11 Of The Most Useful Pro Tips And Hacks, EVER!

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Super helpful genius tips. I love it. A hack I recently learned from the roadies at GCN: When you lube your chain, shift into a gear where it is cross-chained and put the lube on from the top. This opens up the little gaps in the chain and makes the lube go in much better. Shout out to Josh Portner from Silca for this one.

[@Tobias611]

Doddy strikes again. That first tip was an instant "oh wow, I didn't think about that." I'm happy to see that it wasn't only recycled tips from previous videos!

[@bbirkholz]

Nice video, with a lot of stuff I haven’t seen before. Thanks guys. Here is my hack: To prevent my bike parts from getting stolen, I have filled my Allen screws with hot glue and cut it flush. When I have to use them I can easily peel this thing out of the screw with a little nail or something. But if someone is trying to steel you saddle and seatpost in the city (which has already happened to me) and is not able to insert his tool, he will leave and not try to figure out why it’s not working. For me this solution now workes since years.

[@mauort6870]

for rounded allens.. just use the biggest torx that fits. works every time

[@jimbridges3720]

Great tips. Aluminum foil on the end of Allen keys works well too.

[@airingcupboard]

Is that to get more purchase on the bolt?

[@thispod]

PTFE tape is what finally kept the cap of my dropper seatpost from constantly getting loose. Nice to see this great tip here

[@b.st.347]

Doddy, thanks so much for the brake pad tip! Paint and tolerances the most overlooked mysterious evil creaking noises in bicycle history, well besides unruly press-fit BB’s. I have had a sticky pad, tried most everything, paused the video went outside removed pads filed and immediately fixed a 6 week issue. Thanks again keep sending it. No thanks to cheap aftermarket pads unless you modify!

[@lazlo2511]

.. can we all take a moment of silence for PF BB’s. RIP.

[@rodrigormotta]

hey Doddy, I've got a nice hack to save some mineral oil brake fluid. when i bleed my brakes i normally need to flush the lines quite a bit from all the debris that get into it. so, to reduce my waste, I collect all the used oil into a glass jar and let it sit for a couple days. once the dirt accumulates at the bottom, i run the top 80% of the jar content through a coffee filter and save it in a clean glass jar so i can use the old fluid to flush my brake lines without wasting new fluid. the final bleed is still done with virgin fluid. but that saves a ton of brake fluid from getting wasted...

[@robhumphris5911]

For filling cleats i just use mud.

[@chadtague6429]

Ha! That’s what I use to grease my bearings!

[@olik136]

well not everybody can rely on UK weather :) I personally use flat pedals so I either have bloody shins or torn up shoes.. because I am smart

[@callumthorsen5474]

😂😂😂

[@That.Guy.]

I heard this guy saved $20 on a new bike helmet by reusing the styrofoam packaging from his Ninja AirFryer

[@MrMuz99]

​@@olik136 - Flat pedals are best! 😁

[@ManuelMartinez09]

Hi Doddy, I made the cleat sealing with a hot glue gun, also covered the holes below the cleats to avoid water from entering, also easy to clean the mud of the cleats.

[@boers_eimersten]

This. It's quite elastic and leaves no residue when removed. Also really useful for the gaps around the seatpost clamp to keep water and gunk out. I use it everywhere on the bike.

[@ManuelMartinez09]

@@boers_eimersten Nice, I'll do that too

[@TPHotChips]

I've been troubleshooting a sticking Code RSC brake pad for several months, nothing has worked....UNTIL NOW! I tried the filing down the ends of the pads idea and it worked a treat. THANK YOU DODDY!

[@markm1000]

I’ve got a few tricks- Layer up thick sheets of Gorilla Tape to make mud flap extenders. Cut to desired shape with heavy duty scissors. Last forever and won’t destroy fenders if you slow roll a curb. Use wire heat shrink in place of cable-end crimps. Allows you to pull apart components for cleaning and reuse cables, especially great in cyclocross muck. Can pick color, and looks cleaner than crimps. Can also use silicone caulk to seal holes and mesh in the top of shoes for cross racing.

[@alefernandezfeo]

Hi Doddy, I would like to share that I use a wet vacuum cleaner to dry my chain and components after I wash my bike, it works really well to dry out fast and be able to lubricate them almost immediately.

[@JamesMkII]

Fitted new SRAM Guide RE’s yesterday, and the brake olive nut actually comes pre-greased in its own separate little pouch 👌

[@TheProjectX3]

For the cleat bolts, there are hole-hiders for furniture that use hex bolts, to hide the bolt. They are sold in bags but tend to get lost often.

[@stujm8376]

I use gorilla tape on my rims, whether tubeless or not, it’s brilliant stuff. I also used ptfe tape on my dropper because it kept unscrewing, not anymore… Fantastic vid Doddy, these should be a regular feature.

