Surprisingly I'm still commuting on my road bike in December as apart from the greasy roads the weather is still quite good. However, coming home from work the other day I noticed my front Campag Mirage derailleur was completely seized up solid and wouldn't budge at all. All of the road muck thrown up by the front wheel had got in between the moving parts and jammed it.
It took a fair bit of cleaning with a toothbrush and WD 40 to free it. I can't remember having any problems with the Shimano front mechs on any of the bikes I've had in the past (and my current hybrid). OK, the hybrid has mudguards but you would think a front mech could be designed so it could cope with road muck.
: It took a fair bit of cleaning with a toothbrush and WD 40 to free it. I : can't remember having any problems with the Shimano front mechs on any of : the bikes I've had in the past (and my current hybrid). OK, the hybrid has : mudguards but you would think a front mech could be designed so it could : cope with road muck.
This is a generic problem of winter riding. My front changer froze on Saturday; I could shift up, but not down again. That was a Shimano changer and with mudguards (but it was seriously caggy)
Surprisingly I'm still commuting on my road bike in December as apart from the greasy roads the weather is still quite good. However, coming home from work the other day I noticed my front Campag Mirage derailleur was completely seized up solid and wouldn't budge at all. All of the road muck thrown up by the front wheel had got in between the moving parts and jammed it.
It took a fair bit of cleaning with a toothbrush and WD 40 to free it. I can't remember having any problems with the Shimano front mechs on any of the bikes I've had in the past (and my current hybrid). OK, the hybrid has mudguards but you would think a front mech could be designed so it could cope with road muck.
A pedant writes... is this really an *ergonomics* issue ? Its more of a general engineering design issue ?
- Nigel (Ergonomist, at least it says that on the Erg-Soc professional membership list)
-- NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/ Replies to newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.
"NC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
It took a fair bit of cleaning with a toothbrush and WD 40 to free it. I can't remember having any problems with the Shimano front mechs on any of the bikes I've had in the past (and my current hybrid). OK, the hybrid has mudguards but you would think a front mech could be designed so it could cope with road muck.
A pedant writes... is this really an *ergonomics* issue ? Its more of a general engineering design issue ?
It was a play on the words "ergo levers" which are used to operate the mech.
"NC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
It took a fair bit of cleaning with a toothbrush and WD 40 to free it. I can't remember having any problems with the Shimano front mechs on any of the bikes I've had in the past (and my current hybrid). OK, the hybrid has mudguards but you would think a front mech could be designed so it could cope with road muck.
A pedant writes... is this really an *ergonomics* issue ? Its more of a general engineering design issue ?
It was a play on the words "ergo levers" which are used to operate the mech.
OK, groan, didn't spot it. Put it down to a long day in the office....
- Nigel
-- NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/ Replies to newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.
: It took a fair bit of cleaning with a toothbrush and WD 40 to free it. I : can't remember having any problems with the Shimano front mechs on any of : the bikes I've had in the past (and my current hybrid). OK, the hybrid has : mudguards but you would think a front mech could be designed so it could : cope with road muck.
This is a generic problem of winter riding. My front changer froze on Saturday; I could shift up, but not down again. That was a Shimano changer and with mudguards (but it was seriously caggy)
One of the reasons why fixed-wheel is a good thing for winter.
One of the reasons why fixed-wheel is a good thing for winter.
And the other?
Keep your legs warm, especially on long descents.
Other benefits, which are not specific to winter...
Cultivate a smoother pedalling style. Increase your cadence by trying to keep up with your (geared) clubmates on the flat. Increase strength by trying to keep up with your (geared) clubmates uphill.
Sadly my knees are not what they were, so I need to ride gears all the time.
Surprisingly I'm still commuting on my road bike in December as apart from the greasy roads the weather is still quite good. However, coming home from work the other day I noticed my front Campag Mirage derailleur was completely seized up solid and wouldn't budge at all.
I'm still commuting on my tourer. Fortunately I do not have Campag kit, I have the cheapest range of Shimano stuff including an Altus chainset and a front mech that is mounted to the BB. Each week, it gets a squirt of GT85 and has continued to shift properly so far.
: I'm still commuting on my tourer. Fortunately I do not have Campag : kit, I have the cheapest range of Shimano stuff including an Altus : chainset and a front mech that is mounted to the BB. Each week, it : gets a squirt of GT85 and has continued to shift properly so far.
It works becuase a) you have mudguards and b) you are maintaining it. Anything will work fine treated like that.
