Hack or Bodge

[idiotgap]

What have you put together to streamline your cycling life?

If you're familiar with the GCN Show on youtube, you would likely know the hack/bodge section. Every week they show some examples of home made trinkets, accessories, fixes and mods people have fashioned for their bikes and the presenters decide amongst themselves if each one is more of a hack (top drawer elegant, engineering solution) or a bit of a bodge. I thought it might be good to have a thread of our own hacks and bodges.

It was timnoyce's recent post which inspired starting the thread so I'll post that as first item.



I think this is a definite Hack!

timnoyce said:

I guess this just scrapes in under 'what have I bought' but the wife and I made a frame bag for the Giant last night. Needs a bit of 'finishing' but nearly there.

Pretty pleased with it, and looks perfect for baguette storage when on the road.

[timnoyce]

If you look closely in that pic, there is also a 3D printed phone mount which I designed specifically for my Samsung S5 in it's case...

[idiotgap]

So here's my own slightly related effort.

Improvised alpkit/apidura style bikepacking saddle pack using a poundshop bungee and an old camelback style rucsack.




Hack or bodge, you decide?

(turned out to be a bit of a pain in use, secure enough but annoyingly hard to get to stuff because all the straps had to be undone every time).

[idiotgap]

timnoyce said:

If you look closely in that pic, there is also a 3D printed phone mount which I designed specifically for my Samsung S5 in it's case...

I say hack, top work... Again!

[timnoyce]

As mentioned previously, my wife is pretty handy with the sewing machine and she made a custom frame bag for my bro which allowed him to transport and then lock his bike without getting the interior mucky..

[daddy cool]

idiotgap said:

So here's my own slightly related effort.


Hack or bodge, you decide?

Its like the parachute bags seen on the back of top fuel dragsters!

[idiotgap]

Some examples folk have tagged for GCN here

https://twitter.com/hashtag/gcnhack

Check out this scary looking motor driven bike (chainsaw?)

[Banana Boy]

Couple of my 'Hacks'

Super simple chain whip:

11 speed 'Chain Whip' by Ben Magee, on Flickr

And a bike stand:

Pictures From Today's Ride by Ben Magee, on Flickr

Workstand V1.1 by Ben Magee, on Flickr

[wobert]

Banana Boy said:

Couple of my 'Hacks'

Super simple chain whip:

11 speed 'Chain Whip' by Ben Magee, on Flickr

And a bike stand:

Pictures From Today's Ride by Ben Magee, on Flickr

Workstand V1.1 by Ben Magee, on Flickr

I do something similar for a chain whip :-)

[idiotgap]

Oh, some very decent hacks turning up!

This one is a little "cosmetic"...

The bottle cages that were on the bike when I got it didn't match and the colnago one split meaning it didn't grip well any more.

I wanted these tricolore ones, but they were no longer availalable.


So I bought a pair of red and white ones.

And some green nail varnish from the pound shop

Masked them up and painted some green on.

Has held up so far. I feel pleased with myself and a sad, sad, individual in almost equal measure.

[daddy cool]

Tell me you did your nails too?

[austinsmirk]

years ago, pre LED bike lights and super lightweight batteries...... or indeed even batteries that lasted, I worked my own cycling hack out.

Needed something good for a very dangerous commute (in and out of bradford city centre !!!) and also for mtb- at night, in winter, so something that would last 2- 4 hours on a night.

I'm in Bingley, w.yorks, so utterley spoilt for great MTB ing !

anyway, I used a caving lamp- (I used to cave)- that technology was way ahead of bike lights- the bulbs and lamp units, and equally small, lightweight batteries.

Obviously not as good as whats about now- but I could use that lamp and battery on 8-10 hrs underground, obviously illuminating enough to rig ropes, climb and so on, it was going to be good enough for drivers to see me. it was totally waterproof too.

it worked fairly well, swapping between my road bike and mtb !!!!

however life moves on and bike lights now are utterley wonderful and lovely and lightweight.

[idiotgap]

daddy cool said:

Tell me you did your nails too?

Not yet, I'm waiting for that special occasion.

[Banana Boy]

I'd almost forgot about my pump and tool pouch made by stitching the open ends of an old overboot!

Tool bag... by Ben Magee, on Flickr

[idiotgap]

Banana Boy said:

I'd almost forgot about my pump and tool pouch made by stitching the open ends of an old overboot!

Interesting, is this to go in jersey pocket or does it have some ingenious bike attachment?

[Banana Boy]

idiotgap said:

Banana Boy said:

I'd almost forgot about my pump and tool pouch made by stitching the open ends of an old overboot!

Interesting, is this to go in jersey pocket or does it have some ingenious bike attachment?

It spends most of it's time in my bag for commuting but it does just about fit in my jersey pocket at weekends!

I don't like too much hanging off the bike - I'm borderline purist when it comes to maintaining the look of the bike!

[Solocle]

Bit of a threat resurrection, but what about this improvised chainwhip?