a group like this, and I can convince them to let me in their club, maybe that will be where I learn. Until then, I’m hemorrhaging money at local bike shops in Vegas 😜 and riding around with wiggly fenders. 

I’ll set to work finding a new LBS in Vegas proper, but for now, I’m going back to doing what I like doing best; here are my Instagram videos of what that is. Henderson is in her glory in springtime. I cannot get enough.

[Leah Peterson]

[Saturday Mark]

Bring it to Salt Lake City and Saturday Cycles can help!

If you would like to do it yourself, we could send you all the parts to easily attach on your own.

[Leah Peterson]

Woah, we have wonderful folks AND celebrity bike shop folks jumping on here! 

You guys are too much, and also you are the best. 

Salt Lake is a 6 hour drive each way and it would totally be worth it and one of these days I hope to visit. I ordered the parts for the fender last night and will have this done in Vegas, but I cannot lie; I wish I was watching you work the fender magic in Salt Lake, Saturday Mark. ❤️

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 14, 2020, at 12:32 PM, Saturday Mark <saturda...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Joe Bernard]

I hope you hang around the shop for the install so you can hear the mechanics saying "Why didn't he put the bracket on?? WHAT AN IDIOT!"

[Robert Hakim]

I agree that it is beyond belief that a bike shop would not have the bolt- not only the bolt, though- it amazes me that they don't have the know-how and actually allowed a bicycle with an unsecured fender to leave the shop "as is"

That, to me, is a huge red flag and I would immediately abandon the shop. Though that may seem extreme I suffered greatly following a high speed wreck due to an unsecured fender. It also makes me wonder, what other safety issues is the mechanic oblivious to?

FWIW, in the off chance there was a packing error and that clip was omitted a quick email to the friendly folks at VO would help turn up a spare part. Also, as others have mentioned, a drill, some low-profile bolts, a small "L" clamp, and a nylon or leather washer will also be a suitable solution. 

Good luck finding a reputable shop! 

-Robert, SLC

On Friday, March 13, 2020 at 8:34:37 PM UTC-6, Steve Palincsar wrote:

It is beyond belief that a bike shop would not have the requisite bolt.   

 

Steve Palincsar
Alexandria, Virginia 
USA

[Leah Peterson]

Robert, after hearing that this wiggly fender is an egregious mistake, I won’t go back to that shop. Your accident has me a little concerned - I wouldn’t have known a fender could cause a wreck. Do you mind telling us what happened? I hope you are ok. 

Best,

Leah

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 15, 2020, at 9:50 AM, Robert Hakim <elias.rob...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Steve Palincsar]

Wiggly fender comes in contact with wheel, gets sucked into the space between the tire and the fork, wheel locks because it's jammed and Bye Bye Love...

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[Elias Hakim]

Leah, 

Steve nailed the synapse of it. Big difference was that it was my front fender. I didn’t use a nylock nut or something similar to help secure the fork crown mount. After many, many miles of high speed riding that nut eventually vibrated loose and the fender dropped and contacted the wheel. It had enough force the twist the fork crown and place the dropouts behind the down tube. I was lucky to escape with an overnight in the hospital, a grade III ac separation, a concussion, and serious road rash on legs, arms, stomach, shoulders, and lower back. It took me over a year and a half to regain confidence riding down the slightest hill and to this day I dislike high speed road descents.  

Though it was a costly way to learn, I did come away with a number of lessons and strong opinions. 

I imagine a rear fender issue could be problematic, but certainly less catastrophic than a front failure. 

Robert, SLC

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[Philip Williamson]

I was literally about to suggest that. “Salt Lake is close to a Vegas, right?” :)

As for myself and the small crew I rode with, we do not work on bikes together unless it’s trail side. Pre-ride, there may be texting pictures along the line of “what should I ride?” or “I hope I can get this bike together in time!”

Philip
Happy for the rain in Santa Rosa, Cal.

[Joe Bernard]

Leah, it's the front fender that can cause trauma if it fails. A rear fender doing something odd and interfering with your rear wheel is going to cause a skid, which will most likely be no more dramatic than you gradually coming to an unplanned stop.

[ted]

Front fenders are much more problematic than rear ones. A friend of mine recently picked up a stick with her front tire which lodged under her front fender. She is now recovering from a broken arm and can’t ride (except on an indoor trainer). I once had a rear fender accordion up against the rear brake bridge locking up the rear wheel. It was very disconcerting but manageable.
Perhaps the worst thing about the fascination with racing bikes and the attendant marginalization of fenders is the resulting proliferation of “mechanics” who’ve no idea what to do with them. If fenders on bikes weren’t so uncommon such incompetence wouldn’t be tolerated.

[Steve Palincsar]

Can a rear wheel lock up be problematic?

Let me tell you a little story.  A few years ago, a colleague at work wrapped a cast-off sweater around her seat post and rear rack.  As she was riding along, an arm of the sweater came loose.  It got wrapped up in the back wheel, which locked.  Her bike skidded, she crashed, and spent most of the next year out of work having and recovering from multiple surgeries.

Is it likely?  Probably not.  As someone mentioned, you can control rear skids.  On the other hand, many people lose control if their rear wheel skids -- it's how most crashes on the local bike trail happen, rear wheel skids on slippery boardwalk or bridge, and most people simply lose control and crash.

Something similar happened with a rear mud flap to one of Jan Heine's riding companions on Paris Brest Paris last year.  He managed to avoid a crash.

In any event, it's not something you want to happen.

