http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Bike maintenance philosophy en Sun, 31 May 2026 10:02:47 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554&page=2#post-15905 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 10:09:28 +0000 chdot 15905@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Much</em> more on chains here -</p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1457#post-15848" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1457#post-15848</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554&page=2#post-15607 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:16:34 +0000 chdot 15607@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"chdot is right!"</p> <p>Well...</p> <p>"Chains do stretch; the steel sideplates lengthen due to tensile loading"</p> <p>Ah, wasn't aware of that small technicality. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554&page=2#post-15583 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:51:35 +0000 PS 15583@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think it's pretty well established roadie-lore that you replace the chain before it becomes so "stretched" that it starts to damage the cassette. This makes good financial sense as replacing a cassette costs a lot more than replacing a chain. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554&page=2#post-15576 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:41:38 +0000 Rabid Hamster 15576@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>ps if you want to clean chain and let oil penetrate, using 'dead' or 'red' diesel fuel is a good bathing agent; but it is carcinogenic like most petrochem products so don't forget to wear rubber gloves when handling. And dispose of sensibly please! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554&page=2#post-15574 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:37:27 +0000 Rabid Hamster 15574@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>chdot is right! Chains do stretch; the steel sideplates lengthen due to tensile loading, also rivets wear and rivet holes 'stretch'; also the collars wear. Try holding a similar length of new and old chain by one end on its side and look at the curvature of each in comparison.<br /> Chainsaw chains are worked very hard and show 'accelerated' forms of wear characteristics that you'll find some of on a bike chain.<br /> My rear mech now skipping, so removing one link should make all the difference; it is a very long chain on a recumbreational tho' and the chain management is a technological delight! Because these machines are 'invisible' no-one else will notice one link shorter! ;} </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15541 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 10:48:20 +0000 chdot 15541@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"may have been something I just made up in my head"</p> <p>Perhaps, but it's a useful way of thinking. </p> <p>Pedants say that chains don't stretch they wear. </p> <p>But that assumes that stretch just means like elastic. </p> <p>BUT there are an impressive number of definitions including -</p> <p>"24. elasticity or capacity for extension."</p> <p><a href="http://reference.com/d/search.html?q=Stretch" rel="nofollow">http://reference.com/d/search.html?q=Stretch</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15539 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 10:29:36 +0000 Stepdoh 15539@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>may have been something I just made up in my head :). I don't claim the slightest bit of expertise here.</p> <p>Can't remember but saw something about the chain stretching a bit quicker then the cassette wearing out. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15538 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 10:19:24 +0000 chdot 15538@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Isn't it usually 2-3 chains per cassette?"</p> <p>Interesting question. </p> <p>Never actually seen that 'rule'. </p> <p>'Replace chain and block' is an easy instruction. </p> <p>It partly depends on a) whether you ride mostly in the high gears (wear quicker) b) whether you will tolerate a bit of skipping if you replace a chain and not block and c) whether you replace chain before it's too far gone and block/cassette is really 'worn out'. </p> <p>(First posted on another thread!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15203 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 16:21:06 +0000 Cyclingmollie 15203@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>kaputnik - the punch-line to that story would have been even better if you had gone back and bought another half-dozen "pond testing kits" for your friends and family. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15201 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 15:45:25 +0000 Arellcat 15201@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>There are people who don't approve of adjustable spanners. But they probably have every possible individual spanner - which they may or may not take on every trip...</em></p> <p>Every size from 8mm to 19mm, open-ended and ratcheting. Sockets from 6mm to 13mm and in their inchy equivalents. I also have four adjustable spanners, including the excellent 12 inch Bahco. :-)</p> <p><em>A small spot of rust can quickly grow and cause weak areas on your frame. To prevent rust, try not to leave your bicycle outside in harsh weather without a waterproof cover on it.</em></p> <p>The chainstay on my last mtb frame rusted through from the inside. It did take ten years, though. My current one I sprayed with copious amounts of Waxoyl before building the bike up. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15200 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 15:02:28 +0000 Stepdoh 15200@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>See Kaputnik, that was the god of OCD rewarding you for your fastidiousness in the face of Edinburgh's mucky roads. