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Cycling to Work

CAM

By CAM
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jinnantonnixx

jinnantonnixx

Posted
Posted (edited)

Third day, oil on the chain is looking good. Contrary to my expectations, no need to re-oil yet, just wiped the chain down at the end of the day. The oil looks good. I think I might thin it down 3:1 for my next batch. In fact, I'd recommend you try that first, as the oil still feels a bit sticky at 2:1. Then again, that might be the residual factory wax. By the way, I bought 'Clean Spirit' non-toxic thinner from Wilkos for £1.75.

 

After my disappointing chainguard experience, I've installed a temporary DIY mud-flap for my chainring to preserve my new chain. I'll try and post a photo later. You'll laugh.

This weekend I'm going to have a crack at this: http://lifehacker.com/create-a-diy-chainset-mudguard-for-your-bike-1508440352

Edited by jinnantonnixx
  • 2 weeks later...
Griff

Griff

Posted
Posted
Well it finally happened ...I was in slow moving traffic I had uncliped my left foot and was gliding along, the traffic began to stop again without thinking I went to rest my foot on the pedal as I glided up towards the back of a car and *click* horror cascaded over my face I looked down to realise I was double clipped in and completely stationary :censored: flapping like a lice infested chicken in my attempt to unclip! I knew it was too late as soon as I had heard that fatal *click* of a Shimano SPD-SL pedal the damage had bee done and down I went everyone watching ....student walking by. I hit the ground fairly hard and completely sideways, I stayed prone on the ground for some time mustering the strength of character to get my ass up fully aware that I had gone crimson. One foot was still clipped in, as I managed to unclip my right foot I looked back over my shoulder seeing what I can only describe as a godess!! the girl from the car behind was helping pick up my bike and began talking about how it was similar to hers. At this point I thought I had actually died, as I dusted myself down and checked my bike over she told me about cycling 'group' she is part of and suggested I get involved. I am now at work no injuries and even some kudos from a few of the Year 8s that saw me talking to 'the godess' actually by the time I have got to the end of this post I can feel some pain in my arm adrenaline is wearing off..
jinnantonnixx

jinnantonnixx

Posted
Posted (edited)
Well it finally happened ...I was in slow moving traffic I had uncliped my left foot and was gliding along, the traffic began to stop again without thinking I went to rest my foot on the pedal as I glided up towards the back of a car and *click* horror cascaded over my face I looked down to realise I was double clipped in and completely stationary :censored: flapping like a lice infested chicken in my attempt to unclip! I knew it was too late as soon as I had heard that fatal *click* of a Shimano SPD-SL pedal the damage had bee done and down I went everyone watching ....student walking by. I hit the ground fairly hard and completely sideways, I stayed prone on the ground for some time mustering the strength of character to get my ass up fully aware that I had gone crimson. One foot was still clipped in, as I managed to unclip my right foot I looked back over my shoulder seeing what I can only describe as a godess!! the girl from the car behind was helping pick up my bike and began talking about how it was similar to hers. At this point I thought I had actually died, as I dusted myself down and checked my bike over she told me about cycling 'group' she is part of and suggested I get involved. I am now at work no injuries and even some kudos from a few of the Year 8s that saw me talking to 'the godess' actually by the time I have got to the end of this post I can feel some pain in my arm adrenaline is wearing off..

 

That, buddy, is a result.

P.S. I got rid of my spuds ages ago. I tried them for a year, but they keep trying to kill me so back to studded platforms.

Edited by jinnantonnixx
Oaktech

Oaktech

Posted
Posted
Yeah, a moron in an Audi got me on monday... She was in such a blinding hurry to pull out she didn't actually wait for me to be fully past her, pulled out, tagged my back wheel and basically turned me round and dumped me on the pavement. I've got a bruised elbow and whole load of rage!
E_G_R2

E_G_R2

Posted
Posted
Yeah, a moron in an Audi got me on monday... She was in such a blinding hurry to pull out she didn't actually wait for me to be fully past her, pulled out, tagged my back wheel and basically turned me round and dumped me on the pavement. I've got a bruised elbow and whole load of rage!

 

Did you get her plate number or did she stop? Time to get a video cam.

Oaktech

Oaktech

Posted
Posted

Nope and Nope... Pretty sure she didn't even realise she'd done it.