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-- 
Steve Palincsar
Alexandria, Virginia 
USA

[Elias Hakim]

I’ll agree with that Steve. 

I can imagine situations where having a rear wheel lock up would be quite stressful and dangerous, even if you were able to maintain control. 

Riding in heavy traffic and crossing major intersections are two situations that are easy to think of. 

Btw- I do still run fenders on some bikes. One of my takeaways was to increase the frequency and intensity of my “bolt checks”. Failure is always in the back of my mind and frequently I will stop to give a tightness check if those thoughts are disrupting my flow state. 

Robert, SLC

 

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[Joe Bernard]

This reminds me there's gotta be a better way to cover wheels than this. I love the look, I love the not getting sprayed with stuff on the street, but this "hope they don't fail" business is for the birds. Birds who like that kind of thing.

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Robert, wow. Glad to hear you recovered and sorry that this crash had such a lasting impact on the way you ride. I’m glad you have been able to work through it (though you clearly have some traumatic effects); it’s inspiring.

Ted and Steve - very interesting tales, and good for us to know about so we can prevent crashes like these. I have a strange fascination with hearing stories of crashes, as if I can prevent them happening if I just catalogue everyone’s stories and learn from their mistakes. This is ridiculous, of course, and if I ride long enough there will probably come a day when I crash. My sons have rear racks and baskets on their bikes and their backpack straps will sometimes fall down near the spinning rear wheel I I SHUDDER. I make them stop and we fix the straps.

So, a weird thing happened today. We’ve been doing the social distancing thing hoping to “flatten the curve” but I’m still going out for solo bike rides. I’m now freshly aware of the dangers of wiggly fenders, so I’m already on edge. A fourth of the way down Killer Hill I hear what sounds like some thuds from my rear wheel. I honestly believe the tire is flatting. I stop the bike and can see nothing amiss (which makes me laugh to type because I’ve been riding around with a wiggly fender so what do I know about things being amiss?) but I decide I’m NOT going down that hill now. I turn around, get up the hill and I hear the noise again. Whatever is causing it stops as suddenly as it starts, and I ride home another mile with no issue.

But now I’m scared of the bike because I’ve read your stories and you’ve told me the perils of wiggly fenders and poor mechanics. (Fun fact: the mechanic in question actually assembled my whole Clem L. Yay!) I decide to ditch my Clem L and ride the cast-off Clem H that I’m saving for my son to grow into. I tweak it a bit, put a Randi Jo bag on the bars for my essentials and go.

Roberta calls mixtes “trip throughs.” I would call a diamond frame a “fall on top of.” I don’t actually fall over it, but we cannot rule this out. I am immediately aware of what a BRAT I have become. I can’t live with these grips. These bars are not high enough and close enough for my liking. I smirk when I realize how ridiculous it is to say so about one of Grant’s bikes. I wish my Betty Foy was not disassembled and packed because I would ride that bike instead. The Cheviot I’m ordering won’t arrive until August (so, September) and I spend the rest of the ride in misery worrying over my disabled Clem and about being bikeless. I make myself thoroughly miserable and come home after only 5.6 miles. I look longingly at my bike in the garage, wonder if it’s really *that* dangerous to ride it. I have become a brat, snooty about bikes and I know it. I can only ride Rivendells. And only if they have a certain stem I like, and those Ergon grips. Ok, one bike. I can ride like one bike - the Clem L with the wiggly fender that threatens to crash me at any moment.

I don’t know if I’m supposed to be going to bike shops during COVID-19. I don’t have the fender parts I need yet anyway. It looks like Old Blue is going to be my ride for the foreseeable future. If you guys want to shed real tears for the terrible situation I find myself in, I’m totally ok with that. 😉

[Steve Palincsar]

On 3/15/20 4:29 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:
> Robert, wow. Glad to hear you recovered and sorry that this crash had such a lasting impact on the way you ride. I’m glad you have been able to work through it (though you clearly have some traumatic effects); it’s inspiring.
>
> Ted and Steve - very interesting tales, and good for us to know about so we can prevent crashes like these. I have a strange fascination with hearing stories of crashes, as if I can prevent them happening if I just catalogue everyone’s stories and learn from their mistakes. This is ridiculous, of course, and if I ride long enough there will probably come a day when I crash. My sons have rear racks and baskets on their bikes and their backpack straps will sometimes fall down near the spinning rear wheel I I SHUDDER. I make them stop and we fix the straps.

Yes, there's real value in that, and in learning from other people's
mistakes.   I could go on about things that have caused crashes to
myself or others near me, but this isn't the thread.

>
> So, a weird thing happened today. We’ve been doing the social distancing thing hoping to “flatten the curve” but I’m still going out for solo bike rides. I’m now freshly aware of the dangers of wiggly fenders, so I’m already on edge. A fourth of the way down Killer Hill I hear what sounds like some thuds from my rear wheel. I honestly believe the tire is flatting. I stop the bike and can see nothing amiss (which makes me laugh to type because I’ve been riding around with a wiggly fender so what do I know about things being amiss?) but I decide I’m NOT going down that hill now. I turn around, get up the hill and I hear the noise again. Whatever is causing it stops as suddenly as it starts, and I ride home another mile with no issue.

Are you sure it wasn't something by the side of the road? Someone doing
home repairs, maybe using a nail gun?  Or possibly out back doing some
plinking? (one of our local trails goes by a private shooting range -
lot of signs saying "STAY ON THE TRAIL!!")   Maybe it wasn't from your
bike at all.

