Cleaning, how far do you go ?

[young Ed]

I already have a free mechanic, ta, but I can't afford to pay for spares!

(If I had realised how much more expensive Campagnolo cassettes etc. are compared to Shimano, I might have chosen differently ...)

next time fit a shimano cassette on the free hub body the they are universal fit?
where do you get your free mechanic?
bearings are a tenner max each set and cables are a few quid unless you need new wheels every 6 months!
Cheers Ed

 

[Cubist]

Mine get hosed gently to remove the worst f the mud, then a full fettle every three rides or so, including drivetrain and brakes, adjustment and checking for sweetspot functioning.

 

[ColinJ]

where do you get your free mechanic?
bearings are a tenner max each set and cables are a few quid unless you need new wheels every 6 months!

The mechanic is a mate who owes me favours. (For example - he 'borrowed' my new overshoes when I was too ill to ride, and wore them out!)

Bearings and cables aren't so bad. I wince at paying £40-odd quid for my down-market 9-speed cassettes though. I just noticed that Ribble have them for £35.50, but I would still rather be paying £20-25! (Now that I am getting fitter, I may switch from 14-28 to the cheaper 13-26. A 13-28 has a big 16% step from the 19 to the 22 which I do not like.)

 

[young Ed]

No

ah that is a problem!
fit a new free hub body onto the old wheel? it is just one big allen bolt
Cheers Ed

 

[ColinJ]

ah that is a problem!
fit a new free hub body onto the old wheel? it is just one big allen bolt
Cheers Ed

And eventually change the rear mech and shifter too because they are not compatible either*** ...



*** Unless you try the 'Shimergo bodge'

 

[MikeG]

You guys who just spray it down and bounce it around a bit...........do you do a deeper cleaner very so-many rides? I mean, the crud that must build up on the mechanics doesn't bear thinking about.

 

[young Ed]

And eventually change the rear mech and shifter too because they are not compatible either*** ...



*** Unless you try the 'Shimergo bodge'

expensive!
you know it is a really good excuse with mrs J to get a new bike! and of course give the old one to me!
Cheers Ed

 

[ColinJ]

expensive!
you know it is a really good excuse with mrs J to get a new bike! and of course give the old one to me!
Cheers Ed

I'd have to buy a MrsJ first, but I can't afford one of them either!

How tall are you? I am 6' 1" or 1.86 m.

 

[subaqua]

shop clean. and it drives the missus bonkers.

I do the roadie and the commuter the same as well. one guy asked me when i got the new bike after i cleaned the commuter 3 weeks ago. hadn't realised it had got that bad

 

[young Ed]

I'd have to buy a MrsJ first, but I can't afford one of them either!

How tall are you? I am 6' 1" or 1.86 m.

hehe you are lucky not to have a MrsJ they are expensive as you say and they don't let cycling be expensive
i am 178cm 5' 10" but growing very very rapidly
mum order me a new shirt please!
Cheers Ed

 

[JohnClimber]

My rigid single speed gets a quick spray of this http://www.wd40specialist.co.uk/the-specialist-range/fast-acting-degreaser/ on the chain, I give it a few spins then a quick spray of this http://www.wd40specialist.co.uk/the-specialist-range/high-performance-ptfe-lubricant/ a few more spins then put it way dirty. 2 minutes

Before the next ride it if needed it gets a quick brush down to get rid of most of the dried on dirt. 1 minute

If dirty my other bikes get a spray down with the hose pipe, if the chain needs it I use the above de greaser, bounce the bike on the back wheel, a light GT45 across the frame and a wipe down, then a quick spray of the above lube or a dry lube if it's the beach bike.
4 to 5 minutes max

 

[jazzkat]

I hose the bulk of the mud off. I spray some muc off about and give it a bit to soak. Then I brush and hose the soap off. I've got a compressor that I use to blow the water off before I get the Mr Sheen out. I give it a spray polish. The chain comes off and gets a thorough cleaning as do all the mech bits (using a degreaser). The wheels come off and everything gets a good wipe down. Once everything is clean and dry, everything that needs it, gets a good lube and it's all put back together.
I do this after every ride as it's then all good to go for the next time. I like cleaning my bikes and my Mtb is as clean as my road bike.

 

[I like Skol]

You guys who just spray it down and bounce it around a bit...........do you do a deeper cleaner very so-many rides? I mean, the crud that must build up on the mechanics doesn't bear thinking about.

I do. The GT MTB I bought in 1994 just got a full strip down, polish and rebuild just before Christmas

 

[screenman]

I hose the bulk of the mud off. I spray some muc off about and give it a bit to soak. Then I brush and hose the soap off. I've got a compressor that I use to blow the water off before I get the Mr Sheen out. I give it a spray polish. The chain comes off and gets a thorough cleaning as do all the mech bits (using a degreaser). The wheels come off and everything gets a good wipe down. Once everything is clean and dry, everything that needs it, gets a good lube and it's all put back together.
I do this after every ride as it's then all good to go for the next time. I like cleaning my bikes and my Mtb is as clean as my road bike.

Do you have a wife and kids?

Also, do you ride your bike day.

 

[jazzkat]

Do you have a wife and kids?

Also, do you ride your bike day.

I have a wife - she's very understanding
I try to ride my mountainbike once a week. My road bike gets ridden four times a week and it has almost the same cleaning regime, I just miss out the hosepipe and soap bit and go straight to the Mr Sheen. The only time my road bike doesn't get cleaned after a ride is during the height of summer when the roads are dry. It gets a cleaning at the weekend then.