The etiquette of an unsolicited bike fix

[Phatboing]

In the bike parking area at work the other day, I found that someone had ridden in on a Walmart bike that had the fork on backwards. Ugh. I’ve wanted to leave a note, but am usually without writing implements when I get down there. I then considered the idea of fixing the thing unsolicited – it has a quill stem, so all I need to do is loosen the bolt, flip, tighten. Is there a Miss Manners guideline for these things? I’m going to write a note today and keep it in my bag, in case s/he shows up again, but should I just fix the damn thing when I see it next?

Topic

[jrenaut]

No matter how tempting, I wouldn’t fix it. There are a few things I think it’s acceptable to do. You can right a bike that has been knocked over if you think you can do it without hurting the bike. You can turn lights off. In fact, it was kind of nice when they made us hang tags on the bikes in the garage with your work phone – a couple times I called someone from the garage to tell them they’d locked their bike in a cage with the lights on.

I’m trying to think of anything else I would do if I came across it and I can’t think of anything. But no, I would definitely not fix a fork. Maybe they have some strange reason for wanting it that way.

[hozn]

I wouldn’t do it [unsolicited]. Seems like that would be a fairly significant geometry/handling change that could, worst-case, have more catastrophic consequences for someone used to riding it wrong.

I do feel like I should start telling people when their helmets are on backwards, though. That probably could have serious safety implications too. But they look so happy.

[Terpfan]

No complaints from me if you fix my left pedal.

(And apologies to all on the MUP hearing the stupid clicking noise this morning).

But, yah, in general, I would be leery if only because people can be aholes and accuse you of breaking something when you were actually fixing it.

[cyclingfool]

@jrenaut 95122 wrote:

Maybe they have some strange reason for wanting it that way.

Maybe they fancy themselves a motor-paced track star on their Wally World frame…?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6661[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]6662[/ATTACH]

http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.com/blog/2007/5/8/stayers.html

[Phatboing]

Yeah, this is the direction I was leaning in.

Only once have I succumbed and provided an unsolicited “you should maybe raise your saddle” to someone on a climb, because it looked quite conclusively like he’d stopped having fun (he was clipped in, and following the advice of “stay seated on your climb”, and with a saddle low enough that he could probably put his feet flat on the ground).

[americancyclo]

I was thinking about this the other day on my ride home. I passed a guy on a Litespeed, and while checking out the bike, I noteiced his Quick Release Assembly for the brake caliper was in the “unlocked” or “up” position. His front was like that too, so I mentioned it in passing, but wondered if that was out of line. Are there fancy brakes that i don’t know about that work better with the QR in the up position?

Here’s the piece I’m talking about:
[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6663&stc=1[/IMG]

[hozn]

@americancyclo 95135 wrote:

I was thinking about this the other day on my ride home. I passed a guy on a Litespeed, and while checking out the bike, I noteiced his Quick Release Assembly for the brake caliper was in the “unlocked” or “up” position. His front was like that too, so I mentioned it in passing, but wondered if that was out of line. Are there fancy brakes that i don’t know about that work better with the QR in the up position?

I think folks riding wide rims (where rim is just as wide as tires) might leave these in the up position, since they don’t need to ever loosen them to take off wheels. I have heard that pros also do this so that if they have a wheel change (to a narrower rim), they don’t have to readjust tension on their brake cables. No idea if that’s true, but make sense. (Again, assuming they are riding wide rims, but I think most [pros] are these days.)

[dasgeh]

@americancyclo 95135 wrote:

I was thinking about this the other day on my ride home. I passed a guy on a Litespeed, and while checking out the bike, I noteiced his Quick Release Assembly for the brake caliper was in the “unlocked” or “up” position. His front was like that too, so I mentioned it in passing, but wondered if that was out of line. Are there fancy brakes that i don’t know about that work better with the QR in the up position?

I’ve ended up riding with the QR in the up position for [far too long] when the brake had been rubbing and opening the QR was a quick fix while I was on the road. I’d often forget about it/not have time to fix it right when I got home, then continue to forget about it/not have time for [far too long] afterwards. A friendly reminder would be helpful to me, personally.

[rcannon100]

Giving advice is one thing. “Fixing” someone else’s property without their permission is another.

Here’s my advice: Dont fix someone else’s property without there permission. Ever. Unless you also like fixing broken noses.

[dasgeh]

@rcannon100 95140 wrote:

Here’s my advice: Dont fix someone else’s property without there permission. Ever. Unless you also like fixing broken noses.

Wait, no. Please turn off my light when I accidentally leave it on in the parking garage. Pretty please.

Otherwise, sure.

[mstone]

I’d be worried about the bike falling apart, leaving a very awkward situation.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Phatboing 95118 wrote:

it has a quill stem, so all I need to do is loosen the bolt, flip, tighten.

Just don’t forget about the front brake, or was that mounted correctly to the fork?

[Phatboing]

@TwoWheelsDC 95156 wrote:

Just don’t forget about the front brake, or was that mounted correctly to the fork?

Yeah, though I realized I’d have to do levers too. I’ll leave a note with a ‘hey go to your lbs or get in touch’.

[Geoff]

@dasgeh 95141 wrote:

Wait, no. Please turn off my light when I accidentally leave it on in the parking garage. Pretty please.

Otherwise, sure.

You can leave your light on the bike? Ever since my pump and tool bag were stolen from my bike while in the parking garage, I wouldn’t dare.

[Supermau]

@Geoff 95164 wrote:

You can leave your light on the bike? Ever since my pump and tool bag were stolen from my bike while in the parking garage, I wouldn’t dare.

Me too. Never had anything stolen but I strip my bike of lights, saddlebag, and pump when I get to work. I never want to say, “I told you so” to myself.

[Author]

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