>
> But now I’m scared of the bike because I’ve read your stories and you’ve told me the perils of wiggly fenders and poor mechanics. (Fun fact: the mechanic in question actually assembled my whole Clem L. Yay!) I decide to ditch my Clem L and ride the cast-off Clem H that I’m saving for my son to grow into. I tweak it a bit, put a Randi Jo bag on the bars for my essentials and go.
>
> Roberta calls mixtes “trip throughs.” I would call a diamond frame a “fall on top of.” I don’t actually fall over it, but we cannot rule this out. I am immediately aware of what a BRAT I have become. I can’t live with these grips. These bars are not high enough and close enough for my liking. I smirk when I realize how ridiculous it is to say so about one of Grant’s bikes. I wish my Betty Foy was not disassembled and packed because I would ride that bike instead. The Cheviot I’m ordering won’t arrive until August (so, September) and I spend the rest of the ride in misery worrying over my disabled Clem and about being bikeless. I make myself thoroughly miserable and come home after only 5.6 miles. I look longingly at my bike in the garage, wonder if it’s really *that* dangerous to ride it. I have become a brat, snooty about bikes and I know it. I can only ride Rivendells. And only if they have a certain stem I like, and those Ergon grips. Ok, one bike. I can ride like one bike - the Clem L with the wiggly fender that threatens to crash me at any moment.

Get that fender fixed and all will be well.  In the meantime, maybe just
take it off.  It'll take you 10 seconds to figure out how.  Seriously,
it's that obvious.

>
> I don’t know if I’m supposed to be going to bike shops during COVID-19. I don’t have the fender parts I need yet anyway. It looks like Old Blue is going to be my ride for the foreseeable future. If you guys want to shed real tears for the terrible situation I find myself in, I’m totally ok with that. 😉

"Social distance" - how close to you need to get to anyone in a bike
shop?  10' is certainly close enough.  Pay with a credit card.  Wash
your hands.    Here's a link to a good video on hand washing:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rnI0PHIFEMA&t=2s

It's going to be less crowded in a bike shop than in your supermarket.

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Steve, we should start such a thread - real crashes and what caused them. I’d read every last entry.

The noise I heard was definitely part of my bike - I could feel it.

Pretty sure those fender bolts require hex keys - and hex keys are my jam, so I’ll rip that rear fender right off.

Just gotta wait for the fender parts and then if the world hasn’t shut down, I’ll haul my bike in to a mechanic. Thanks!

[Steve Palincsar]

On 3/15/20 4:49 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:

Steve, we should start such a thread - real crashes and what caused them. I’d read every last entry.

OK, I'll start with a few.

2008, riding around the traffic circle at Mount Vernon.  Here's a Street View image of what that pavement looks like:

My front tire got caught in the crack between two lanes of concrete paving.  I lost control of the steering and went down.  It gave me a "Gamekeeper's Thumb / Skier's Thumb" injury and broke my thumb. 

Every year there are several similar crashes on the Colonial Parkway between Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown, which is also concrete lanes with large cracks between the lanes.  Once your tire goes into the crack you're toast.  You're going down, and nothing on earth can save you.

A very similar situation happens with angled railroad track crossings.  Your tire slips sideways and gets caught in the groove in the rail, and down you go.

I call this spot "Mikey's Crossing" because that's where he crashed.  There are only two ways to safely cross something like this:  1) on foot; or 2) at nearly right angles.  I'm not sure what the actual critical angle is, it varies depending on wet or dry, wet being worse, but this is very close to the critical angle.  1 degree either way can make the difference between getting over it safely or going down.

In 2002 I attended TOSRV.  Just outside Portsmoth OH, the end of the day's century ride (next day was a reversal of the route, going back the other way) a sharply angled RR crossing.  As I was going over, three people crashed on the tracks.  Next morning, they had an ambulance stationed at that spot and one of those big lighted signs the Volunteer Firemen use to advertise the Bingo and the Fish Fry right by the crossing warning of the angled tracks.  As I was going by, the EMTs were working on someone who had crashed only a couple of minutes before, breaking his wrist.

And then there are pavement irregularities.  You may find this ride report of interest: https://ohbike.memberlodge.org/reports/4204093   Aug 2016, Lancaster PA.  The road looked like this:

We saw they'd done milling and patching on the shoulder, but it wasn't clear that the depth varied so that in some places the shoulder was below the level of the roadway.  You really couldn't see that as you were riding.

A rider discovered he tried to shift left to avoid the drain that there was a ledge about an inch high.  He had only been riding for a few months and (even though he's an aeronautical engineer) had never considered the situation at all, until he suddenly found himself on the ground wondering what happened.  Unless you cross a ledge like this at nearly a right angle, your tire will slip sideways and down you go. 

In fact, as we were assessing his condition on the ground a pickup truck driving in our direction stopped and we found another cyclist from our group in the truck: she'd had the identical crash on a section about a mile behind us, and the truck driver had rescued her.

I could go on - gravel in the turn, for example, but I think this is enough to begin with.

[Joe Bernard]

I was on a folding bike at my old apartment, rode to the mailbox. Grabbed the mail, put it on top of the bars and rode back. At one point I came to a turn in the path and..I don't know if I couldn't reach a brake lever or what exactly went wrong but I could tell I was about to WAY overshoot the turn into a bush. So I bailed instead and tumbled through the grass to my left. After looking around and realizing nobody saw it, I quickly stood up and walked the bike back like nothing happened 😬

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Steve - I shuddered. I examined your photos before your explanations and I could see the potential danger in them and it made me wonder how I knew. It’s from being a kid and crashing, I’m certain of it. Kids learn this stuff the hard way and apparently, we remember as adults! I knew exactly what do do about the railroad photos; hit them at a right angle - but if moving at speed I wonder if I’d have dared try to zip over them...

