lifting the front/rear
 

Hi,
A basic question, what's the best way to support/lift the bike in order to remove the front or rear wheel?
Also, anyone recommend a torque wrench, available in the UK?
Finally, any tips on chain adjustment while out on the road - ie how to lift the rear, re-torque the axle nut (just as tight as you can)?


Cheers...

Hai,

If you have a centre-stand, one wheel is up already (usually the rear). To rise the front, I made a small "jack" from a cooper (plumbing) pipe (12 mm) and a piece of theaded rod (like a bold, but 20 cm long, don't know the exact word for it) witch just fit in the pipe. With a nut it move's up and down. To make it nice I put a "base-plate" on one side and a nice "attachment" point witch hooks into my crash-bar.

If you don't have a centre-stand (and don't want one) you could do the same, but then with the side stand on one side and the jack on the other. (block the brake)... but it's not very stable. Bring a "rope-and-spanner" to hoist the bike in a tree (or other high thing).

hmmmm, sorry for the poor englisch in this explenation. :0

Hope this helps
Maarten

I have a thing called a "prop stick" which I bought a couple of years ago in the UK from a mail order company - either M&P or MPS, I can't remember which. It works in conjuction with the sidestand. Turning the prop stick middle section gradually lengthens the stick and lifts the front or back of the bike off the ground (depending on where you place the stick). It's a bit bulky and heavy though (about the size of the sidestand itself). If it's just for working in the garage a car axle stand does the job. You can tighten the chain on the road without lifting the back wheel.