A bike workshop owner in Norfolk has combined a sex toy with a bike light mount to improve his brake-bleeding technique.
Simon Worley – who has 23 years of experience working as a mechanic – posted the video of his genius hack on social media.
Worley's videos have attracted reactions from admiring mechanics and approval from intimacy expert Susan Bratton, who simply comments: “Another excellent reason why bullet vibes are a classic tool!”
But why bother in the first place?
Shimano brakes are bled from the caliper upwards, with a pot screwed onto the bleed port on the top of the lever.
Old brake fluid is pushed into this and, once the system is flushed through, you pump the lever to get as many air bubbles out as possible.
Shimano recommends tapping the lever with a screwdriver or spanner as it's depressed to encourage any trapped bubbles to escape.
- Read more: How to bleed Shimano disc brakes
Worley’s tool performs this function with greater efficiency and, we expect, greater efficacy.
The tool comprises a SexySecret bullet vibrator and an Exposure under-saddle bike light mount, the two fitting together with satisfying accuracy (“it’s like they were made for each other,” comments Worley).
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While Worley admits Shimano’s method is effective, he describes his tool as much more efficient – in the video, we can see the “quite aggressive” buzz of the vibrator strapped onto the lever encourages trapped bubbles to emerge.
Childish giggling aside, as Worley puts it, this is a great little hack – probably not required for home mechanics, but an effective trick for those who want the best bleed possible.