Joe - well, I’m sorry but I laughed at you. Diving off your folder bike into the bushes and “nothing to see here” 🤣

I’m going to start a new thread because these are really good things for cyclers to ponder and we can’t have them lost in my Wiggly Fender Thread. If it’s not too troublesome, repost your stories there!

[Steve Palincsar]

On 3/15/20 6:34 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:

Steve - I shuddered. I examined your photos before your explanations and I could see the potential danger in them and it made me wonder how I knew. It’s from being a kid and crashing, I’m certain of it. Kids learn this stuff the hard way and apparently, we remember as adults! I knew exactly what do do about the railroad photos; hit them at a right angle - but if moving at speed I wonder if I’d have dared try to zip over them... 

And the insidious thing about Mikey's Crossing is that the tracks are just barely crossable straight ahead if conditions are just right.  Move the bars just a degree or two in the wrong direction and CRASH; let the tracks be even a little wet, and CRASH.  They're just about at the critical angle.

###

Slippery Pavement

Black ice.  Lighted here so you can see it, but all too often you'll encounter it in the morning when the sun is up and you won't see it at all.  There you are, walking, riding or driving along thinking everything is just fine and suddenly, no traction at all and WHOOPS there you go. 

Gravel or sand in a turn will do the same thing: there you are, leaned over, carving the turn and suddenly instead of locking into the pavement, your tires are on little ball bearings that just roll away sideways and down you go.

Joe - well, I’m sorry but I laughed at you. Diving off your folder bike into the bushes and “nothing to see here” 🤣

I’m going to start a new thread because these are really good things for cyclers to ponder and we can’t have them lost in my Wiggly Fender Thread. If it’s not too troublesome, repost your stories there!

Perhaps you didn't notice, I did start a new thread for this: this very one!

[Eric Floden]

Black ice -- that reminds me. I read a story in New Yorker that taught me more about black ice than I
learned anywhere else. And I finally found the link! It is about driving but I found it useful for considering

biking as well

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/09/black-ice-near-death-and-transcendence-on-i-91

EricF

Ice free but house bound (mostly)

Vancouver BC

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Woo, that was a fascinating read on black ice. That author was talented - I had to skip ahead and find out what would happen to his daughter.

I looked at my fender and rack and realized they required hex keys, which I love. I got so far as to get the fender nearly off and realized there is a bolt that would necessitate removing the rear wheel. I don’t like taking off wheels; I don’t really understand how to know that they are securely seated again and....some other stuff. I started at that tight space, wishing I had a shorter hex key. I finally realized if I flatted my own tire I just may have enough room to maneuver my key. It worked!

I won’t need my rear rack because I won’t be hauling the boys’s stuff to school - we got word today no school until middle of April. So, I’m riding around with one front fender and one front rack and the back end is looking naked and unbalanced but at least I don’t have to worry about wiggly fenders. Now, I’ll wait for the parts to arrive.

[Joe Bernard]

You're halfway there now. All you gotta do is slide that bracket on your fender and put it back on! 👍

[Steve Palincsar]

Well, depending on how the bracket comes, it may be necessary to bend the prongs down so they fit under the fender edge (some of them come flattened out like an animal skin) and even if it's already curved you may have to crimp the edges of the bracket down with a pair of pliers to keep the bracket from sliding around.  But basically you're right, definitely part of the way there now.

On 3/16/20 12:14 AM, Joe Bernard wrote:

You're halfway there now. All you gotta do is slide that bracket on your fender and put it back on! 👍

[Leah Peterson]

My fender parts arrived from VO. 

I’m not usually very brave about attempting mechanical fixes myself. But in these trying (sheltering in place) times where one does not have access to a bike shop, I am finding myself becoming a bit braver. It is disconcerting to see this one-fendered Clem and I’m motivated to get it fixed. 

Would you all be greatly annoyed if I solicited advice on how to do this myself here? If not, see the attached video. (Likely the first in a series.😬) I’ll download the instructions as well, and try to figure it out. I don’t feel very confident about my capabilities and I don’t want to do anything wrong and risk being killed on my bike by a wiggly fender.

[Hetchins52]

First step might be to find something round (or half round) like a dowel or even the tire itself.

You want to change the flat "wings" of the bracket to have a curvature that will match that of the fender it will wrap around. If you use the tire, it should be inflated firmly enough that you can press against it and the tire will keep its shape. Put on some work gloves for this and gently press it so that the bracket starts to become rounded.

Once you have given it a curve that seems to fit the fender shape you can mark where the ends of the wings need to be bent around to grab the fender (put some tape on the bracket for the marking and remove the tape when this is all finished). You give it a curve first so that you can more accurately see how long the brackets span needs to be. If the bend in the wings starts too soon, you will have made the bracket too short to fit the fender.

Do you have either a small bench vise or an adjustable crescent wrench that has jaws long enough to span the width of the brackets "wings?"

Or, a carpentry clamp that would let you put the bracket on the edge of a workbench? These will allow you to evenly create a new, sharper bend where the wings reach around and under the fender edge. 

With the "L" bracket facing up, you'll want to tap the wings down using a rubber mallet or a hammer with a small block of wood between its face and the bracket.

