I’m working with two different flavors of headache this morning, because last night my always-suspect shower chair…
…decided to fold its legs and dump me on my geriatric ass. Which wouldn’t have been so bad, except a millisecond later the back of my head made high-velocity contact with the tiled wall, and…
Then just to be really smart while commiserating with myself I stayed up too late with a bottle of bourbon, and so we’re not hitting on all cylinders here at the Secret Lair. My head isn’t as bad as I deserve but my neck is killing me. But it’s happened before – in the course of a long life some shots to the head will land – and it’ll pass.
Anyway, one of the morning’s assigned tasks was to get the ebike’s electrics sorted out. And I did!
Monday, I think, somebody suggested that Radpower actually has a video on how to string a replacement harness through the frame. They make it look easy, and it really is much easier than I expected…
It wasn’t quite as easy as in the video but with some simple tools…
It really wasn’t bad at all.
BTW I can’t testify that that aftermarket skid panel saved me from any further damage but it certainly did no harm.
I got the new harness (yes, I ended up expending the new one, rather than try to straighten out a bent pin and then get the connectors to cooperate) straightened out in the frame, turned the bike rightside-up, plugged in a lot of connectors and then expended a whole bunch of zip ties…
…also gifts from a Generous Reader, BTW…
And the bike is now functional! Electrically, it works just fine.
Still a few issues. The derailleur is still misaligned but I can work around that. The kickstand bracket broke…
…and I thought at first I would have to negotiate with Radpower for a replacement but it turns out Amazon sells lots and I have to send away for a new mirror anyway. And speaking of replacement accessories…
I got this cheap pannier in 2019 and was never 100% happy with it but it worked … but it also turns out it’s not very durable.
So while I’m shopping for bike stuff – now that I know there’s a reason to – I guess I may as well see if I can improve on that, as well.
The week is going in the right direction, despite yesterday’s pistol-related disappointment. I fixed – or at least improved – the Jeep’s power steering on Sunday, and now I’ve repaired my ebike.
Dang, that shower incident is scary. We have a shower seat my disabled wife has to use, and I’ve never trusted the Chinesium alloy that seems lighter than aluminum. I keep waiting for it to fracture and drive a leg right through her side. What’s the alternative, though? There seems to be nothing at all made that’s any better. I supposed I could wrap it up with duct tape or something.
Congratulations on fixing the bike! I’m getting a cheap eBike in a few days, and I think the skidplate idea is fantastic. If I can’t buy one, I’ll build one.
Buying anything from China is an exercise in continuous reconstruction, it seems.
Think outside the box! If there’s room in your shower stall, consider a plain plastic patio chair. Or go with whatever kind of (more or less) waterproof chair that you can lay hands on.
And congratulations on discovering that you really didn’t need “professional help”.
Joel, you are one handy guy! Good luck on a replacement chair/repair.
malatrope: we had a chair give way mid-shower. Exciting. I almost immediately sorta-maimed the replacement chair with my knee trying to steady it for the showerer.
Hereabouts, Joe/Jane Citizen is not allowed to buy a shower chair without a Genuine Doctor’s Prescription. Absurd. AND pawn shops in this state cannot deal in Durable Medical Equipment, so that’s out. It’s like some entity wants some kinda monopoly.
Robert, Amazon likely doesn’t have delivery restrictions on medical equipment based on state. Just sayin’
malatrope: Good point.
Is there something special about a “shower chair” that distinguishes it from any other water-proof stool? I’d think a heavily-painted wooden stool would do the job, but maybe there’s something I’m misssing.
If you are buying bike stuff, order a new derailleur hanger, and maybe a spare.
Whatever magic metal they are made of doesn’t take kindly to being bent and straightened, and getting them right is a real chore. Even on my big-buck road bikes, they are cheap enough to just replace once damaged.
I’ve used a teak stool I bought off of Amazon as a shower stool for the last 8 years with no real issues. I’ve had to sand it a couple of times and apply tung oil, but its still a solid as a rock. My guess is it will outlast me.
Possible on the pannier
https://www.amazon.com/Stansport-766-Saddle-Bag/dp/B004Z1239G/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=saddlebags&qid=1659572400&sr=8-9
Teak shower bench:
https://www.amazon.com/Utoplike-Handles-Portable-Bathing-Waterproof/dp/B0814NKRKN/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=3DJUCYY45469R&keywords=teak+shower+seat&qid=1659580290&sprefix=teak+s%2Caps%2C258&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFDRzUzUlJGRUlURTcmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAyNTU4NjgzVjQxVVBUOUQ2WDVaJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAwNTg5NjExVFdISTEyUEc3MVBHJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
I’m Joel and I’m too good for a cinder block.