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15197 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:07:20 +0000 kaputnik 15197@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Bigger ones are also available!</em></p> <p>I needed a 3.5" adjustable wrench for my BB tools so took a trip to Homebase. Found one for the princely sum of £27. Took it to the till humming and hawing about "do it myself and save money my ars*". Disinterested teenager behind the till scanned it and <strong>Pond Testing Kit £1.60</strong> flashed up on the screen. Disinterested teenager asked me for £1.60. I managed to bite my lip and look cool and hand over my card. Disinterested teenager hands me receipt for <strong>Pond Testing Kit £1.60</strong>. I suppose I might have been testing the depth of my pond by dunking the wrench in... I turned down the offer of a carrier bag in recompense to Homebase. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15196 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 11:31:33 +0000 chdot 15196@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just found this -</p> <p><a href="http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Basic-Bicycle-Maintenance--before-You-Ride/1452056" rel="nofollow">http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Basic-Bicycle-Maintenance--before-You-Ride/1452056</a></p> <p>Think this is mild scaremongering -</p> <p>"Also keep an eye on your bike frame and watch for rust. A small spot of rust can quickly grow and cause weak areas on your frame. To prevent rust, try not to leave your bicycle outside in harsh weather without a waterproof cover on it."</p> <p>But this true -</p> <p>"By taking just a little time to do some routine maintenance, you'll lengthen the life of your bike and allow yourself to enjoy a worry-free ride." </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15194 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 10:36:49 +0000 chdot 15194@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.ashleysdirect.co.uk/24-extra-large-adjustable-spanner.html">Bigger ones are also available!</p> <p><img src="http://www.ashleysdirect.co.uk/images/detailed/SP048A12720293574bd1a0adc250b.jpg"><br /> </a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15193 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 10:30:43 +0000 chdot 15193@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I suspect the negative feeling towards adjustable spanners stems from cheap nasty items where the jaws are loose so they will move and round off the nut."</p> <p>Definitely true, but people (especially children) don't understand the need/have the micro-second patience to adjust <em>properly</em>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15192 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 10:25:52 +0000 wee folding bike 15192@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I suspect the negative feeling towards adjustable spanners stems from cheap nasty items where the jaws are loose so they will move and round off the nut. </p> <p>I find the big Bahco does a better job on headsets than the official spanners. They are thin and flex too much (one of my sets is by Campag). I got the big Bahco for car sump plugs but it works on other big nuts too. I've always got the wee one tucked in a pocket or bike bag. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15190 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 08:44:14 +0000 chdot 15190@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><img src="http://www.screwfix.com/sfd/i/cat/03/p4772403_x.jpg"></p> <p>Highly recommended item/brand. </p> <p>Mine hasn't got the plastic bit (that must be progress...)</p> <p>Also got a 12" (must be about 20 years old) for headsets etc. </p> <p><a href="http://www.screwfix.com/prods/33045/Hand-Tools/Spanners-Wrenches/Wrenches/Bahco-6-Adjustable-Wrench" rel="nofollow">http://www.screwfix.com/prods/33045/Hand-Tools/Spanners-Wrenches/Wrenches/Bahco-6-Adjustable-Wrench</a></p> <p>There are people who don't approve of adjustable spanners. But they probably have every possible individual spanner - which they may or may not take on every trip...</p> <p>Crucial thing with an adjustable is to adjust it <em>tightly</em> on the nut before turning. Taking the corners off nuts increase the chance that it will eventually get so rounded that a spanner won't work. Knocking the chrome off just leads to rust!</p> <p>When I went to primary schools to talk about bikes I did a 'maths lesson' talking about numbers involved in bikes. I told them that 4,5,6mm Allen keys and 8,9,10mm spanners covered a high proportion of the things that need adjusting - so they should start their tool kits with those. </p> <p>Colour helps to get the message across.<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/3406030675"><br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3406030675_08a5eb1f63.jpg"></p> <p></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15189 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 23:27:13 +0000 wee folding bike 15189@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmmm, didn't ask me for one. Bahco make tools some of which include very nice adjustable spanners. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15188 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:31:15 +0000 Cyclingmollie 15188@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>gembo - I got one a year ago with a kids bike from EBC. More or less the same. I've a Brooks one somewhere.<br /> kaputnik - I had one of those once or it may have been my dad's. Maybe we were a bit more sophisticated than I thought.<br /> Wee folding bike - I followed that link to a site that recommended I use a 4.x browser and asked for log-in details. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15187 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:26:33 +0000 Greenroofer 15187@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So where do I sit in this philosophical debate if I use an Alfine hub (as I do)?