I'll see if I can take some pictures of some of this but a doggy play date is scheduled and I'm overdue to take our beast to a neighbor's back yard!

Best,

David Lipsky

Berkeley, CA

[Eric Norris]

Here’s a more user-friendly version of what you have:

https://www.performancebike.com/sks-chromoplastic-fender-parts-7523/p343759?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6q2Dt5Kn6AIVlPhkCh2MUwD4EAQYBSABEgK-nvD_BwE 

--Eric N

On Mar 19, 2020, at 11:13 AM, 'Hetchins52' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Ok, chickening out here. I don’t want this bent in some wonky way. Just call me ‘Ol One Fender for the foreseeable future. As in, “Did you see “Ol One Fender pedaling around that giant blue Clem again? Ridiculous. Looks like the bike is rolling around this neighborhood wearing no pants.”

Wish me luck. I might have to (when it’s safe again) to go to a place called Pro Cyclery. Does that sound like a place that is going to be happy to see me? No.

Think your good thoughts.
Leah

[Eric Norris]

If you’re OK with drilling two little holes in the fender, this would be an easier solution:

https://www.benscycle.com/gilles-berthoud-rear-caliper-mount-fender-bracket/fender_part_gillesberthoud__230-132_230-132/product 

I have this (our similar) on several bikes. If you’re getting fancy, cut a small piece of leather and fit it between the fender and the bracket to prevent squeaks and rattles.

--Eric N

On Mar 19, 2020, at 11:53 AM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:

Ok, chickening out here. I don’t want this bent in some wonky way. Just call me ‘Ol One Fender for the foreseeable future. As in, “Did you see “Ol One Fender pedaling around that giant blue Clem again? Ridiculous. Looks like the bike is rolling around this neighborhood wearing no pants.”

Wish me luck. I might have to (when it’s safe again) to go to a place called Pro Cyclery. Does that sound like a place that is going to be happy to see me? No.

Think your good thoughts.
Leah

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[Steve Palincsar]

It's flat, and to work it needs to wrap over and around a curved fender.

The orientation is obvious: the tab with the hole has to line up with the hole in the bridge.

So how would you do that?

Afraid to mess with the metal?  Trace it and cut yourself out one of stiff paper.  Now make believe it's paper dolls.   Put it on the fender and what would you have to do for it to wrap over the fender and stay there?

Now do it with the metal.

[Leah Peterson]

This is probably the most “woman” answer ever...but what if I heated the metal with my hair dryer? Think it would bend much more agreeably?

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 19, 2020, at 12:42 PM, Steve Palincsar <pali...@his.com> wrote:



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[Steve Palincsar]

Is your hair drier powerful enough to get the metal red hot?

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[Garth]

It would have to get pretty hot to help though.... and how are you going to handle it ? !!!!  Someone may correct me he as I've not done this either, but would it make sense to install the bracket on the bike first without the tire, then place the fenders in the position they were(assuming that was the correct height and place), make contact between the two, then gently work it by hand around both sides so the arcs match up. Then put the tire in double check height clearances. Then Take the tire out and do the final crimping inside the fender well. Then make make sure the bracket is good and tight and install the tire ..... and behold your lovely double fendered masterpiece !

If any other suggestions apply, please do suggest ....

.

[Leah Peterson]

Clearly, you know *nothing* of hair dryers. They are veritable weapons. 

It feels so good to have superior knowledge of sorting in this List 🤣, 

Leah 

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On Mar 19, 2020, at 12:52 PM, Steve Palincsar <pali...@his.com> wrote:



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[Steve Palincsar]

Those fender brackets aren't horse shoes.  They don't need to be heated red hot and pounded on an anvil to bend.  I'm pretty sure if an anvil had to be involved, VO's instructions would make mention of it.  ;-)

Installing the bracket first, then placing the fender in position would certainly eliminate any possibility that the hole in the bracket wouldn't line up with the hole in the bridge.

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[Jay Lonner]

 A heat gun is basically a souped-up hair dryer and can certainly reach temperatures of capable of making most metals red hot. Here's an el cheepo version from Harbor Freight:

https://www.harborfreight.com/1500-Watt-Dual-Temperature-Heat-Gun-63104.html

It may seem like a niche item at first, but it's a tool I use probably 2-3 times a year. Most recently I used it on the heat-shrink tubing for the connections running to a dynohub.

Jay Lonner

Bellingham, WA

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[Joe Bernard]

"This is probably the most “woman” answer ever..."

I don't think your 'woman' answer can beat "pretend it's paper dolls" 😂

[Leah Peterson]

Joe, YES. 🤣

Sent from my iPad

> On Mar 19, 2020, at 1:25 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> "This is probably the most “woman” answer ever..."

>
> I don't think your 'woman' answer can beat "pretend it's paper dolls" 😂
>

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[Hetchins52]

Let's NOT consider asking anyone to heat up a metal brace to be red-hot and then attempt to bend it around a fender with their hands!

Leah, if you just measure across the fender, edge to edge of the arc, ignoring the curve, you'll probably get a number in the 60mm range.

Planet Bike is amazing about repair parts and they sell fender mounting kits for as little as $5.00 shipped, i.e., they cover the shipping. This version of their curved fender brace is plastic and can simply be snapped over the fender.

Here's one page of spare parts if I search for 60mm:

https://www.planetbike.com/search.php?search_query=60mm&section=product

Here's the 60mm kit: 
https://www.planetbike.com/hardcore-fender-hardware-kit-60mm/

You can do the same search for 65mm and find those kits.

