I've been doing some preventive maintenance recently, replacing the VRex's idler bearings, brake cables and housings. These simple fixes make a huge difference. I must have become accustomed to the noise of the old crummy bearings because it sure seems quiet now. The local sporting goods store provided #5 roller blade bearings and about $8 of brake parts from the LBS. I also splurged recently for a new RANS seat cover and grey foam pad. And last fall a new Terra Cycle flip it thingy. I think they call it a glide flex stem. Thank you Jude!
I ride the bent almost exclusively now, so it is hard to take it out of service for maintenance that might take more than an afternoon. So, I'm wondering what other recumbists are doing in the way of preventive maintenance lately?
I've been doing some preventive maintenance recently, replacing the VRex's idler bearings, brake cables and housings. These simple fixes make a huge difference. I must have become accustomed to the noise of the old crummy bearings because it sure seems quiet now. The local sporting goods store provided #5 roller blade bearings and about $8 of brake parts from the LBS. I also splurged recently for a new RANS seat cover and grey foam pad. And last fall a new Terra Cycle flip it thingy. I think they call it a glide flex stem. Thank you Jude!
I ride the bent almost exclusively now, so it is hard to take it out of service for maintenance that might take more than an afternoon. So, I'm wondering what other recumbists are doing in the way of preventive maintenance lately?
What's maintenance. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I replaced my front brake pads a couple of weeks ago (a rainy day) and readjusted the front brakes at the same time. I lube my chain about every 3 or 4 months. I wash the bike a couple of times a year. Other than that, I don't do maintenance. However when something needs attention, I fix it.
<Chas> Haluzak Hybrid Race
"The Shinefelds" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I've been doing some preventive maintenance recently, replacing the VRex's idler bearings, brake cables and housings. These simple fixes make a huge difference. I must have become accustomed to the noise of the old crummy bearings because it sure seems quiet now. The local sporting goods store provided #5 roller blade bearings and about $8 of brake parts from the
LBS.
Quoted message said:
I also splurged recently for a new RANS seat cover and grey foam pad. And last fall a new Terra Cycle flip it thingy. I think they call it a glide flex stem. Thank you Jude!
I ride the bent almost exclusively now, so it is hard to take it out of service for maintenance that might take more than an afternoon. So, I'm wondering what other recumbists are doing in the way of preventive maintenance lately?
What's maintenance. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I replaced my front brake pads a couple of weeks ago (a rainy day) and readjusted the front brakes at the same time. I lube my chain about every 3 or 4 months. I wash the bike a couple of times a year. Other than that, I don't do maintenance. However when something needs attention, I fix it.
<Chas> Haluzak Hybrid Race
"The Shinefelds" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I've been doing some preventive maintenance recently, replacing the VRex's idler bearings, brake cables and housings. These simple fixes make a huge difference. I must have become accustomed to the noise of the old crummy bearings because it sure seems quiet now. The local sporting goods store provided #5 roller blade bearings and about $8 of brake parts from the
LBS.
Quoted message said:
I also splurged recently for a new RANS seat cover and grey foam pad. And last fall a new Terra Cycle flip it thingy. I think they call it a glide flex stem. Thank you Jude!
I ride the bent almost exclusively now, so it is hard to take it out of service for maintenance that might take more than an afternoon. So, I'm wondering what other recumbists are doing in the way of preventive maintenance lately?
wondering what other recumbists are doing in the way of preventive maintenance lately?
Jon Shinefeld
Well, my V2 only has about 25 miles on it (I got it in November-) so the only preventive maintenance I do is to keep my 16-month old foster son away from where its sitting in the family room. He just loves to spin the crank and watch me rush into the room to catch it as its about to fall on him. 8^0
wondering what other recumbists are doing in the way of preventive maintenance lately?
Jon Shinefeld
Well, my V2 only has about 25 miles on it (I got it in November-) so the only preventive maintenance I do is to keep my 16-month old foster son away from where its sitting in the family room. He just loves to spin the crank and watch me rush into the room to catch it as its about to fall on him. 8^0
Just put new brake arms on, front and back. The old ones had gotten rusty inside and no longer pivoted well. Came close to wrecking soon afterwards when I locked up the rear tire - wow! Much better. Brakes are a good thing. Lubricated the brake cables too.
I can't imagine anyone actually cares about this, but hey....
-- David Luecke Ridin' a RANS Vivo (wahoo!) Merritt Island, Florida USA
Just put new brake arms on, front and back. The old ones had gotten rusty inside and no longer pivoted well. Came close to wrecking soon afterwards when I locked up the rear tire - wow! Much better. Brakes are a good thing. Lubricated the brake cables too.
I can't imagine anyone actually cares about this, but hey....
-- David Luecke Ridin' a RANS Vivo (wahoo!) Merritt Island, Florida USA
Well, my V2 only has about 25 miles on it (I got it in November-) so the only preventive maintenance I do is to keep my 16-month old foster son
away
Quoted message said:
from where its sitting in the family room. He just loves to spin the
crank
Quoted message said:
and watch me rush into the room to catch it as its about to fall on him. 8^0
rich
Get a trainer - I have one, and my kids love to sit on the bike and play "daytrip to ___". Only one caveat - It didn't take long for them to ask "when am I gonna get mine, dad?" - but I'll guess you are allready in trouble.. ;-)
Well, my V2 only has about 25 miles on it (I got it in November-) so the only preventive maintenance I do is to keep my 16-month old foster son
away
Quoted message said:
from where its sitting in the family room. He just loves to spin the
crank
Quoted message said:
and watch me rush into the room to catch it as its about to fall on him. 8^0
rich
Get a trainer - I have one, and my kids love to sit on the bike and play "daytrip to ___". Only one caveat - It didn't take long for them to ask "when am I gonna get mine, dad?" - but I'll guess you are allready in trouble.. ;-)
You are lucky. My wife won't let my Greenspeed live in the house. So, I visit it in the garage. Maintenance wise, I tinker with it many days a week. Cleaning, reconfiguring, tweaking etc. For me, that is part of the fun. Riding of course is the main thrill, but keeping my recumbent nice ranks up there with part of the overall experience. (for me)
Bill West Lafayette IN. He said while whizzing by on his Greenspeed GTR
You are lucky. My wife won't let my Greenspeed live in the house. So, I visit it in the garage. Maintenance wise, I tinker with it many days a week. Cleaning, reconfiguring, tweaking etc. For me, that is part of the fun. Riding of course is the main thrill, but keeping my recumbent nice ranks up there with part of the overall experience. (for me)
Bill West Lafayette IN. He said while whizzing by on his Greenspeed GTR
"David Luecke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Just put new brake arms on, front and back. The old ones had gotten rusty inside and no longer pivoted well. Came close to wrecking soon afterwards when I locked up the rear tire - wow! Much better. Brakes are a good thing. Lubricated the brake cables too.
I can't imagine anyone actually cares about this, but hey....
If your Vivo had SRAM brake arms, they can be diassembled and the pivot sleeve bearings greased by popping out the dust cap on each arm (under the fixing bolt) w/ a pin punch, small screwdriver, etc. I do this twice year to keep the brake arms from sticking. I rub sticky beeswax on the fork brake bosses to ensure the brake pivots only on the sleeve bearing, not the brake boss. Neither my previous Tailwind not current Rocket had properly lubed brake arms when purchased. P.S. I use teflon coated cables ($5 @ Nashbar)to minimize cable lube.