[@dennispikephotography]

I rounded out a bolt head LAST NIGHT! That rubber glove trick is going to be really handy for me today! Thanks Doddy!

[@DubstepStepper]

2:20 I had to find this video and comment after this weekend, I entered the london to brighton this weekend and completed it but a GMBN hack saved me , my chain snapped at 15 miles into 61 and the quicklink idea from this video saved me I was 7 miles between stages , if you are reading this and do not have a spare quicklink buy one it happens!! THANKS GMBN 😊

[@jerryriding]

The PTFE TAPE hack worked so well!!! I had a creaking bb for a year and now the creaking noise is gone! Thanks Doddy!!!

[@estorilvideo]

where can you buy the elastic super glue? I can only find one and that's £14 + £10 delivery!

[@nigelrhind6620]

Doddy top tip for cutting down bars or fork stanchion tube, use a plumber’s pipe cutter. I’ve used mine for several jobs and it cuts straight and leaves a clean burr free edge every time. Also a lot cheaper than the hacksaw guide.

[@phorest]

But not for carbon fiber.

[@rodrigormotta]

hey Doddy, after retairing my last chainring due to excessive wear. i tried changing my chainline using Blackspire BB spacers and that did reduce the wear. most chainrings are set for a chainline that biases the smaller gears, but most of my pedaling happens on the larger ones. therefore moving the chainline in reduced the chain angle when on those gears and consequently the wear on the chainring. i think that was an awesome hack, and a subject that i never see on mtb videos! cheers rod

[@vashon100]

Is retairing = retiring? or retearing?

[@phil_dubss8335]

Right, time to sit back with a brew

[@tim__sadler]

Every one of these would make a perfect short (or tiktok) - some of the best top tips yet! It's that aerosol one that blew my mind! Genius!

[@georgeshaw6207]

Superb video ! Like the fact that all the materials used you generally have lying about the shed.

[@VWsandMtnBikes]

I've used silicone in the cleat bolt heads for years. Works great!

[@DubstepStepper]

Absolute gold as ever nice one, the spray lube hack is insane !!! Will be doing that hack on sunday 😊, plus the stretchy trye sealant at the start I am buying some now I have a pesky thorn issue at the moment 🤟

[@nigelrandtoul8646]

I've also used gorilla tape to repair myself, had a 2" diameter blister which burst and ripped open. taped it back in place with gorilla tape and it lasted a full day until I could get proper medical materials

[@Hansman007]

Fantastic Episode... best mechanic tips I've seen in a longtime. Keep 'em coming!!! Filled my amazon cart while watching.

[@davehumpleby3440]

Great tips there, Doddy. You're never to old to learn something new.

[@mikekelly1771]

Heat shrink on cable ends instead of crimps. Super tidy.

[@Lorax50]

When you finish the roll of teflon tape keep the center and slide it over your rear axle when you take your wheel off. Loop your chain onto the teflon tape wheel for cleaning your bike. You can spin the cranks with your chain over the axle without damaging/marking it up. Makes for easier cleaning of the chain and derailleur.

[@20EUR20]

9:44 I didn't want to buy some blue Loctite so I thought about the Teflon tape a few years ago.... I use it on the disk brake screws and the chainring bolts. Perfect.

[@alan_davis]

Ugh. It's terrible for small.diameter bolts, please use loctite...

[@gtowndrow]

Yes super helpful, especially with the cleat bolts. I found if you can't stop bakes pads from squealing, no matter what you do, add a tiny drop of "Permatex Disc Brake Quiet" (the kind that comes in a glue bottle), onto the back of the pads, where it comes into contact with the piston. Doesn't stop it completely but sure helps, especially in the wet.

[@rufusgroves1820]

Use copper grease on the back of the brake pads to stop squeal 👍

[@larryt.atcycleitalia5786]

Great job! Thanks. Already knew-of/used about half of these over my decades turning a wrench but will try the others, especially the gorilla tape and flexible super-glue....since those are kind-of new products. Regarding the spray lube, if I have a situation where what I really want is a drip and don't have it, I'll just spray some lube into the plastic top of the spray can. Squeeze it down to make a bit of a funnel shape and drip it where needed.

[@mplsmark222]

I always use Locktite on the threads of my cleats. Not so much to keep them from loosening on me as much as keeping them from corroding in place. The hex socket head is not very deep so it is not hard to round out the head trying to remove rusted bolts. Filling the head with silicone is a great idea too. Is video and others like it are both entertaining and useful. Thanks GMBN

[@homebrew75]

Really good hacks. The glue tip will com e in very handy. Thanks for sharing this information.

[@paulwolfram7774]

All great hacks. I tried the plumbing tape trick on a new but creeking bottom bracket rtight away and it worked like a charm. Thanks a ton!