David Lipsky

PS. Their fender flaps are great for fenders that don't have built-in ones or are too short!

On Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 12:45:48 PM UTC-7, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:

[Steve Palincsar]

She's got the part already.  She showed it in the video.  It's the one that goes with the fender in question, obtained from Velo Orange.

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[Hetchins52]

I saw the video which prompted my response. But, Leah's hesitant about bending the fender bracket. For $5.00 she may be able to solve this easily.

VO has made it easy on themselves and they make ONE bracket that fits many fender widths. However the customer then is stuck with setting up the tools needed to cleanly and correctly bend and cinch the bracket. It's described as a sliding bracket. It won't slide until you bend it and then bend the wing tabs, but not too far that it won't slide. That's a lot to ask of someone who has not done it before and may not have all the tools.

David

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

You guys all make a lot of sense to me. I see what you’re getting at, David, and thanks. I’m kind of hand-wringing over here. I may just wait and see if a true mechanic wants to do this. I can see too many things going wrong. I always default to thinking things are funny, and it would have been hilarious to watch me awkwardly stumble through this, hair dryer in hand, in a series of short videos while the group collectively did this 🤦🤦‍♀️

[Garth]

 Leah. I have no doubt you can do this, it doesn't require any special talent or previous experience. If living required previous experience we couldn't exist in the first place.  It's just a bit of pliable metal, think of it as Gumby without the rubber coating and "assisting" Gumby do some Yoga positions !

[Roberta]

Leah,

I wish I were still there to help.  I love doing this type of thing.  

To those "in the know," would this be easier for her to do?  Pros and cons vs what they sent her?  https://velo-orange.com/collections/fender-parts/products/vo-single-hole-l-bracket

Roberta

[Eric Norris]

I would go for the single hole bracket. Cleaner look, less chance of rattling. Downside: Need to drill a hole. Benefits from a small piece of leather between fender and bracket (not included).

--Eric Norris
campyo...@me.com

@CampyOnlyguy (Twitter/Instagram)

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[David Lipsky]

The Planet Bike piece that I mentioned would work without any tools or holes in the fender, assuming it is the correct width to fit the profile of the fender. 

Same $5 but no shipping cost.

And, no need to remove the rear wheel to fit the part into place!

David Lipsky

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[Hetchins52]

[Excuse the possible double post -- I replied via email to Eric's suggestions which appeared in my inbox. Not sure whether that will appear anywhere in Google Groups! So here it is again:]

The Planet Bike piece that I mentioned would work without any special tools or holes in the fender, assuming it is the correct width to fit the profile of the fender. 

Same $5 but no shipping cost.

And, no need to remove the rear wheel to fit the part into place!

David Lipsky

On Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 4:47:32 PM UTC-7, Roberta wrote:

.... 

[Ana Candela]

Leah,

After reading the 70 posts, I already forgot half of what I wanted to comment, but first I can only commiserate with you and your bikeshopless situation. I, on the other hand, am lucky to have not one but two very good LBSs nearby. Even if there is no other bike shop around you, I still stand on ditching that bike shop —and I am happy to see everyone here agrees. And I can totally imagine the grand opening of #thewigglyfender bike shop in Vegas 🤣

I’m glad you’ve got plenty of help here to fix the situation and that you took the fender off before it could cause any damage. I cannot offer any suggestions because I think all has been said, and I don’t have experience with metal fenders, only my plastic ones that I uninstalled at some point, and then I followed Riv’s video with Mark installing one. It’s a joy to watch Riv’s videos. I wish they did more videos on maintenance. It’s hard to find good instructional ones.

One thing that worries me is you mentioning the lousy packaging job they did for your Clem, so what about your Betz? Could you put her back together again while you wait for your Cheviot?

Keep on riding!
-Ana

[Leah Peterson]

Hi Ana,

Thanks for commiserating with me! I was going to start looking for a new LBS but then we had a worldwide pandemic, so that’s on hold and that’s why I’m galavanting around here with one fender. Sometimes I think this bike looks like it is going around without pants, so I put the rear rack on (this I can do!) and it looks better. But I do miss my waterfall fender. I got a LOT of great info here and in the end it led me to decide I’m not going to attempt fixing this fender myself. Too many things that I don’t know and I don’t even have a work stand, so it’s even more complicated.. One of these days I’m going to get my act together and learn from someone who knows what they’re doing. I’ll pay them and everything.

I took the Betz to be re-packed with the manager and then I did a couple extra things to REALLY ensure she’s packed in tight. But I wish she was assembled. It’s going to be a long wait for a Cheviot.

Until then, I’ll be riding around this pants-less Clem!

Riv sisters,
Leah




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> On Mar 21, 2020, at 9:10 PM, Ana Candela <netma...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Leah,

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[Joe Bernard]

Someone should buy that dang Betty before I decide my custom is still months away and by golly it's already packed and ready to ship and maybe *I* need those pretty red hearts! ♥️♥️♥️

[Philip Williamson]

My rear skid story also involves a sweater!
My cool morning sweater was tied around my waist, and slipped down into the wheel as I was frailin’ my fixed gear down a steep hill onto a bridge. Rear wheel locks up and slides, I brake hard on the front, and fetch up against the low guardrail over a 20’ drop into deep water and flooded saplings. If I’d been going just a couple miles an hour faster, I’d been over the edge. As it was, the tread was worn down to the casing, and I thump-thump-thumped home very carefully. I don’t tie sweaters around my waist anymore.