 

I really can't be bothered to make anything of it. If I was that bothered, or she'd seriously hurt me or the bike I'd go looking for the car. She was coming out of a road which is access to a housing estate and nothing else. I've seen her coming out of there before so I'm pretty sure she lives there.

 

The whole camera thing works both ways and I'd prefer that I didn't have footage of some of my filtering floating about - filtering like a motorcycle is a hard habit to break!

Oaktech

Oaktech

Posted
Posted
You guys always make me feel so lazy. My bike gets covered in mud every day but I don't bother cleaning it as I know it'll just get dirty again tomorrow. Think I've got some chain oil... somewhere. :redface:

 

Likewise... I use MucOff Wetlube, and I apply it about once every 6 months! I do give the whole chainset a bloody good clean when I do apply it though.

StevieM

StevieM

Posted
Posted (edited)

WP_000368.jpg

I'll get the jet wash on it tomorrow then give it a liberal spraying of WD40.

 

(I can almost feel some of you cringeing at the very idea! :twitch:)

Edited by StevieM
  • 2 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
jinnantonnixx

jinnantonnixx

Posted
Posted (edited)
My legs still aren't quite used to the world of singlespeed.

 

Nonsense! Treat it like a big BMX. I would never go back to gears for my commuter. I changed the chainring (£10), chain (Izumi track chain £11) and sprocket (£3) so a whole new drive train cost less than a good cassette. No cables, shifters, jockey wheels to faff around with. Just jump on and ride simplicity.

 

I've tried more chains than I care to remember, and for single-speed, the Izumi is the best - no question.

Edited by jinnantonnixx
jinnantonnixx

jinnantonnixx

Posted
Posted (edited)

By the way, my home-brew chain oil is excellent. I've been using it for a couple of months as needed, at least once a week and maybe twice, and it's performing well in all weathers. I use 2:1 OMS thinner:quality engine oil. If the chain is dirty, I give it a rinse with the homebrew, clean with a rag, then re-apply. The chain comes up nice and clean. It takes no more than 30 seconds at the end of the week.

Recipe here

 

I compared it with a regular good chain oil and found my home-brew was better. The commercial oil attracted dirt very badly. The home-brew was much cleaner. It sheds water, doesn't gum up with dust and doesn't let the chain rust when it's really wet. I've run it on a new Izumi chain for three months and there's no chain stretch yet. I also use it on my mountain bike in all conditions. It's the best all-purpose oil I've used. It's a winner.

Edited by jinnantonnixx
flyinghaggis

flyinghaggis

Posted
Posted

I was tempted to try out a single-speed for the simplicity of maintenance but my commute is downhill all the way to work and hence uphill all the way back so I think it would be kind of inefficient.

@jinnantonnixx : Do you usually ride fixed or freewheel?

jinnantonnixx

jinnantonnixx

Posted
Posted (edited)
I was tempted to try out a single-speed for the simplicity of maintenance but my commute is downhill all the way to work and hence uphill all the way back so I think it would be kind of inefficient.

@jinnantonnixx : Do you usually ride fixed or freewheel?

 

Freewheel. Never tried fixed, even though I had a bike with a flip-flop wheel, I set it for freewheel without even trying fixed. Perhaps I'm missing out, but I've never like the idea.

Edited by jinnantonnixx
mats

mats

Posted
Posted
@rickjames - Get a hub gear. No maintenance and you can ride over hills without ruining your knee joints - best of both worlds. Being able to change gear at standstill is just icing on top.
jinnantonnixx

jinnantonnixx

Posted
Posted (edited)
Oooo I had a really bad experience with Shimano Nexus 3 speed. They're not weather sealed and it disintegrated after 3 months in bad weather. Perhaps other hub gears are better (Rohloff) but mine was a disaster, I downloaded the service manual and immediately gave up. Maybe I was just unlucky, but I just want something as simple as possible that I can rely on every day. Edited by jinnantonnixx
flyinghaggis

flyinghaggis

Posted
Posted (edited)

Me neither. I'd happy with my hybrid's single chainring and 8 speed cassette for my commute but I'd like to try a fixed single speed sometime just to see what it's like.

 

I'm thinking I might upgrade my commuter to a Whyte Shoreditch when they're available at my local bike shop so I can get the cycle scheme discount.

 

4-Shoreditch.jpg

Edited by flyinghaggis

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