Comments on: Maintenance

By: r.

r. — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:26:05 +0000

I can’t fit my bike in my shower, but that’s awesome. I usually take the bucket of dish soap and toothbrushes to it. Then I run outside to my porch and douse it with a gallon of water and voila a clean bike. It looks like a Charlie Chaplin clip if it’s cold, and I’m sure my neighbors immensely enjoy the whole scene.

I also keep a my tool kit in a ziplock bag, check the tire pressure, bolts, etc. the night before I leave. So far, I haven’t had too many problems. If your new to commuting, I highly recommend you take a basic maintenance class (at your local shop or co-op) or buddy up with a commuter. It also doesn’t hurt to get a thorn resistant tube for the back tire.

Things I carry in my ziplock bag:
–mini-tool
–chain tool
–adjustable wrench
–15mm wrench
–spoke wrench
–patch kit
–xtra tubes
–duct tape
–akaline batteries
–rags and hand cleaner

By: xSmurf

xSmurf — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:21:41 +0000

Jeff, some of your LBS can also wash your bike for barely anything. (Mine does it for free whenever I bring it in for something else)

By: Fritz

Fritz — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 05:03:44 +0000

Not my winter bike, though

You do the cleaning during the warm spells.

By: Jeff Moser

Jeff Moser — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 02:09:15 +0000

In addition to the winter elements being hard on your bike, it’s also hard to find time to wash/maintain your bike with the short daylight hours. My On One needs some TLC, but the garden hose is under a foot of snow…

Anyone have any luck asking their spouse permission to bathe their bike in the bathtub?

By: Andi

Andi — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 14:28:50 +0000

For beginners there’s also quite a few video’s on how to maintain your bike it might be easier if they look at them. E.g. http://www.videojug.com/search?keywords=bicycle+maintenance

By: Chris Cashbaugh

Chris Cashbaugh — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:44:37 +0000

Yes Fritz, winter is the enemy. I have only done less than 10 ride this winter on my new bike and it already needs a good through cleaning, lube and check up. That is what i’ll be doing tomorrow and I’ll give a report.

By: xSmurf

xSmurf — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:54:57 +0000

Oh yeah I forgot, winter biking is what made me want to start saluting other riders (tbh, I didn’t get the reaction I was looking for, still do it though)

(Oh and that’s in Montreal, Qc)

By: xSmurf

xSmurf — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:53:06 +0000

Dunno if it’s the looks on people’s face at -1°C (°F) or the rush, but I sort of enjoy it. Maybe it’s just me. But lots of people have noticed that despite the 215cm (98″) – record year – of snow that fell so far, there are more bikes on the streets than ever before. And that alone is enough to keep me warm (at least inside

By: Fritz

Fritz — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:27:40 +0000

Winter is the enemy of bike maintenance. I just want to get inside my home where it’s nice and warm and cozy, rather than spend any more time outdoors in the cold, wind and rain. Brrrr!

By: xSmurf

xSmurf — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 20:49:20 +0000

I have to admit I don’t check before every ride, but I inspect, fully wash and re-oil the bike every week or two (winter riding, commuting a minimum of 4 days a week, 10Km per commute). I don’t think my bike has ever loved me so much. I also pass over the frame and parts with a rag every two or three days just to remove the salt. Salt is your bike’s and your clothes’ ENEMY! For the winter riders out there there’s one thing I really check out as often as possible… dirty rims. Yeah it might sound silly but your breaks (if you have rim breaks that is) will be seriously affected by a crust on the rims, up to a point where you just won’t be breaking anymore. Take it front the guy who has a big ass slope opening on a *busy* street in front of his house. The enemy here accumulation and the only way to prevent that is to regularly clean the bike.