Philip
Santa Rosa, CA

[masmojo]

Leah, terribly sorry I somehow missed this thread otherwise could have solved your dilemma days ago or in one of the emails I clobbered you with the last couple days.
I have the black versions of those very same fenders on my Polyvalent. The mounting point on the Polyvalent is different though & just required a screw straight through.
In any case pity I don't live close because it would literally taken me a minute to fix that. Presumably reading through this you've got the bracket from VO already; I am assuming you would have gotten one originally & your inept mechanic just didn't know what to do with it!? It should look like a silver version if this:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/i7ewgztjUSMNjic17

Did it come with a screw or bolt or something? If not you can go to Lowes or HD & get the things you need.

1 screw - cap head allen screw M5 x 16mm should be long enough (maybe a little longer just in case) I suggest stainless steel.

One M5 nylock nut stainless steel if possible

Probably some appropriately sized washers would be good as well.

With these items in hand sneak up on unsuspecting bicycle and insert screw through bracket and small hole on the frame bridge. Attach with washer & nut, but do not tighten. Lower bracket down until it contacts the fender. This bracket isn't super strong once it's on the bike & against the fender there should be enough resistance to bend it with your fingers. If this proves difficult maybe your husband or a neighbor could manage!? Once you get is sort of bent around the edge of the fender you could gently clamp it down more with some pliers. It doesn't need to be super tight just snug. If you want it not to rattle you could slip a piece of cut up inner tube or something in between the bracket & fender prior to bending the little tabs then clamp down a little tighter. Once you've done this you can finish tightening the nut on the screw.

I certainly hope that makes sense!? And I'm sorry you don't have any competent bike shops around there. I've been working on bikes since I was 6 so sometimes it's hard for me to understand how things like this happen. 🤔

[Joe Bernard]

That's interesting advice, masmojo. I pictured the bracket being stiffer, but they're very light so I bet you're right that it should be pretty easy for her to bend down around the curve of the fender. You can do the job, Leah!

[Leah Peterson]

Yes, Joe is right, the bracket is much stiffer than I anticipated. I really thought I’d be able to bend that sucker into place, but it’s fairly unyielding. Yes, I can have my husband try to manhandle it, but since it’s so thick I’m afraid we won’t get bent in the right shape and it will be a rattle trap mess. Also, the kind of guy he is is a “good enough” and I want it perfect. Given the fact that we’re sharing close quarters in this shut down, best to keep on good terms! 🤣

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> On Mar 27, 2020, at 8:54 AM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> That's interesting advice, masmojo. I pictured the bracket being stiffer, but they're very light so I bet you're right that it should be pretty easy for her to bend down around the curve of the fender. You can do the job, Leah!

>
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[masmojo]

I can bend it fairly easily with my thumbs just holding it in my hand, mounted to the bike and using the fender itself as a fulcrum, it should bend even easier.

[Leah Peterson]

Hmmm...well, if that is as you say, I’ll try this tomorrow! With a video first to make sure I’m not breaking crap, you know...

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> On Mar 27, 2020, at 9:12 PM, masmojo <mas...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> I can bend it fairly easily with my thumbs just holding it in my hand, mounted to the bike and using the fender itself as a fulcrum, it should bend even easier.

>
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[Hetchins52]

Steve P's March 19th "paper dolls" post is a good idea. --

Trace the VO bracket on some strong paper. 

Cut it out. (But allow the double wings of the metal original to become one piece for this step.)  

Lay it over the fender so that it is centered and the paper template edges evenly overlap the fender edges and tape it down lightly.

With a marker or pencil, mark/shade the two edges where they bend over the fender.

Take it back off the fender and put it on the flat VO piece. (Or, vice versa. Then you can see the lines where they cross the fingers of the wings [!?!])

If the paper is on top, fold the paper back squarely at the marks and mark the metal wings so that they will be just like the paper template was marked.

Remove the paper template.

You want to bend the bracket at the greatest width so that it is long enough to wrap over the fender. It can be a little too long but it can't be too short!

Do you have a small table vise or even a couple of carpenter's clamps and some 6" pieces of 2" x 4" wood? (See my Mar19 post)

Clamp the bracket so that just one of the edges that you marked protrudes from the vice or wood pieces. Your mark should just disappear under the wood or clamp.

You can tap the wings with a hammer, mallet or chunk of wood so that they start to bend at a line just after the marks. The L part of the bracket sticks up and you need to bend the wings down.

A crescent wrench adjusted until it is almost closed or vise-grip pliers can help to start the bending.

Stop at 90 degrees -- You'll need to add some curvature to the bracket before doing your final bending.

David (It's late and I need an editor) Lipsky

[somervillebikes]

I read about half of the responses, and don't have anything to add other than I agree with all the points made, especially that the mechanic was incompetent. Even if the included bracket didn't reach all the way to the brake bridge where it is supposed to attach, there could have been a way for the mechanic to finagle a solution. This is a common problem with fender installation and bike mechanics the world over have DIY'd parts to make it work.

The real reason I'm posting is because of the term "wiggly fenders", and how it reminded me that my wife and I once dreamed of opening a bike shop. We have a beloved beagle, and we decided we would name our fantasy bike shop "Beagle Bikes", and we imagined the shop sign would have a 1940s-era stylized logo of a beagle earnestly riding a bike. Nothing to do with wiggly fenders, but it just reminded me...

Anton

velolumino.com

[Joe Bernard]

Leah, any luck getting that fender mounted? I suspect you've a long wait for a bike shop journey, I'll bet you can get that thing rigged up yourself.

