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Back in '08, I had a customer's vintage Campagnolo derailleur snap mid-shift during a test ride in Seattle.
I was miles from the shop with no replacement, so I used a small hose clamp from my seat bag to temporarily secure the cage pivot so they could at least ride home in one gear. Has anyone else had to improvise a roadside fix with a part that wasn't meant for a bike?
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nelson.gavin15d ago
Honestly, why even carry a random hose clamp? Doesn't that just encourage a sloppy fix instead of a real solution? A proper multi-tool and a chain breaker are the only things you should rely on for roadside repairs. Using the wrong part seems like a great way to cause more damage to a classic piece of gear.
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Gavin's missing the point of a roadside fix entirely. The goal isn't museum quality restoration, it's getting a stranded person home without walking. A hose clamp weighs nothing and can save the day when a multi tool is useless for a broken pivot. Calling it sloppy ignores that sometimes the only "real" solution is a tow truck, which isn't an option for most riders. That vintage derailleur was already broken, so using a clamp to make it a single speed didn't cause more damage, it prevented a total loss.
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jake74715d ago
Oh please, like anyone's carrying a tow truck in their jersey pocket. Sometimes a hack is just getting home without pushing your bike for ten miles.
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