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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@thispod]

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

[@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?

[@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! 😁

[@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...

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@estorilvideo]

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

[@JamesMkII]

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

[@dennispikephotography]

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

[@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!!!

[@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.

[@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.

[@mikekelly1771]

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

[@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

[@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?

[@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!

[@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.

[@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 😊

[@VWsandMtnBikes]

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

[@davehumpleby3440]

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

[@billblake4029]

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

[@georgeshaw6207]

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

[@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 🤟

[@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 👍

[@chemabaquerizo6796]

Doddy great as usually

[@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.

[@Hansman007]

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

[@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.

[@martinkrautter8325]

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

[@GeekonaBike]

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

[@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

[@timbridgman8236]

A hack I use is a 1" offcut of mtb inner tube put over the front brake side which is pulled over the brake lever when leaning your bike on something. This will stop your bike rolling away and potentially damaging it. Great tips on this post many thanks

[@keepon239]

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

[@ericcsaba8779]

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

[@jadevillaflores9542]

Hi Doddy Manny Thanks, Awesome Show.

[@tom93r1]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@andrewince8824]

Dog poo bags. Lightweight drybags for your pocket goods, great for storing small spares, can be used when clearing the trails (grim but responsible) and are mega quick glove covers when de-mudding tyres or refitting a chain. Less mucking around taking kit off.

[@okantichrist]

Always put my phone in one.

[@spencerwvcmoon]

Some absolute belters their doddy thanks.

[@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.

[@chadbarbaro]

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

[@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

[@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!

[@JasonFoxLCB]

This whole video worked a treat.

[@chrisvincent1189]

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

[@jrludwig1]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@ryanmichels2981]

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.

[@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.

[@homebrew75]

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

[@ELITECMDR666]

some nice tricks ill be using with my heavy fat ebike brakes pads, as they seem to hang. great advice on the dot grease.

[@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.

[@eroltalamor2738]

great videos! KUDOS!

[@0views372]

Please make a video on how to make the diy saddle bag using gorilla tape

[@chrisdowning1528]

Great video!!!

[@Sceme1991]

Multiple of these were really useful

[@stevenreyes3680]

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

[@rallealyt]

nice tips from David Schwimmer

[@B_r_u_c_e]

Thank you.

[@RockMumbles]

That's a good one! Thanks Doddy!

[@adamweb]

That BB plumbers tape hack is legit!!

[@cbailey2376]

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

[@kpsig]

Subscribed. Well done!

[@Wheelbuilder23]

I use marine anti-corrosion grease on the threads of cleat bolts

[@j0rzeh]

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

[@IOUaUsername]

Best hack I worked out: save all the PVC and silicone tubing when you're in hospital (don't worry, mountain bikes will get you there eventually). It gets thrown away anyhow, and if you save it you'll find a piece the right size for bleeding your brakes. Stick one end on the bleed nipple on the caliper and the other end on a 20mL syringe from the pharmacy. Pull out the plunger and fill the syringe with brake fluid (or baby oil), loosen the bleed nipple and you can easily flush and bleed your entire brake system with a single squeeze of that syringe. No bleeding blocks, no funnels. Just make sure you take your wheel and brake pads out first and stop before the oil starts pouring out of your lever or catch it with a paper towel.

[@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.

[@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.

[@tonyhruzek4250]

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

[@NickJ-p2n]

Brilliant...!!

[@IOUaUsername]

Twisted brake lines can easily be fixed on Shimano brakes by swapping out BH90 brake lines for BH59 lines. You need matching needles but the olives and calipers/levers are all compatible. BH59 can be more spongy because they have more internal volume, so they're supplied on cheaper brakes from factory, but the lines are much more flexible and don't bind up or twist as easily.

[@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...

[@ericdimitriou2701]

Love the content. Another good segment

[@maxredburn6610]

Headlight bulb grease can be used in place of Dot grease

[@callumthorsen5474]

Some great tips in this video 👍🏻

[@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.

[@gregsloane]

I've had the rattling pads on my XT brakes. A electrical tape round the retaining pin worked a treat and didn't restrict movement of the pads back and forth.

[@theblishknovk]

I cant wait until torx replaces near every fastener on every machine including bikes. I used to hate it because i didnt want to buy more tools. But after working on modern aircraft, a bmw i ended up with, and a newer ktm all with torx. I am a massive fan now. So much harder to strip out and so much grip. Im surprised how much allen/hex stuff is on my 2021 Specialized.

[@M0053]

Some brilliant tips there, thanks! ❤

[@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?

[@Cyberpunk1977]

The Brake Hose Clue is Genius. Never thought about ist. Will try the next days 😊

[@fullstop15]

Ptfe tape for pressfit bottom brackets.not a creak to be heard.been doing it since 2012

[@ianthedondaws7559]

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

[@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.

[@daztastic147]

Invaluable tips here. Great stuff 🙌

[@foxtrot978]

Gcn once featured a hack where they took the end of a brake cable housing and pulled out the speaking a bit. That makes it into a really nice tool when fishing for those internal cables on the other end. Had helped me out a lot. I'm sure a lot of these will come in handy as well

[@R0knR0lla_]

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

[@TheButlerNZ]

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

[@gabrielesabbatino2460]

Brilliant!😊

[@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! 💯👍👍👍