[Leah Peterson]

Well, funny thing about that. Initially, I was all hand-wringing and desperate to have that fender made right again. But then I had to go for rides because it’s what I DO, and because it’s the only good thing I’m allowed to do in these times and now I’ve forgotten about my fender problems. I don’t want to do it myself; I think I’ll mess up the shape that bracket is supposed to be. I’m going to inflict it on some poor mechanic somewhere but haven’t figured that out yet.

Also, I’m pathetic and I know it.
Leah

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> On Apr 4, 2020, at 12:02 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Leah, any luck getting that fender mounted? I suspect you've a long wait for a bike shop journey, I'll bet you can get that thing rigged up yourself.

>
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[Brian Campbell]

Maybe this will make it easier to visualize:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNxgtKtu-0c

Starting at 4:30 they give the sequence for rear fender installation using a bracket. The VO bracket you have is easily bent to shape, one tab at a time when it is secired to the seat stay bridge. I have used old handlebar tape scrap stuck on the underside of the he bracket and trimmed to fit as a gasket between the fender and the clip. It helps to eliminate rattles. You apply the tape before you atache the bracket to the seat stay.

[Brian Campbell]

This also addresses the rear bracket install pretty well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NbXxOaqqNI

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Well, you all nagged me enough that I begrudgingly went to my garage today.

I DID IT!!!! And I’m coming here for all the accolades because I HAVE REALLY BEEN THROUGH IT TODAY. 

It was like working with one hand tied behind my back. I have no work stand. I don’t know how to get the rear wheel off. The tire is in my way but I flat it and find I have just enough room to work that hex key if I turn the bolt a little at a time. It takes a coon’s age. I’m doing the job squatting on the garage floor and reaching around blindly as I try to bolt things I can’t see and get that bracket folded around that fender, and then I don’t have the right tools so I’m improvising. The parts start falling off and getting lost and I put the bracket on backwards, and there’s a metal shaving embedded in my finger... It was just a lot of howling out there and taking all your names in vain. 

But, I did have help. Your posts, videos, and Joe’s Instagram advice (because I sent videos of what I did and he pointed out what I did wrong) have gotten me TWO SOLID FENDERS and I thank you so much!!!!! It only took me two tries to get the thing to stop rubbing on the wheel, and I just couldn’t be more thrilled. Also, I’m never doing that again.

Thanks so much for the encouragement and advice and video analyzing. Finishing that project was oddly gratifying; and now if my fender causes a fatal crash we can only blame me. Ha!

Photos, or it didn’t happen.

(Coming in next post because it’s not allowing me to post them here....)

[Leah Peterson]

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On Apr 9, 2020, at 4:34 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[ascpgh]

Strongest approval and compliments!

I knew you had it in you, COVID or not!!

Andy Cheatham
Pittsburgh

[Joe Bernard]

"It was just a lot of howling out there and taking all your names in vain."

I believe this 🤣

Nice work, bike wrenching person! You nailed it!!! 👏👏👏

[ted]

Congratulations, way to go.
Now, quick before you forget how frustrating that was, order yourself a nice collapsible free standing work stand.
It should last you a lifetime, and will prove well worth the $$. Honest, a decade from now you will be so glad you did.

[Roberta]

Oh, it looks BE-U-TI-FULLLLLL!  You should get a job at REI.  Why should they hire you?  Because you do things RIGHT!

Roberta

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[Abcyclehank]

Leah,

Welcome to the world of bike mechanics 🧰👩🏻‍🔧. I never want to hear you say you can’t again; but fully expect to hear you say it is not worth my time and I would rather pay someone to do so.

So proud of you. You have earned 1 week of ZERO passive aggressive communication from me. After my post script below.

Sincerely,

Ryan Hankinson

P.S. enjoy the wheels and tires when they arrive! I think I just bought Heather a Betty also 👍🤦🏻‍♂️.

[Steve Palincsar]

Huzzay!   Terrific job.   Merle sang this for you:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezlaua2o-WU

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-- 
Steve Palincsar
Alexandria, Virginia 
USA

[Joe Bernard]

"You should get a job at REI. Why should they hire you? Because you do things RIGHT!"

They need a mechanic who DOESN'T LEAVE PARTS OFF. Leah's the one for the job.🔧🔧🔧

[Brian Campbell]

Nice work! I predict you will get a stand in the near future.....

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[JAS]

Way to go, Leah!  You're earning points toward your RivSisters wrenching badge. Let me know when you've finished the other requirement (fix a flat tire) and I'll send you the badge. Yeah, now that they know there's a badge available, others are going to be flocking for one!  

I see that a few people have suggested you get yourself a repair stand. I recently bought myself the Minoura repair stand sold by Rivendell because it folds up.  It holds the Clem rock steady and It's nice to be able to work on the bike without sitting on the ground.  

I'm proud of you!

--Joyce

[Joe Bernard]

Ok I definitely want a badge. Even if it's for RivSisters that's fine I have a workstand and fix flats badge me! 😋

[Leah Peterson]

Thank you, Joyce! 🥰😘😘😘 I’m so impressed that you have a work stand and work on your bikes - I never knew. Well, you are the founding Riv Sister and that’s for sure.

There’s a badge? I didn’t know there was a badge! Ok, when you say fix a flat do you mean I have to patch it, or just insert a new tube? I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna get that badge so help me.

Leah

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On Apr 10, 2020, at 9:23 PM, JAS <swanso...@gmail.com> wrote:



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