The Velodrome

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Paul H

18:37

Hey! The trail system my pals and i have been building for the past few years is finally open (trails are open, but they’re never done)!

CLIMB on Trailforks
https://www.trailforks.com/region/climb-64956

Michael come lately

19:09

Congrats!

Sam7919

sigh: reading the answers at: bicycles.stackexchange.com/q/65418/48599

I can see now why some folks are adamant about using the (painful) process of waxing their chains rather than lubing it. The cassette remains pristine, and the drivetrain in general looks neat, day-after-day.

I've used both a degreaser and dish soap. It's alright. The cassette doesn't come back to "factory clean".

I'll try a bit harder, with WD-40 this time, and see. Otherwise I'll bite the bullet and do a deep clean followed by learning this elaborate method of waxing.

@Criggie Recumbents can hit 80 kph this effortlessly!? Is it the superior aerodynamics?

Rеnаud

19:28

@Sam7919 FYI: the chain and cassette on the pictures in the following link have been used about 500km (half road, half gravel, 2 wax applications). I wouldn't call that factory clean, but certainly not bad. bicycles.stackexchange.com/a/95430/54500

@PaulH Next step, plan a trip to Oregon ;)

(to follow up on the chain, it's Silca wax, so with a black additive, maybe pure paraffin would be better from that regard)

Criggie

@Sam7919 Its a 8-12% downhill grade, and that happens to be a gravel bike.

riding th ebent uphill is no fun at all, cos your feet go numb

Erlkoenig

19:49

@Sam7919 Using a degreaser and a chain brush can certainly get a chain and cassette practically factory-clean

Michael come lately

Never thought about that as a downside. All the blood drains out of them?

Rеnаud

@Erlkoenig Agreed (...for once :-p). Easier to get a clean drivetrain with dry lube and then degrease than with wax. Wet lube is another story though, especially in dusty environments (but it's not meant for that).

Erlkoenig

It's still doable with wet lube after usage in dirty conditions.

There's 2 secrets to it: Use water and scrub thoroughly.

A chain cleaning machine (e.g. Park Tool CM-5.3) is very effective but it's a huge mess to use.

Ultra Secret Pro Tip: Use citrus cleaner on tubs/sinks before using degreaser, otherwise the degreaser with dissolved grime will stick to the limestone that's everywhere, creating black coating that can't be wiped off 🤣

Criggie

20:07

yeah - I did a climb that took an hour, which I did in ~40 minutes on the upright bike.
At the top my feet were completely numb

Sam7919

@Erlkoenig In my frustration I've been using the CM-5.3 with an undiluted household degreaser, along with manual brushing of the cassette. Neither comes out anywhere as clean as those from waxing.

Next up (taking advantage of the wheels being off briefly during summer/winter wheel swap) is to clean the car's brake callipers. This also is a challenging task, regardless of whether I use dish soap or a degreaser. Chatter from the "detailing people" suggests using an old toothbrush to get into crevices.

Erlkoenig

@Sam7919 I have used "dynamic chain cleaner", it is very effective, particularly when used in the CM-3.5. It gets the chain shiny clean like new

(Although it's pretty useless to get the chain this clean, I rarely do it)

Sam7919

@Erlkoenig This dynamicbikecare.com/products/chain-cleaner-1l one? I'm not sure we get this company's products over here.

Erlkoenig

@Sam7919 Use Isopropanol (100% - the medical stuff is only 70%) on a paper towel, cleans brake calipers easily

@Sam7919 Exactly, but I'm sure any degreaser that's meant for bicycles or motor vehicles should be fine. Household degreaser or dish soap is too weak probably.

Sam7919

@Erlkoenig It says "super extra heavy duty", or something :-)

Erlkoenig

20:17

I guess mechanical oil is just different from cooking oil/fat

Isopropanol is also good for brake oil btw. It's a medium-strength degreaser but it evaporates residue-free and doesn't damage plastic

Due to some weird regulations, Isopropanol is very expensive when bought at regular stores here but cheap on Amazon...

Sam7919

21:06

@Erlkoenig Isopropanol == Isopropyl alcohol. The stuff we have left-over from the pandemic is ordinary alcohol (but just loosely purified). That'll also do, no?

1 hour later…

Criggie

22:29

Lezyne Micro Floor Drive Hp with gauge, replcement cost over $100 NZ.
The spare part I need is not available, perhaps never was.

That little cylinder with the O rings? SHould be one piece, not two

gschenk

23:13

@Sam7919 only tedious part is getting factory grease off. Rest of waxing isn't much work. Certainly less than clearing a chain. About as much time but less tedium than dripping lube on a chain.

It just takes a lot of stuff and some effort to get started.

Criggie

23:33

I can oil a chain in place in 30 seconds, but that's only for when I'm late

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