[@vashon100]

creaking vs creeking

[@nikveldkamp8630]

This collection is just ingenious. Some I knew but the overview is brilliant. The elastic superglue will get application as soon as I get some of this stuff. Ideas which manufacturers' manuals would never recommend, (warranty void and buying original parts only etc.)

[@billblake4029]

Andrew, this episode was fantastic. I truly appreciate your time, efforts and insights.

[@M-Shape]

Love that grease on the brake hose hack, will be using that for shure :D

[@alan_davis]

Please just use brake fuild (whichever is compatible with your brakes), you don't want random grease getting in the system.

[@chemabaquerizo6796]

Doddy great as usually

[@reinholdachleitner2069]

Awesome,excellent looking little gorilla tape bag,could you show us how you made it.💯👌🏻✌🏻

[@keepon239]

There are bike hack videos, and then there are Doddy bike hack videos. This is next level!!

[@GeekonaBike]

I'm straight blown away, I gotta rewatch this just to be sure I remember all of them.

[@chadbarbaro]

bees wax is super useful on any thread or waterproofing need....nontoxic fun!

[@johnbladon2638]

I have several bikes of various speeds. On each bike I have removed the handlebar end plug on the drive side of the bike and inserted an appropriate quick link wrapped in a piece of kitchen paper. I've then re-fitted the handlebar plug. With this method I know that I've always got the correct quicklink available on every bike.

[@spencerwvcmoon]

Some absolute belters their doddy thanks.

[@WilliamrikerNCC1701]

Some awesome tips here. I’ve seen and heard of a lot of good hacks from other vids but a bunch of these are new to me.

[@ericcsaba8779]

Thanks Doddy one of your best episodes !!!!!!

[@jrludwig1]

Thanks for the great tips. Most of those is never heard before. They will be very useful.

[@janeblogs324]

17:13 just push the rubber cap screw covers in there. Exactly what they're designed for, all new bikes have them in the headset/rear rack/water bottle threads. I've stashed a bunch with GT logos on them

[@chrisvincent1189]

Previous hacks in the past I kind of knew, but this video has enlightened me!!! Some very good hacks, cheers 👍😁

[@Rzarecteh]

On the Gorilla Tape stuff, I taped an AirTag inside the Steerer Tube of my suspension fork, has been there well over a year and not even budged despite all the grime going up there from rides.

[@normawingo5116]

Omg Doddy, I accidentally hit the down thumb. I corrected it. I’d never thumb down any of you. You guys are my go to and I appreciate all you do. So sorry, hope I fixed it!

[@ericdimitriou2701]

Love the content. Another good segment

[@matthieubrasselet1]

The filing of the break pad is the one I am going to use. Again Doddy astill has lots of hack, incredible !

[@vashon100]

brake vs break

[@jadevillaflores9542]

Hi Doddy Manny Thanks, Awesome Show.

[@sixty2612]

Wish I knew about that elastic glue before. I tried super glue around a plugged hole but didn’t stay more than a couple rides. Tip I used yesterday is when aligning calipers to rotors: it’s hard to see the tiny gap between the two when lining it up but it helps to put something high contrast behind. I put a piece of white paper on the ground under the caliper and it helps to see the gaps.

[@davehumpleby3440]

Or shine a light through from the opposite side. Nothing too bright though.

[@stevenreyes3680]

Thanks for the tip on the brake hose. Too bad I didn’t see this yesterday.

[@tom93r1]

Going out right now to put PTFE tape on my bottom bracket.

[@JasonFoxLCB]

This whole video worked a treat.

[@EchoFoxtrott1]

with the filing brake pads, I bought the absolute Black graphene pads for my Level TL rear brake and had some trouble getting it to fit in, until some of the paint chipped off.

[@ESeppOz]

Cut a tyre on the week-end so I tried to get the 4410 adhesive. Very difficult to get hold off where I live. Is Loctite 480 equivalent - anyone tried this?

[@joecanuck3751]

I was replacing a shifter cable housing that was internally run. Not knowing if there was an internal guide, I decided to use a short piece of threaded rod, or a long fine threaded bolt with the head cut off, to join the new cable housing to the old one so that I could use the old housing to pull the new one through the frame.

[@XavierBetoN]

For the shoehack, neither wax nor silicone, I'd rather seal them with hot glue. PTFE tape works wonders, I was wondering if someone else ever used that. Thanks for sharing

[@ianthedondaws7559]

Awesome hacks and usable across all disciplines 👍🤘🏻GCN could do with some of these

[@PeteMac69]

Instead of wax, try P-tex (skiers know). A bit harder wearing but can still be picked out. On the rubber glove hack, a rubber band also works, and you can go a bit thicker if needed. Love the hacks!

