Maintenance diary?

My CycliStats software tracks bike maintenance (in addition to logging rides and your personal
health stats).

When you log things like tires, chains, etc. you can easily see how much time and distance has been
accumulated on them. You can also enter an estimated life for maintenance items, and it will warn
you when you are getting near to the end of the expected life. This page shows a screen shot
illustrating the maintenance feature: shastasoftware.commaintenance.htmOpen ↗

You can try it for free for 45 days by downloading the fully functional trial version from
the website.

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"Claire Petersky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:Et5Mb.20439$5V2.34095@attbi_s53...

Quoted message said:

People discussing ways to log miles (which doesn't much interest me) makes me wonder if any of you
log your bike maintenance. I was thinking this

could

Quoted message said:

be very helpful. I'd want to track how often I replace the chain, various cogs, tires, and so on,
and what brands and models I bought. It'd be nice

to

Quoted message said:

track how often I have the bike professionally tuned. It might be more tedious, considering how
often I do it, but tracking my own cleaning and maintenance might be helpful, too.

Do any of you do this?

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Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky Please replace earthlink for mouse-potato and .net for .com

Home of the meditative cyclist: home.earthlink.netWelcome.htmOpen ↗

Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at: bookcrossing.comCpeterskyOpen ↗ My
bookshelf: bookcrossing.comCpeterskyOpen ↗

"To forgive is to set the prisoner free and then discover the prisoner was you."

Quoted message said:

People discussing ways to log miles (which doesn't much interest me) makes me wonder if any of you
log your bike maintenance. I was thinking this could be very helpful.

It may not be that helpful to keep a log but doing it (maintenance) regularly is recommended.

I do it by the six month interval, timed to the seasons.

Once in Spring and once in Fall.

Quoted message said:

I'd want to track how often I replace the chain, various cogs, tires, and so on, and what brands
and models I bought.

I do a full repack and adjustment of everything and replace the chain on the commuter every 6
months. The other bikes don't get that attention because they aren't daily rides.

Obviously it all wears more in the winter, so I'll do a little more daily then. Naturally I'll do a
quick equipment check before every ride but I don't make a major issue of it.

I just check to make sure the bike is safe and rideable, a visual check and pulling the brakes,
check rack and fenders is fine.

If anything is amiss it's pretty obvious.

Quoted message said:

It'd be nice to track how often I have the bike professionally tuned. It might be more tedious,
considering how often I do it, but tracking my own cleaning and maintenance might be helpful, too.

Quoted message said:

Do any of you do this?

Yes, but to do it in detail is excessive task load.

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_______________________ALL AMIGA IN MY MIND_______________________ ------------------"Buddy Holly,
the Texas Elvis"------------------
__________306.350.357.38>>[email hidden]__________

I've used an Excel spreadsheet to log maintenance but am about to change -- will explain
in a minute.

My Excel sheet has a range for each of several bikes. First column is cyclometer reading, second is
total mileage, third is the date and fourth (a wide column) is a narrative of the work done which
includes things like part numbers, type of lubricant, etc. After several years of using this, I've
found that it has (a) made it easy for me to record maintenance and (b) provided a complete record,
but (c) the info is not always easy to use or access.

Most often I want to know things like, how many miles on this bottom bracket or chain? When was the
last time I removed and greased the seatpost? All such info exists but currently I have to plow thru
my chronologically-ordered Excel sheet to retrieve it.

Starting in '04 I'm trying something new: for each bike, a simpler log organized by key
maintenance items/areas. For example, a category called "drivetrain" would record work done on
bottom bracket, crank, pedals, chain, cassette, etc. There I might record that a new PC-58 chain
was installed at 13,678 miles (that being the bike's total mileage) on Nov. 1, 2003, and that the
previous chain lasted 3216 miles, or whatever. The previous entry for chain replacement would be
overwritten or erased.

This sounds more complicated than it is. In truth, recording my bike maintenance takes less time
than washing my hands.

Mike Yankee

(Address is munged to thwart spammers. To reply, delete everything after "com".)