</p> <p>I don't do any maintenance as such on it apart from tightening the cable every now and again, because it doesn't really need any. However it's so fiendishly complicated inside that I have to take it to the LBS to have it serviced every year, and whatever my philosophical leanings, I can't do it myself.</p> <p>So it's maintenance-free until it needs to go to the bike shop for an overhaul...</p> <p>...actually, that probably describes many bikes out there. When I was collecting mine, I noticed that the one next to me had a job sheet on it that said "Not been used for years. Before doing anything else, pump up the tyres and see if it needs new tyres" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15185 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 21:04:20 +0000 gembo 15185@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>oops, forgot about those hexagonal holes - I think mine had two - a big one and a wee one </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15184 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 19:44:02 +0000 chdot 15184@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"wouldn't any sheet be a blank for any other sheet"</em></p> <p>Er?</p> <p>"<strong>just the outline</strong>, no hexagonal holes punched"<br /> <em><br /> "made of steel"</em></p> <p>Yes </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15182 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 19:31:53 +0000 gembo 15182@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cyclingmollie - those sheets came with every Raleigh Bicycle, they are still kicking about as when I got the useless Crossroads with hub gear and therefore horizontal drops the helpful mechanic gave me two (for pushing the back wheel back when chain had stretched). I went to shop in Morrison St. for spanners in due course. I love that spanner shop in Morrison St. Soup spoons were also tyre levers in my day.</p> <p>chdot - wouldn't any sheet be a blank for any other sheet ? made of steel rather than aluminium? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15179 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:12:51 +0000 kaputnik 15179@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>no good for anything with a bolt</em></p> <p>I find there's enough bits with a bolt on a "modern" bike to justify always carrying a<br /> <img src="http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/product-images-large/weldtite-dumbell-spanner-metric-2179.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15177 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:04:13 +0000 wee folding bike 15177@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmmm... small Bahco shifter?</p> <p><a href="http://extranet.bahco.com/CONndc.asp?Save_UID=1&amp;wp=&amp;GotoCat=true&amp;cmbLanguage=1" rel="nofollow">http://extranet.bahco.com/CONndc.asp?Save_UID=1&amp;wp=&amp;GotoCat=true&amp;cmbLanguage=1</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15176 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 17:54:34 +0000 ruggtomcat 15176@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thoes things are essential if you go touring on an old frame, my modern multi tool is full of hex's, and no good for anything with a bolt... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15156 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 11:57:11 +0000 chdot 15156@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"one of those multi-tools punched out of a sheet of steel"</p> <p>Once upon a time I went round the Raleigh factory - when 'everything' was made in Nottingham - well apart from all the SunTour stuff etc. </p> <p>I picked up a blank for one of those tools - just the outline, no hexagonal holes punched. </p> <p>Must try and find it. Just a lump of metal but perhaps an almost unique relic! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15154 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 11:50:35 +0000 Cyclingmollie 15154@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I like my road bike to be perfect. I spend hours working on it.<br /> My commuter gets occasional remedial work e.g. replacing a worn-out chain-ring, chain etc. - but is usually neglected.<br /> I don't know why there's this discrepency but I think it may be due to the perceived value of the bikes. One is worth about six times more than the other.<br /> wee folding bike - when I was at school tools comprised soup spoons to lever off tyres and one of those multi-tools punched out of a sheet of steel. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15148 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 08:00:09 +0000 kaputnik 15148@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There's the regular maintenance of cleaning, degreasing and lubing that everyone <em>should</em> (but often doesn't) undertake. I like my bikes looking clean and running smooth and quiet so I'm pretty regular on that front.</p> <p>Beyond that I like to try and do it myself, mainly to try and learn how bits work, how they come apart and - more importantly - go back together again! Where I don't have the tools or workshop space, I'll pay the bike station a visit. Where I don't have the skill or knowledge I'll admit defeat and take it to the LBS, making up some unlikely story as to why the bit is on the wrong way round or upside down ("It came like that, mate. Honest. I haven't touched it" &lt;hides grease-stained fingers&gt;). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1554#post-15145 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 06:32:48 +0000 ruggtomcat 15145@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>talkin to a friend about this today:</p> <p>"so err how do you clean your chain?" i say</p> <p>"old rag, hold it round the chain, pedal backwards lots." he replies</p> <p>"oh" i say.</p> <p>he aint sheldon brown.</p> <p>but has a sweet ride :) </p>