When parked with a dual-legged kickstand, my road bike usually rests on the front wheel, but sometimes, Trucker wants to settle on the rear wheel, lifting the front wheel off the ground. If I’m not attentive, the wheel swings until the barcon (aka bar-end shifter) smacks against the top tube. I needed a quick solution to avoiding marring the top tube’s finish, so I rummaged in the tool kit until I found a small hook-and-loop strap, originally designed to corral loops of electric cord or computer cables. Wrapped around the top tube and positioned properly, the strap is enough to pad the tube and prevent the handlebar from scratching the paint job. It ain’t elegant, but it was handy and will do till something better comes along. I’ll probably pad the tube with a wrapping of leather which I’ll sew on using a herringbone stitch, being careful to slip the leather under the rear brake cable.

Tags: & How-to, Let's Bike! Cycling, make-shift adaptations, outfitting