Claire Petersky said:

People discussing ways to log miles (which doesn't much interest me) makes me wonder if any of you
log your bike maintenance. I was thinking this could be very helpful. I'd want to track how often
I replace the chain, various cogs, tires, and so on, and what brands and models I bought. It'd be
nice to track how often I have the bike professionally tuned. It might be more tedious,
considering how often I do it, but tracking my own cleaning and maintenance might be helpful, too.

Do any of you do this?

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky Please replace earthlink for mouse-potato and .net for .com

Home of the meditative cyclist: home.earthlink.netWelcome.htmOpen ↗

Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at: bookcrossing.comCpeterskyOpen ↗ My
bookshelf: bookcrossing.comCpeterskyOpen ↗

"To forgive is to set the prisoner free and then discover the prisoner was you."

The application I developed, SMARTrain, has a bike maintenance feature. go to
aracnet.comsw.htmlOpen ↗ for the link.

This is a linux/Unix application.
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## Software development, QA and testing. # Linux support and training. # "Don't fear the penguin!" #
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"Claire Petersky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:Et5Mb.20439$5V2.34095@attbi_s53...

Quoted message said:

People discussing ways to log miles (which doesn't much interest me) makes me wonder if any of you
log your bike maintenance. I was thinking this

could

Quoted message said:

be very helpful. I'd want to track how often I replace the chain, various cogs, tires, and so on,
and what brands and models I bought. It'd be nice

to

Quoted message said:

track how often I have the bike professionally tuned. It might be more tedious, considering how
often I do it, but tracking my own cleaning and maintenance might be helpful, too.

Do any of you do this?

Yes, I just keep a running list of date and what I did, organized only by bike. It's not highly
organized, just a text document. I refer to this for simple questions like, "How long has it been
since I repacked those bearings.?" My main learning is to document the fact that cheap tires aren't
really cheaper, as well as being a nuisance due to more flats. Of course, I could have learned that
lesson in other places as well.

These enable you to recover past emotions (in the same was a a good photo does), and can save you
from temptation.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

People discussing ways to log miles (which doesn't much interest me) makes me wonder if any of
you log your bike maintenance. I was thinking this could be very helpful.

I log any work that I carry out on my bike (apart from routine maintenance) using my Palm PDA. I
can look back and see how long a chain lasted, when I last changed a cassette, replaced tyres or
how long a wheel went before needing truing. Makes interesting reading (for me) when you look back
over the years.

--
Mark (MSA) This post is packaged by intellectual weight, not volume. Some settling of contents may
have occurred during transmission

In article <Et5Mb.20439$5V2.34095@attbi_s53>,

Claire Petersky said:

Do any of you do this?

Every time I ride over a bridge, the temptation to just huck my computer over the rail is that
much stronger.

Riding is, and has long been so much a "feel" thing; why spoil it with numbers, dates & regimens?

Even shoeboxes full of receipts just take up space, and eventually get tossed without being
looked at anyways. Often, they get smeared and unreadable and stuck together when the hot water
tank lets go.

AFAIC, accounting is for offices and cubicles; riding is for the streets and pleine aire.

One of these days, I'm really gonna fling that computer. Maybe make it skip a few times.

I guess I'd have to take the battery out first, and properly dispose of it somehow.

I dunno if you've got this Stateside, but Kellog's up here is doing this thing where they stick a
free pedometer in each box of Special K. So, there's possibly even more contaminating heavy metals
tossed into the works. Now, even /walking/ is fraught with batteries.

No wonder cougars are mad at us.

cheers, Tom

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In article Et5Mb.20439$5V2.34095@attbi_s53 said:

People discussing ways to log miles (which doesn't much interest me) makes me wonder if any of you
log your bike maintenance. I was thinking this could be very helpful. I'd want to track how often I
replace the chain, various cogs, tires, and so on, and what brands and models I bought. It'd be
nice to track how often I have the bike professionally tuned. It might be more tedious, considering
how often I do it, but tracking my own cleaning and maintenance might be helpful, too.