[@callumthorsen5474]

Some great tips in this video 👍🏻

[@RockMumbles]

That's a good one! Thanks Doddy!

[@eroltalamor2738]

great videos! KUDOS!

[@TTaponen]

I lost a tubeless valve stem o-ring seal and of course it started leaking, so I made a replacement with tiny string of PTFE-tape and it worked.

[@j0rzeh]

Perfect I just got myself a latte made, waiting for my riding mate to go out in the rain.

[@jaypopsti]

Best tech presenter ever!

[@alteragnostik]

Thanks for the tips! I immidiately tried the hack with the shock oil in the ratchet of the freehub. I dissassembled my DT Swiss 240 hub and put the shock oil (thick as butter), cause I really would like it to be quiter. But on the contrary, the hub became even louder :( So I'll probably put DT Swiss Special Grease back on.

[@darojos]

Wrap you CO2 cartridges with gorilla tape. Insulates and stores some tape at the same time.

[@Pesmog]

Yes, and you don't get frost burns that way, good advice 👍

[@petedog9581]

I used plumbers tape for years on my old FRS suspension bushings. before seal cartridge bearings. The bushings would wear so quickly and creak or actually become slightly out of round. The tape would last for about five rides and make up the gap and keep things quiet.

[@B_r_u_c_e]

Thank you.

[@bcnephew]

Doddy, would you use the flexible super glue on patches on the inside of the tire, or stick with vulcanizing rubber cement for that? I'd had some issues with patches letting loose after a while and wondering if the super glue would be better.

[@ridethelakes]

Good question, interested in the answer..

[@sp00n]

When vulcanizing a patch, the more force the better. Use clamps if you can and leave that over night.

[@bcnephew]

@@sp00n Thanks! Funny enough, that is exactly what I did, with the tire that I am currently riding on, and it seems to have worked great. The other issue I think I had is using a patch that was too small, a cm square even though it was a small hole, just would not seal with a plug. It can also be hard to get the rubber really clean due to all the sealant.

[@archiehinchcliffe8155]

12:40 does anyone know what those red sram calipers are?! are they stock like this or is it a custom respray?

[@martinkrautter8325]

I used PTFE tape successfully on worn-out Cantilever Brake Studs.

[@adamweb]

That BB plumbers tape hack is legit!!

[@cbailey2376]

Worked a treat. 😂😂 Great hacks, thanks Doddy. 😂❤

[@Sceme1991]

Multiple of these were really useful

[@MikeDS49]

9:18. You won't want to use thick grease to silence your fat bike hub as it can become too thick in the cold temperatures and bind the pawls in, turning the freehub into a freewheel.

[@TheButlerNZ]

6:10 because those of us in the southern hemisphere don't have Failures, cold or mud ?

[@R0knR0lla_]

TORX bit will also work in a rounded Allen head. The ptfe tip will be getting used 👍

[@chrisdowning1528]

Great video!!!

[@M0053]

Some brilliant tips there, thanks! ❤

[@tonyhruzek4250]

I use Hot Glue in the cleat bolts. It doesn't fall out and is easily scraped out with a pick.

[@richardhaselwood9478]

Thanks Doddy, I've been wondering for a while if plumbers tape had any bike applications. Cheers

[@trwilliams22]

I remember teflon tape on BBs becoming popular with early 2000s Trek OCLV frames. That was the only way to get the creak to stop.

[@TheButlerNZ]

PTFE 101: Wind it on like your winding on a nut... (so generally clockwise if the end of the bolt etc is facing you) and only 2-3 turns... (More can split the outer, or just push down the threads as there's too much to slip between the threads). You can always spot PTFE put on by a numpty. Usually displayed as a huge lump of PTFE pushed into a ring at the end of the nut.. and when unwound, you end up with lie a foot long strip when you should only have about 6x the width of the bolt max.

[@gabrielesabbatino2460]

Brilliant!😊

[@owenanstey436]

Good stuff Doddy

[@chrlmlln9018]

Amazing and valuable tips as usual from you, sir! A very big THANK to you! Wishing you all the best always and secure and happy rides! Greetings from Sweden! 💯👍👍👍

[@kpsig]

Subscribed. Well done!

[@daztastic147]

Invaluable tips here. Great stuff 🙌

[@Pesmog]

Its important to emphasize that you shouldn't over grease your freehub drive mechanism. They won't work properly if you do. I have fixed a few over the years that kept slipping or wouldn't engage reliably and it was because they had way too much grease in them or were lubed with a grease that was too stiff.

[@larryt.atcycleitalia5786]

Seen more than one silencing job that had the freewheel freewheeling in BOTH directions! Go easy on the grease, especially if you use the bike in cold temps!

[@NickJ-p2n]

Brilliant...!!