RIDE CHECK  -  I hope this will give you a guideline to make sure your cycling, 2, 3, or 4 wheels goes well and your frustration level is minimized. These "tips" have come from my years of mistakes and errors.  Feel free to modify, change, or just ignore what may not apply.  Remember this is supposed to be fun so don't stress

Ride Check                                A,B,C – T,S,P

Things that you should check before rides to make your time a bit more enjoyable and safe. 

Every-ride

Air                         Check wear on your tires and make sure they will make it through the ride you have planned.  Check the air pressure in all tires with a gauge.  (Eventually you will know what they should feel like with a squeeze of the tire but until you are sure use a gauge.)  Make sure you have an extra tube for each size tire on your ride.  If your tubes have Presta® valves have an adapter for them in your bag.  Note any unusual wear on the tires, this could be an indication of over/under inflation or alignment.  Have some means of inflating a flat tire, small pump or CO2 inflater.

Brakes                  Give your brake handles a squeeze to make sure they activate your brakes and set your parking brake to ensure it is working.

Chain/Clothing   When was the last lube?  Keeping a chain lubed extends its life, gives you less resistance and a quieter chain line while pedaling and shifting gears.  If you have quick links make sure they are secure and the chain is not in danger of breaking.  They are not too expensive so a chain length measuring tool is handy to have around.  (An extra quick link in your bag with a chain tool can be a ride saver.)  // T shirt, sports shirt, or bike jersey: choose after you have considered the temp and sun exposure along your route.  Same goes for your shorts.  If shorts have big leg openings they tend to billow and catch “stuff” (imagine the stuff that hits your car’s windshield.)  Wear shorts with drawstrings or with snug fitting legs.

Tighten                Check every quick release on your bike.  The seat, the wheels, anyplace that is fixed with a quickie should be checked.  If your ride has a thru-axel, check it also.  Occasionally check the attachment points for your rack or any other accessories you have.  If they seem to come loose often then a little Loc-tite® or Nyloc® nuts will cure that. (the blue, not the permanent Red Loc-tite®). 

Safety                   To be safe you must be seen.  Day and night use a flashing white light in the front and at least 1 rear-facing red flasher.  Fly a flag above your trike on a fiberglass pole.  The important thing is to produce movement with flashing lights and flapping flags.  Eye protection is important.  Dark, light or clear is dependent on the environment and time of day but wear something.
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Power                  Are all of your electronics fully charged?  They should be, especially if you are on an E-trike or bike.  If your E battery dies you have a very heavy ride to pedal all the way home with no assist.
 
NOTE:  Very little in life or cycling is absolute.  These are suggestions for you to take or leave as you please and modify where you can.  Most of this has been learned by trial and error, mostly error.  I will have more in-depth suggestions to follow so keep looking them on this site and Facebook.

Coming Soon - Fix a Flat

Coming Soon - Build a trike stand

Coming Soon - My Road Kit (stuff in my bag)

​Religion of the Chain
​              My chain just needs a good cleaning!!

How much rust is too much?
My dad once said that everyone has an opinion.  He then proceeded to tell me exactly what most of those opinions are worth.  This topic is sorta like that.  Few things get more traction or generate more divergent opinions than when someone asks the simple question, “How do you take care of your chain?”  Simple enough on it’s surface but oh what a divisive subject.  Couples have divorced over far less than the differences found on chain maintenance.
For some it is a simple, lubricate it and ride.  For others it is a religion complete with all the trappings that come from the most intricate of ceremonies.
“On the morning of the autumnal equinox, accompanied by a virgin, arise before the sun.  Address the morning by facing the East and bowing to the primal forces of nature.  As the sun climbs into the ……..”   and so it goes.
I tend to fall somewhere in the middle.  I lube regularly as I am certain it makes shifting cleaner and more efficient.  My selection of lubricants has changed over the years and I expect I still have many new lubes to try (“There’s always time for lube”).  Currently I use a teflon based dry lube and it seems to work well.  I apply it usually every couple hundred miles just prior to a ride and then wipe the chain down both before and after the ride.  My trusty 3in1 oil can comes in handy for the brake pivots and idler wheels but I never use a spray on anything.  Not because they are ineffective but because if I am just a bit sloppy the overspray makes for some exciting moments trying to stop.
As far as cleaning goes, I remove my chain in the spring and again in the fall and drop it into a big plastic bottle of mineral spirits, shake, soak overnight, shake again and dump.  If it is extremely grungy I may change the spirits and shake once more.  Dry and reinstall.  I definitely subscribe to the KISS principle of chain maintenance.  I recently added a set of heavy magnets under the plastic jug.  These seem to grab a bit of metal filings so it makes me happy.


A clean cassette is a happy cassette!
Like I said, over the years my choice of lube has changed.  I have used 30w motor oil,  wax based lubes, teflon/dry lubes, and once even chain saw oil.  At times these changes were related to my income level as much as personal preference.  My reality is, some were easier to use, some left me with more gunk build-up, but all lubed with equal efficiency when used as directed.

I have used those really cute little machines to brush each link as it is passed through and even listened to fellows who hand brushed each link with the precision of an oral hygienist and soaked their chain in some sort of toxic, flammable liquid that made it shine like new.  My mineral spirits and plastic bottle works well and is easy to use so I will probably stay with it and be happy.  In a really dusty summers I might add an extra cleaning in there but usually 2x a year keeps me and my chainrings happy.
Even with the collected road grime the chain is still looking good.

All in all, I will sum this up with, Lube regularly with (insert choice here).  Clean regularly (insert frequently here).  That is all I have to say about that, besides, the autumnal equinox is fast approaching and I have a ceremony to prepare.

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