Velociepde do have a maintenance diary function. It can also be set up to remind you when your bike
or parts need to be maintained based on usage.

spiderman.novit.noindex.htmlOpen ↗

Jørn Dahl-Stamnes, EDB Teamco AS e-mail: [email hidden] (remove nospam first)
web: spiderman.novit.nodahlsOpen ↗

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Riding is, and has long been so much a "feel" thing; why spoil it with numbers, dates & regimens?

Depends on why you cycle and what you want from it. I can well imagine why a computer spoils a
leisurely ride, being at one with nature and all...but for someone like me who competes, I really
couldn't be without one.

Horses for Courses.

--
Mark (MSA) This post is packaged by intellectual weight, not volume. Some settling of contents may
have occurred during transmission

"Tom Keats" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <Et5Mb.20439$5V2.34095@attbi_s53>, "Claire Petersky" <cpetersky@mouse-

potato.com said:

Do any of you do this?

Every time I ride over a bridge, the temptation to just huck my computer over the rail is that
much stronger.

Riding is, and has long been so much a "feel" thing; why spoil it with numbers, dates & regimens?

Even shoeboxes full of receipts just take up space, and eventually get tossed without being
looked at anyways. Often, they get smeared and unreadable and stuck together when the hot water
tank lets go.

AFAIC, accounting is for offices and cubicles; riding is for the streets and pleine aire.

One of these days, I'm really gonna fling that computer. Maybe make it skip a few times.

I guess I'd have to take the battery out first, and properly dispose of it somehow.

I dunno if you've got this Stateside, but Kellog's up here is doing this thing where they stick a
free pedometer in each box of Special K. So, there's possibly even more contaminating heavy metals
tossed into the works. Now, even /walking/ is fraught with batteries.

No wonder cougars are mad at us.

cheers, Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn
[point] bc [point] ca

Some of us enjoy the numbers from an asthetic point of view, even if we don't compete.

I enjoy riding my bikes, seeing and photographing the passing scenery (for example,
shastasoftware.comBTC0017.htmOpen ↗ ), and enjoying wildlife, flowers, the changing
seasons, etc. But, I also really like seeing the numbers associated with these activities (how far,
how fast, how much climbing, etc.), and use them to inspire and motivate my training. I don't see
any conflict between these different ways of appreciating cycling.

Perhaps you just need better software ;-).

--
~_-* ...G/ \G cyclistats.comcyclistats.comOpen ↗ CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 22:54:04 -0800, [email hidden] (Tom Keats)

Quoted message said:

anyways. Often, they get smeared and unreadable and stuck together when the hot water tank lets go.

If your hot water tank lets go "often", you might consider getting a proper technician to
repair it. 😉

Quoted message said:

AFAIC, accounting is for offices and cubicles; riding is for the streets and pleine aire.

Agreed, regarding maintenance. I enjoy the sense of accomplishment from the computer.

Quoted message said:

I dunno if you've got this Stateside, but Kellog's up here is doing this thing where they stick a
free pedometer in each box of Special K. So, there's

I don't know; I eat Rice Krispies.

Quoted message said:

possibly even more contaminating heavy metals tossed into the works. Now, even /walking/ is fraught
with batteries.

Well, how are we supposed to listen to heavy metal if we don't have batteries? I suspect that those
battery-free crystal radios [most commonly seen in kit form at Radio Shack nowadays] don't reproduce
heavy metal very well, nor are they very robust or portable.

Quoted message said:

No wonder cougars are mad at us.

That explains it! They're angry that we're listening to Pantera.

Quoted message said:

cheers, Tom

If I keep up this string of "humorous" posts which are only funny to _me_ (and barely so, at that),
I suspect a cougar will jump out of my computer and maul me.
--
Rick Onanian

Tom Keats said:

... I dunno if you've got this Stateside, but Kellog's up here is doing this thing where they
stick a free pedometer in each box of Special K....

