DIYers: If a threaded parts seems too tight, MAYBE YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG. #BR A DIYer had forced a right pedal onto the left crank, damaging some threads. Everything being steel, I opted to use the replacement pedal as a thread chaser before attempting to install.

Ah yes, this one's named, "Circular gears process stages 13." Adding two gears to your original three doesn't work either. #StuckGears www.slideteam.net/circular-gea...

Favoto Bicycle Helmets Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Head Injury; Violate Mandatory Standard for Bicycle Helmets; Sold on Amazon by Favoto www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026...

Multi-Purpose Helmets Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Head Injury; Violates Mandatory Standard for Bicycle Helmets; Sold on Temu by Foubeaka and Geniuss www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026...

Qumeney Bicycle Light Sets Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Battery Ingestion www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026...

<*Sigh*> The gear teeth aren't even the same pitch--OH WAIT--this CAN work if the teeth do not engage one another! #StuckGears www.slideteam.net/gears-of-ide...

Malker Bicycle Light Sets Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Battery Ingestion Hazard www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026...

Et tu, Getty Images? #StuckGears

Do not store bicycles outside in the rain. #BR A rusted weld is a red flag.

Ohhhh, so close... #StuckGears In "3d men with gears mechanism industrial ppt graphics icons powerpoint," two of the figures would have to be collaborating backwards. 🤔 www.slideteam.net/3d-men-with-...

OOF. Steel spoke nipples in an alloy rim. #BR Galvanic corrosion wants to happen when dissimilar metals touch.

Um, changing the gear material won't help. This stock image was captioned, "Brown iron metal gears showing concept of teamwork stock photo." #StuckGears www.slideteam.net/brown-iron-m...

Charmera astrophotograpy. #KodakCharmera #ShittyCameraChallenge

Mis-installed saddle clamp. #BR Mechanics (and DIYers), please do better.

<*sigh*> That extra "timing belt" won't help. #StuckGears

lol, this image was actually captioned, "Three gears working together showing concept of teamwork stock photo. " www.slideteam.net/three-gears-...

Aisstxoer Adult Bicycle Helmets Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Head Injury www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026...

Specialized Bicycle Components Recalls Specialized Turbo Como SL Electric Bicycles Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Fall Hazard www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026...

Keep your eye on the goal! #BR Make an informed choice: If service calls for uninstalling a part at the cost of destroying it (or other parts), maybe change your strategy and leave things as is. The pedals in the photo are successfully uninstalled, but one pedal and one crank are now unusable.

ProRider Recalls Bicycle Helmets Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Head Injury www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026...

Oh no, not on the same bike? #BR I know that's an M6 bolt on the brake reaction arm, but my 10mm box wrench wouldn't fit what should have been a 10mm nut. I had to use a 7/16". That's because some DIYer substituted a 1/4"x20 locking nut, which while pretty, left our M6 bolt stripped. 😠

Know when threads aren't matching up! #BR This BMX bike came in with the front wheel nuts "tightened," but with the front wheel flopping loosely in the fork. It turns out that both nuts were threaded for coaster brakes, which use a different thread.

Please don't substitute gear cables for your brakes! #BR Neither the cable wire nor the head itself are strong enough for use in brakes.

The main reason why ratchet-style saddle clamps have a bad reputation. #BR Simply overtightening the nuts in an attempt to get the clamp to hold its adjustment, without aligning the teeth, may lead to failure. Please make sure all teeth are engaged properly before tightening nuts.

Park Tool is pleased to announce the winners of their 2026 Community Tool Grants! Over the past eleven years, Park Tool has donated over $150,000 worth of tools to over 100 different organizations throughout the world. Read about the ten we chose this year:

Sometimes a modified tool becomes a single-purpose tool--but that's OK! #BR Shops in the U.S. were required by law to deliver new bikes (even "nice" expensive bikes) with reflectors attached. 2 pedals = 4 reflectors = 8 bolts and nuts -> all that time adds up.

Customize! #BR Sometimes standard tools don't quite fit right, if at all. The 11m size appeared in some brake pivots and good luck trying to find a thin 11mm. Make your own tool if the need arises--it will save you so much time later.

Maybe make some thread chasers out of junk bottom brackets. It be a little safer.

POP QUIZ: What three issues am I referring to when I call this the "Lazy Mechanic's Trifecta?" #BR Answer shown in image [ALT] text.

There's gonna be trouble if green gear engages grey gear. #StuckGears www.slideteam.net/gears-misc-p...

Todson Recalls Concord Bicycle Helmets Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Head Injury www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026... #recall

Bike Tip: When using zip ties on your bike, use nail clippers to clip the extra length. It leaves a smooth edge that won't be sharp and cut you later.

The TS-2 turns 50 this year! I teased it on the other social platforms, but Bluesky gets an exclusive: we will *definitely* be doing *something* fun to commemorate the golden anniversary of the TS-2. Stay tuned...

Uh oh. #StuckGears

Phew, gears NOT stuck, for a change. #StuckGears

R.X.Y Bicycle Helmets Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Head Injury www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026...

Gazelle USA Recalls Urban Arrow FamilyNext Pro Cargo E-Bikes Due to Injury Hazard www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026...

Rear Bolts on Trek and Electra Electric Bicycles Recalled Due to Fall Hazard www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026...

This is how I found the shoes mounted on the the brake. #BR The shoe that is visible is shown on the right hand side of the photo from my previous post. bsky.app/profile/bicy...

Haven't been working on too many kids' bikes lately. #BR Department-store grade kid's bikes are notorious for having rim strip issues.

Pet peeve: Stamped shoulder nuts that are too shallow and with large chamfers. #BR Both a 12-point box wrench and a 6-point socket wrench fail to grip this 1/2" nut securely. The shoulder and shallow flats limit the wrench engagement while the chamfers cause wrenches to walk off under torque.

POP QUIZ: What's wrong with this pictures? #BR

Remember this strange modification? #BR bsky.app/profile/bicy... It turns out that there was a tire clearance problem. The tire was flat when I removed the wheel, so I didn't notice the lack of clearance at the time.

Sometimes a tool finds an unexpected use. #BR In production work, a common 15mm cone wrench would suffer too much wear from continual use. The thin cone wrench is too short and can be painful to grip. This pedal wrench pairs perfectly with the 17mm open-end needed for the locknut.

Mysterious flats may occur from chronic underinflation. #BR

#cargobike and #ebike owners might like this trick for suspending your heavy bike while preforming maintenance!

Radio repair service in the self-help exchange. Washington, D.C. January 1942

RIP Frank Arroyo www.thelodownny.com/leslog/2025/...

One of the most extreme weather divides of the year is here. The Sierra Nevada faces a snowicane with up to 8 feet of snow and 100 mph winds. Meanwhile, the East gets a Christmas torch with temps 30 degrees above normal. It feels like October, not December.

What's up with this weird DIY mod? #BR I found this modification on a common, 1980's style 10-speed bike with fenders. My best guess is someone wanted more tire clearance at the chainstay bridge (or fender mount)?