What kind of fettler are you?

[jazzkat]

My riding mates take the mickey out of me for the cleanliness of my bike. I don't quite go as far as you, but I'm close.

 

[Sea of vapours]

I'm looking at my bike now and feeling almost disappointed that there's nothing on it which could remotely require further cleaning, checking or any other fettling beyond what I did this morning

 

[gbb]

I used to go mental, even stripping calipers down as far as they'd go, clean, lube pivots etc, mainly because I used to winter commute...nowadays my best carbon stays dirty, I only really clean and lube the chain. Shameful really, I might get the stand out and give the Ribble and the aTrek hybrid a good seeing to...maybe.

 

[sidevalve]

2 blocks of wood and a hammer for me (that is on steel frames though )

There are other types !!??!!
PS as for the OP - just buy an oldy to do up. You'll feel better in the end [and you get TWO bikes to ride.

 

[Gravity Aided]

2 blocks of wood and a hammer for me (that is on steel frames though )

Big bolt, some washers, and a couple of nuts do a good job as well, but that's another thing to fettle, as is the homemade rocket tool.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Oh Lordy some of you must spend more time cleaning it than riding it.

The chain gets a clean on the road bike and tourer and if it gets dirty it gets a wash off but the hybrid only gets a flick over once in a while.

Horrific isn't it, i can feel some of you shaking from here.

However if any of you lot get bored i will happily give you the shed key

 

[Globalti]

So furniture polish keeps matt black looking nice eh?

Guess what I'll be doing tonight.....

 

[contadino]

I live in fear of my bike being unusable for longer than a day or two, so dismantling, cleaning and rebuilding has to be planned meticulously.

My cleaning routine has gone from zero to lots over the last few months however.

 

[fossyant]

So furniture polish keeps matt black looking nice eh?

Guess what I'll be doing tonight.....

Mr Sheen and a lint free cloth !!!

 

[fossyant]

I had the nickname 'marigold' in the club as my bikes were that clean !!!

They still are (the same bikes 25 years later).

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I live in fear of my bike being unusable for longer than a day or two, so dismantling, cleaning and rebuilding has to be planned meticulously.

That's why 3 bikes is the minimum

 

[anothersam]

I find it hard to remember to clean the chain each week...

Chains need cleaning? Who knew.

Bikes (at least the good ones) live in the house with me and someone who is a bit more finicky about cleanliness than me, so unfortunately I have to clean them more than I'd like, which is basically never. Having said that, a dirty bike doesn't appeal, at least aesthetically. Ideally I'd snap my fingers and someone would appear (perhaps from servant's quarters in the shed, if I do it up a bit) to take care of it for me.

Other sorts of fettling are enjoyable enough once I've run out of excuses to avoid them.

 

[Globalti]

So I found a can of furniture polish in the cupboard and now the bike looks smashing and water beads up and runs off even better but.... Mrs Gti nearly broke her neck when her feet skidded out from under her in the utility room where I did the spraying.

It's good on black anodised parts, makes them a deeper black with a sexy sheen and I'm sure the bike goes faster too.

 

[bikeman66]

There are other types !!??!!
PS as for the OP - just buy an oldy to do up. You'll feel better in the end [and you get TWO bikes to ride.

Hahaha, Sidevalve!

My original 1972 Raleigh Chopper is in serious need of some TLC, so I guess you're right. I did work a load of penetrating oil around the seat post about seven years ago, so maybe I'll dig it out of the shed and see if it has loosened up yet! As for getting two bikes to ride, I'm not entirely sure the Chopper will extend to accommodate my 6'-1" height, but I suppose it will keep me out of mischief.

 

[bikeman66]

Oh Lordy some of you must spend more time cleaning it than riding it.

The chain gets a clean on the road bike and tourer and if it gets dirty it gets a wash off but the hybrid only gets a flick over once in a while.

Horrific isn't it, i can feel some of you shaking from here.

However if any of you lot get bored i will happily give you the shed key

What time should I turn up?