I have been putting off replacing the bottom bracket bearings on my Merida 96 coz its a plastic bike and requires some hammering and i dont have any of the tools to do the job correctly. I have used various non bike related devices before to fix things but today was a real ecleptic mix of stuff. I completed the bearing change using the vacuum cleaner tube, Ikea wardrobe metal hanging rail,hammer,10mm hex key and a piece of plastic waste pipe. What unusual stuff have you used?

What unusual stuff have you used?

There’s this shop, local to me, that specialises in bicycle maintenance and repair…

Headset remover made from copper pipe. Two slots cut at right angles to each other about 6 inch down the pipe from the end and then flare the pieces out.

also the usual headset press from threaded bar, plastic drainpipe to fit lower headset races on forks and a couple of pullers /extractors made up from bits and pieces

Tomhoward – that sounds amazing, what is the name of that shop?

In the past I have mostly used a screwdriver and a hammer for most tasks.

It’s probably the reason I don’t dare buy myself a plastic bike.

There’s this shop, local to me, that specialises in bicycle maintenance and repair…

Can’t help feeling that this belongs in the ‘What is local to tomhoward that specialises in bicycle maintenance and repair’ thread