If Kellogg's were true to the predilections of John Harvey Kellogg, they would include a free enema
kit instead.

Tom Sherman - Quad Cities

On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 10:49:22 -0800, "GaryG"

garyg@shasta_SPAMBEGONE_software.com said:

Some of us enjoy the numbers from an asthetic point of view, even if we don't compete.

I enjoy riding my bikes, seeing and photographing the passing scenery (for example,
shastasoftware.comBTC0017.htmOpen ↗ ), and enjoying wildlife, flowers, the changing
seasons, etc. But, I also really like seeing the numbers associated with these activities (how far,
how fast, how much climbing, etc.), and use them to inspire and motivate my training. I don't see
any conflict between these different ways of appreciating cycling.

In fact, apart from direct numeric motivation, it's nice to know that the pretty lake is two miles
east of the fun-looking MTB trail, and so forth.
--
Rick Onanian

Mon, 12 Jan 2004 10:49:22 -0800, <[email hidden]>,
"GaryG" <garyg@shasta_SPAMBEGONE_software.com> wrote, of numbers:

Quoted message said:

and use them to inspire and motivate my training. I don't see any conflict between these different
ways of appreciating cycling.

Tom's not in training. He's really doing it.

The wind doesn't care what the numbers say.

For awhile I was re-zeroing the trip odo when I lubed the chain and had a vague recollection of
whether it was greater or less than the last time I'd zeroed it.

I lubed the chain when it started to squeak not when some software told me it was time for oil.
Without building in a lot of sophisticated modelling and entering of data for the weather and road
conditions, a program couldn't tell if the chain needed lube.

I see no conflict with combining one's passions if it enhances their enjoyment. Guard against
becoming obsessionally fetishistic over the diversions. It's just pulling chain.
--
zk

Rick Onanian said:

Quoted message said:

If I keep up this string of "humorous" posts which are only funny to _me_ (and barely so, at that),
I suspect a cougar will jump out of my computer and maul me.
--
Rick Onanian

One can only hope! 😉

"Zoot Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mon, 12 Jan 2004 10:49:22 -0800, <[email hidden]>, "GaryG"
<garyg@shasta_SPAMBEGONE_software.com> wrote, of numbers:

Quoted message said:

and use them to inspire and motivate my training. I don't see any conflict between these
different ways of appreciating

cycling.

Quoted message said:

Tom's not in training. He's really doing it.

Good-O for Tom. Did my post imply that he wasn't really doing something?

Quoted message said:

The wind doesn't care what the numbers say.

Huh? Or, if you prefer, Eh?

Quoted message said:

For awhile I was re-zeroing the trip odo when I lubed the chain and had a vague recollection of
whether it was greater or less than the last time I'd zeroed it.

I lubed the chain when it started to squeak not when some software told me it was time for oil.
Without building in a lot of sophisticated modelling and entering of data for the weather and road
conditions, a program couldn't tell if the chain needed lube.

I wouldn't recomend lubing a chain based on a programmatic prediction of need, and my software
doesn't attempt to do so. But, I do like to know how long that chain has been on the bike, and how
many miles/km have accumulated on it. If I'm taking it into the shop, and I know it's getting near
the end of its expected life, I'll ask them to check it and replace if necessary.

Quoted message said:

I see no conflict with combining one's passions if it enhances their enjoyment.

Agreed.

Quoted message said:

Guard against becoming obsessionally fetishistic over the diversions. It's just pulling chain.

Hmmm...while I agree that obsessional fetishes can become counterproductive, it sounds like you're
trying to lecture me on how I should enjoy the sport. As they say, "One man's meat...", "Different
strokes...", etc., etc. There are a wide range of equally valid reasons that motivate people to ride
bikes - fitness, competition, commuting, being out in nature, etc. Fortunately, the sport is large
enough to accommodate them all...including the innumerate.

--
~_-* ...G/ \G cyclistats.comcyclistats.comOpen ↗ CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

In article <[email hidden]>,

GaryG' garyg@shasta_SPAMBEGONE_software.com said:

Some of us enjoy the numbers from an asthetic point of view, even if we don't compete.

