Your least favorite bike chore.
03-06-18, 06:45 AM
#51
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: CT
Posts: 3,054
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
7 Posts
Go get a 1gal garden sprayer from Home Depot. fill it with water.. always ready to spray the bike down outside. No mess to clean up after.
03-06-18, 07:18 AM
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times
in
4,672 Posts
03-06-18, 07:56 AM
#53
Woman make me faster
Works great, but so would a rag cut into thin strips. Only takes a couple minutes to clean so it’s not a terrible job just messy.
03-06-18, 09:03 AM
#54
Pokemon Master
Change your cable every 2000 miles, then. I have our race team guys text me their mileage every week, just so I don't have to mess with broken shifter cables (as often). One of the guys is 1500, some are once a season. Just depends on how often you shift. The 1500 guy will be riding along and just randomly shift all the way down the cassette, then immediately shift back up to the same gear he left. I finally asked him what he was doing one day and he said, "Counting; so I know what gear I'm in."
03-06-18, 11:37 AM
#55
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,286
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1096 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Seriously, though, great idea: I could put it in the trunk of my car and it would be there so I could take care of the worst muck before packing up after events, too. Just have to remember to take my car key before leaving on a local ride.
03-06-18, 05:58 PM
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: CT
Posts: 3,054
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
7 Posts
Now if only it wasn't like 50 miles and 3,000' between the street door and the door to my kitchen or wherever I'd keep that sprayer....
Seriously, though, great idea: I could put it in the trunk of my car and it would be there so I could take care of the worst muck before packing up after events, too. Just have to remember to take my car key before leaving on a local ride.
Seriously, though, great idea: I could put it in the trunk of my car and it would be there so I could take care of the worst muck before packing up after events, too. Just have to remember to take my car key before leaving on a local ride.
03-06-18, 08:39 PM
#57
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Posts: 2,668
Bikes: 2023 Canyon Aeoroad CF SL, 2015 Trek Emonda SLR, 2002 Litespeed Classic, 2005 Bianchi Pista, Some BikesDirect MTB I never ride.
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 647 Post(s)
Liked 136 Times
in
89 Posts
Nah, I don't care, I don't like the stuff. It's made of some kind of "space age polymer" that I can never clean off, and attracts dirt like it was magnetized. The factory stuff doesn't last forever anyway, so I just prefer to clean it off right away (though I absolutely hate it!)
03-06-18, 09:08 PM
#58
bike whisperer
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Melbourne, Oz
Posts: 9,545
Bikes: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152015&p=1404231
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1528 Post(s)
Liked 718 Times
in
510 Posts
As a mechanic, the worst job (aside from trying to make BSOs work, and anything to do with cheap e-bikes), is trying to clean the drivetrain (and surrounding area) of commuters where the owner has just continued to throw lube at it without wiping off the excess, and the lube they've used is some poxy wax-based crap that leaves a residue like bitumen.
03-07-18, 05:51 AM
#59
Senior Member
As a mechanic, the worst job (aside from trying to make BSOs work, and anything to do with cheap e-bikes), is trying to clean the drivetrain (and surrounding area) of commuters where the owner has just continued to throw lube at it without wiping off the excess, and the lube they've used is some poxy wax-based crap that leaves a residue like bitumen.
03-07-18, 10:41 AM
#61
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
03-07-18, 11:17 AM
#63
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Lincoln Nebraska
Posts: 1,088
Bikes: 99 Klein Quantum, 2012 Cannondale CAAD10 5, Specialized Tarmac Comp, Foundry Thresher, Fuji Sportif
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 98 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Deciding when to replace the chain here too.
03-07-18, 11:25 AM
#64
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2,537
Bikes: yes
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1281 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
329 Posts
Anything to do with bearings. I suck at those. And cleaning in general. I just want to ride my bike dammit.
So.... what is the best chain lube?
So.... what is the best chain lube?
03-07-18, 02:57 PM
#65
SuperGimp
03-07-18, 03:50 PM
#66
Senior Member
03-07-18, 04:05 PM
#67
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The banks of the River Charles
Posts: 2,029
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease, 2020 Seven Evergreen, 2019 Honey Allroads Ti, 2018 Seven Redsky XX, 2017 Trek Boon 7, 2014 Trek 520
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 696 Post(s)
Liked 910 Times
in
487 Posts
I'm not too fond of changing tubes in 38* rain.
03-07-18, 06:26 PM
#69
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,045
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22590 Post(s)
Liked 8,924 Times
in
4,157 Posts
Change your cable every 2000 miles, then. I have our race team guys text me their mileage every week, just so I don't have to mess with broken shifter cables (as often). One of the guys is 1500, some are once a season. Just depends on how often you shift. The 1500 guy will be riding along and just randomly shift all the way down the cassette, then immediately shift back up to the same gear he left. I finally asked him what he was doing one day and he said, "Counting; so I know what gear I'm in."
03-07-18, 07:50 PM
#70
Senior Member
1. Mounting (Conti) tubulars 10 minutes after the last coat of Mastik on the rim.
2. Wrapping bars/installing bar end plugs with new tape.
3. Cabling my TT bike.
4. Reading any BF thread that contains a Sheldon link.
2. Wrapping bars/installing bar end plugs with new tape.
3. Cabling my TT bike.
4. Reading any BF thread that contains a Sheldon link.
03-07-18, 08:25 PM
#71
bike whisperer
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Melbourne, Oz
Posts: 9,545
Bikes: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152015&p=1404231
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1528 Post(s)
Liked 718 Times
in
510 Posts
That would not only have addressed the cable fatigue by increasing the spool radius, but more importantly, also would have increased the signal-to-noise ratio, which became a right bastard at 10s.
Campy's spool radius is only a bit larger, but the cable fatigue and signal-to-noise is much better. SRAM is larger again, and they've pretty much avoided those issues.
Furthermore, SRAM's incredibly elegant shifter mechanism will just keep on working until it's finally shagged from wear, and weighs stuff-all. Pity it feels crap, though... and accidentally shifting to second when you've forgotten you're already in first is a PITA.
__________________
Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
Last edited by Kimmo; 03-07-18 at 08:30 PM.
03-08-18, 07:36 AM
#72
Senior Member
I didn't think I disliked any, or even had a least favorite.
But another thread reminded me: cleaning white bar tape.
Too often, I just give up and get new tape.
But another thread reminded me: cleaning white bar tape.
Too often, I just give up and get new tape.
03-08-18, 01:07 PM
#73
Fredly Fredster
03-08-18, 01:34 PM
#74
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,286
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1096 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Have you tried Deda? Their Carbon line (black, white, silver or gold only) tapes stay incredibly clean. Not as grippy or thick as some folks like, but not too slick or thin, either. Just right if you ask me. Very durable, and reasonably priced, too!
03-08-18, 01:39 PM
#75
Jedi Master
Adjusting my BB7s so they don't squeak. It's not particularly difficult, just annoying that I have to do it so frequently.
I used to hate cleaning my cassette, but I use wax now so it's always clean.
I used to hate cleaning my cassette, but I use wax now so it's always clean.