On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 06:45:38 +0000, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:Hello there,
Hello 🙂
Quoted message said:I'm a new cyclist, and have just bought a new bike. I don't want it to
get rusty and miserable like my last one, and I'm wondering what I
need to do to it on a regular basis to keep it in decent, happy
condition. I'm not a mechanically minded person - I'm hopeless with
cars - so none of this stuff is second nature to me.
The good news is that most bike related jobs are pretty simple, even
if you aren't (currently) very mechanically minded. There are
excellent online resources available, two of which I see Sam has
already pointed you towards. Even better, between us here in the group
we've already cocked up and bungled every bike job imaginable, and so
can offer you solid advice on which silly mistakes to avoid.
Ongoing maintenance is really not much of a chore. On a bike of modest
quality most of the sensitive parts should be reasonably well sealed
against the elements, so as long as you don't jet wash it or take it
bog snorkeling it will look after itself most of the time. Your main
priority will be to keep the drivetrain in good clean shape (the
chain, cogs and gear changers). The rest of the bike can collect as
much grime and road [censored] as is wise in your particular area for added
theft deterrent purposes.
If the bike is new the chain will have a coating of good oil on it for
the moment and should be fine for a little while but after that you'll
want to oil it every now and then. The more often you ride in wet
conditions the more often you should apply oil. As others have
mentioned, don't be too heavy handed with the oil, less is more. Oil,
let it soak in, wipe off excess.
Does the bike have mudguards? If not, think about fitting some.
They'll not only keep you much drier and cleaner when out in the wet,
but will do the same for the drivetrain, meaning you have to clean it
less often. The front wheel kicks up a stream of spray right onto the
chain and front rings and a proper mudguard stops that.
Quoted message said:Unfortunately the bike currently has to live outside, as I don't have
a garage or a shed. However, I've bought it a little stand and a
cover.
This isn't ideal, as I'm sure you know. Lots of us don't have garages
either, so the bikes live in halls, kitchens, front rooms and even
boudoirs... this really isn't an option for you?
If the bike has to stay outside then it is going to be more
susceptible to things sticking and seizing. Hopefully the shop you
bought it from did a proper job of setting the bike up, and that will
mean that components like stem and seatpost, as well as many of the
fastener threads will have been greased prior to assembly. This is
important on a bike that will be living outside, and it might save you
some ball ache in the future you to double check that now. We'lll
gladly help out with some pointers if you need a bit of advice on
this. I'd also be tempted to get some grease into most moving bits of
a bike that is going to have to live outside. Brake pivot points,
levers, derailleurs etc. This sort of thing should have been done at
factory and shop, but it's often not, even on expensive machines.
Finally, if it's outside don't forget the bloody huge lock you'll need
to keep it safe.
And the lion, obviously.
--
"Bob"
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