Musical Bells

On our way home from last week's group ride, Spencer started to complain about his handlebars. I stopped to investigate and, sure enough, they were a little loose. "Well," I told him, "I don't have any tools with me. We're close to home, so just hold them carefully and I'll fix it when we get there." That worked for less than a block before he started to shout again. I told him to hold them up and that I would ride very slowly and gently.

When we finally got home, I was shocked at how loose the handlebars had become. It was particularly embarrassing, since I had just been leading a bicycle advocacy group ride. Thank goodness the problem didn't develop until we were on our own and almost home! I was also very surprised; I'm pretty good at remembering to check that the connection to my bike is secure and that the pedals are screwed in tight, but I'd never had a problem with this connection before. However, if you look at the photo below, it was so loose that the handle bars could spin right around and slide from side to side.

Fortunately, a quick twist with a hex wrench tightened everything up. I may need to start carrying a bike-combo tool with me.That was finished quickly, so I decided to do the other job that I'd been meaning to get around to - musical bells! Spencer has now outgrown his 16" wheeler, so we decided to move the bell to the trail-a-bike.

Ta da! Secure handlebars and a bell that lights up!
Next, I re-installed a Bell bell on Ye Olde Mountaine Byckke. I had tried to put the bell on my road bike, but it never fit well on the handlebars, so back it goes.
Finally, a shiny new bell was installed on Spencer's new 20" wheeler.Because a boy this proud of his new bike deserves a shiny new bell to go with it!

This is my "perform a maintenance task on your bike" entry for the LGRAB 2011 Summer Games.