I was rummaging through my workshop box the other day looking for a miscellaneous something to fix my bike and realised it was probably time for a good clean out.
Every serious cyclist has a similar place where the flotsam and jetsam of years of riding and repairing bikes washes up. After removing the dust and dirt I had a look at what was left, and was amazed to find a history of my cycling life.
Here is a small part of my stash:
- A small jar containing 8, 9 and 10 speed spare chain links, a Crank Bros cleat, ferrules and spacers for my old Shimano XTR hydro brake.
- Bidon cages. Plastic and alloy and at least ten years of history.
- Wire. No idea.
- Bar tape offcuts. Not as strange as it sounds. I use these to add extra cushioning under the tape along the bar tops.
- Tyre levers. This is the place crappy tyre levers go to die. I only use Michelin now of which I have several sets in my other box!
- MTB lock on grips and bar ends. Bar ends are so '90's... A bit embarrasing now. At least they aren't anodized blue.
- Reflectors??? Yeah, they are off my very first mountain bike. On my first off-road social ride many moons ago a guy commented that it was lucky I still had them on my bike so I wouldn't get run over in the forest... Point taken! They were removed as soon as I got home.
- Computers and brackets. I'm sure I have a thousand of these brackets for lights, locks, computers... I think they breed and create new hybrids.
- Cigarette filters. Now that is weird, considering I don't smoke.
- Container with headset parts, bottom bracket spacers and a role of electrical tape. A tip about tape: Don't buy it from the supermarket, go to a hardware store and get the good stuff, seriously.
- Loose allen keys. They seem to migrate. I'm pretty sure this one is actually Swedish.
- Mini tool sleeve. This held my Topeak Alien that a mate "borrowed" and then lost. Thought it might come in handy in case I got a replacement...still waiting...are you reading this?
- Shimano XT shift indicators. It has been many years since my moiuntain biking with reflectors incident and I became a bit more trendy in that time, so the indicators had to go.
- Bells. I think they're getting it on with the brackets, there seems to be more bells here than bike I own, or have ever owned. Bells are a legal requirement in Australia... I'd rather wear a fine.
- Toothbrush. To a non-cyclist this is probably a bit strange but we all know it's for cleaning... Or, actually, IS that my toothbrush?