As soon as I got my cycloputer, I immediately commenced maintaining a journal. Not as structured as
a spreadsheet or database -- just an informal recording of my rides and the numbers, as well as
details such as new components, where and when flats happened, newly-discovered shortcuts and
alternate routes, how far I can go on a single cinnamon roll, etc. I just use a few delimiters to be
able to pick out dates and sets of computer numbers via custom emacs macros and some little quick-&-
dirty SNOBOL4 and C programs to extract data, and make input files for stuff like gnuplot.

It just seemed wrong to let all those numbers go to waste. I got into a similar mindset to where one
has a set of lottery numbers, and is then compelled to play them all the time -- what if they come
up, but one didn't buy the ticket?

And I was curious about some things, like time & distance to various regular destinations, how well
my map-reading distance estimates compared to the computer numbers, and the "winter slowing effect".

So, it became a commitment for me. Or I made it one. I initially would even record waypoint numbers,
until I had a "What the hell am I doing" moment. Now, I've cut down to just doing round trips. I
also no longer bother to record weather conditions, unless they're something really significant.

Of all the bikes I've got, I'm mostly inclined to ride the main one, 'cuz it's got the computer on
it. I suppose I could get an Enduro-2 and share it across a couple of other bikes, but that's even
more of a commitment to computers and numbers.

Quoted message said:

I enjoy riding my bikes, seeing and photographing the passing scenery (for example,
shastasoftware.comBTC0017.htmOpen ↗ ), and enjoying wildlife, flowers, the changing
seasons, etc.

That's what I'd rather do. In fact, my intent with the journal was to try to create a sort of poor
man's photo album.

I think there can be great value in writing down one's impressions and experiences after a ride. But
sometimes I wonder if I'd derive exactly the same benefit if I recorded all that stuff as usual, and
then just deleted the file.

Quoted message said:

But, I also really like seeing the numbers associated with these activities (how far, how fast,
how much climbing, etc.), and use them to inspire and motivate my training. I don't see any
conflict between these different ways of appreciating cycling.

I'm just griping about how it can become bigger than one would expect.

Quoted message said:

Perhaps you just need better software ;-).

<chuckle> Better wetware, anyway.

What I really need is a camera.

cheers, Tom

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In article <[email hidden]>,

Tom Sherman said:

If Kellogg's were true to the predilections of John Harvey Kellogg, they would include a free
enema kit instead.

Reminds me of that old Saturday Night Live spoof advert about Colon Blow[*] (and now, new Super
Colon Blow) cereal.

I expect sooner or later, someone's gonna choke on one of those pedometer gadgets and sue.

cheers, Tom

[*] Warning: may cause abdominal distention.

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In article <[email hidden]>,

MSA said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Riding is, and has long been so much a "feel" thing; why spoil it with numbers, dates & regimens?

Depends on why you cycle and what you want from it. I can well imagine why a computer spoils a
leisurely ride, being at one with nature and all...but for someone like me who competes, I really
couldn't be without one.

Horses for Courses.

Randonneurs got by in the old, pre-computer days, without wiring harnesses and transducers & magnets
cluttering their frames & wheels. I hope some still do.

I still have my computer (so far), and I still use it. I often appreciate the speedometer and
odometer functions. The other functions are just head math, anyways.

But I've caught myself getting too wrapped-up in it, and too wrapped up in other post-ride, pre-
ride, and between-ride details.

Cycloputers have their pay-offs, but maybe we should consider some of the trades-off, too. Same with
recording /any/ cycling-related details.

Sometimes it's good to break free of being analytical. I don't advise it, but I do respectfully
suggest it. Especially for myself <w> That's all. It's scarily, thrillingly wonderful to be free and
adrift and unanchored by have-to-do's.

If I was competing, I'd rather have a knowledgable coach with a clipboard and a stopwatch during
TTs, than an on-board computer to distract me, anyway.

cheers, Tom

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