srw
It's a bit more complicated than that...
I'mm certainly big, and think I'm reasonably strong - certainly strong enough to have contributed to more than one Rohloff tandem flange failure.
I simply haven't had a problem wiith a Brompton.
Brompton - upgrade to reduce wear and tear
- Thread starter Ruffles
- Start date
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I simply haven't had a problem wiith a Brompton.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Yes I know it was an age ago but here's an update for those interested.
I ended up replacing the chainset with the same integrated Brompton unit. It wore quickly as before - teeth visibly asymmetric - and consequent accelerated chain wear. You could 'feel' the teeth when riding hard.
So last Christmas (2015) I got round to replacing the BB and fitting the newer 'spidered' chainset. Some months later I can detect no chain wear and it 'feels' smooth like a racing bike. So I think it's probably worth the expense and hassle.
Hassle? Well I ended up drilling out the plastic BB breaking drills in the process all because there was no grease on the thread.
I also bought new rim and bearings to refurbish the rear wheel only to discover that the bearing surface in the hub shell was hideously scored. Cheaper to buy a new wheel. (Anyone want a brand new old style rim?) So ended up shelling out > £400 in all.
I ended up replacing the chainset with the same integrated Brompton unit. It wore quickly as before - teeth visibly asymmetric - and consequent accelerated chain wear. You could 'feel' the teeth when riding hard.
So last Christmas (2015) I got round to replacing the BB and fitting the newer 'spidered' chainset. Some months later I can detect no chain wear and it 'feels' smooth like a racing bike. So I think it's probably worth the expense and hassle.
Hassle? Well I ended up drilling out the plastic BB breaking drills in the process all because there was no grease on the thread.
I also bought new rim and bearings to refurbish the rear wheel only to discover that the bearing surface in the hub shell was hideously scored. Cheaper to buy a new wheel. (Anyone want a brand new old style rim?) So ended up shelling out > £400 in all.
John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
- Location
- Crewe
12boy
Guru
- Location
- Casper WY USA
I think Brompton chains wear out more quickly than do my 700 c bikes' but they obviously have the chain higher off the ground and being single or IGH don't have a chain tensioner to get dirty either. In maybe 5k miles I have gone through a number of chains and one cog, although I use both a single speed ( the cog that wore out) and an SA 3 speed that hasn't yet. Cogs here are , I think, 8 bucks plus shipping so I buy a couple at a time. I wax the chains and try to keep them well lubed. I am clear the tensioner is needed for the fold but it does seem to be a dirt magnet. I have repacked the front hub a couple of times , which is easy to do, and the single speed breaks down to clean and lube the freewheel better than any other wheel I've owned. I had replaced the bottom bracket with a 119 vuelta BB for $13 and it has held up fine. I hated the plastic tightening rings on the original. I have used a Sugino RD crank with a vuelta chain ring but one tooth got chipped and I went back to the original swaged one which has held up fine and is really light. Are the newer 2 piece cranks as light as the swaged?
Kell
Veteran
- Location
- High Wycombe/London
I stripped down and cleaned my drivetrain for the first time since getting my bike last August. The amount of caked on sludge was shocking. The two cogs on the derailleur/tensioner wouldn't come clean with just degreaser and a gear brush. I had to use a screwdriver to scrape the sludge off.
I guess being that much closer to the ground is going to take its toll.
The sludge is nasty stuff though, I did it a week and a half ago and I think it's only the fact that I've shed a layer of skin since then that my fingers are now clean. I tried Swarfega, scrubbing brushes, Citrus degreaser and even a metal pot scourer, but the sludge was ingrained in my fingerprints and wouldn't come out.
I guess being that much closer to the ground is going to take its toll.
The sludge is nasty stuff though, I did it a week and a half ago and I think it's only the fact that I've shed a layer of skin since then that my fingers are now clean. I tried Swarfega, scrubbing brushes, Citrus degreaser and even a metal pot scourer, but the sludge was ingrained in my fingerprints and wouldn't come out.
srw
It's a bit more complicated than that...
Some people care too much about cosmetic cleanliness.
12boy
Guru
- Location
- Casper WY USA
I may look into sealed bearing pulleys. When you lube your chain with the wax bath method the wax is much cleaner than oil. Sticks better in wet/snowy conditions. I have never put a bike part in the dishwasher...my wife would not bless that endeavor. I do have a for-that-purpose crockpot for the chain waxing though and another with strong detergent/water would be good to soak nasty parts in.
