Spotted In Norwich

I need to clean my bike desperately It's covered in mud, think I'll go buy some baby wipes soon and clean it up. Also is it worth changing anything after the winter? Maybe a new chain is in order I guess.

I need a chain but there's so many to choose from. Bikes would be easier if there was less choice.

Actually I had a chain question. Is 100 links enough for a typical fixed setup?
And powerlinks on fixed - yay or nay?

I need a chain but there's so many to choose from. Bikes would be easier if there was less choice.

Actually I had a chain question. Is 100 links enough for a typical fixed setup?
And powerlinks on fixed - yay or nay?

100 links should be OK, depending on your cogs. I don't use powerlinks, but I don't see why you shouldn't.

You clean your bikes with baby wipes, Spence? I got a workstand for Christmas, and I've got a hose in the garage. Makes cleaning really, really easy. But I still don't do it enough.

When spring rolls around, treat your bike to a new chain and a damn good clean and re-grease. Take the seatpost out, grease it up.

My seat post is stuck! WD'd it a couple of nights go so gonna take it apart and gently tap it with a mallet whilst heating it up with a blow torch. Safe.

Saw it out and spend £45 on Colin's unused silver Miche Supertype to save him having to return it?
That sounds like a great plan!

Don't you want it anymore? I've always like them, but never wanted one on my bike. Know what I mean?

Why dont you like it col?

I love it. But it's too short.

Or your frames too small. Tehe.

Undersize FTW! I like a small one.

Yeah baby wipes ftw! They get all the crap off so well and can clean chains quite well too. Once the spring comes around we should have a bike cleaning day of us lot taking them apart cleaning them up and putting them back together. I'll treat myself to a new chain and possibly bottom bracket.

Carbon seat posts all the way lads!

Yeah, at least carbon doesnt get stuck!

Baby wipes, still though. I use car shampoo and white spirit.

1. Take chain off
   
2. Hose down (i aint got a hose so use a watering can to loosen debris)
   
3. Wash with shampoo
   
4. Rinse suds
   
   

I soak the chain in white spirit and scrub it with a tooth brush. Leave til dry and re-lube.

Your post still stuck? That happened to me once, had to have it burned out with nasty chemicals.

Yeah. Didnt really try too hard n remove it last night. Might try again later.

Put it in a vice and try to turn the frame, that always works.

Unless your weak!

Thomson post. No thanks! And yeah i am weak.

I just pulled mine out with my teeth, htfu!!

I think it sounds like i seriously need to step up!

The best thing for getting out stuck seatpost is household ammonia, assuming that the seatpost is an aluminum one and not a steel one.
Turn the frame upside down and pour in the ammonia through the bottom bracket (gloves and funnel required). Leave the frame for a few days (in a shed or garage -it stinks). Then pour out the ammnia and see if the seatpost is free. You can get ammonia in Thorns, downstairs on the window sill. (BTW this works as ammonia dissolves the aluminium oxide that welds the steel tube to the alloy seatpost).

Does it fuck the post? Thanks for the advice. You in Norwich? Thorns ref leads me to think yes! Up for a ride next friday evening!

No ammonia does not damage the post. Make sure to clean the joint up with something to remove grease before using the ammonia (hot soapy water or petrol).
Yes I am in Norwich (well, near the sewage works at whitlingham) but work schedule means its very difficult to commit to taking evenings off at the moment. I just have to be happy getting to work and back, with the occasional afternoon trip to Darren's coffee stall at the market.
You may see me in the city on a white framed and red forked Aende cyclocross bike, which currently has studded tyres fitted.

I was chatting to you at the Red Roaster just before Christmas, remember you mentioning the Aende. Sounds like a nice ride.

Ah yes! I remember you very well, in fact Darren thought I had arranged to meet fellow cycle nuts as the topic was so bike focused.
Since then I have bought a raleigh record ace frame and built it up into a winter bike (awaiting mudguards) using a some of my many spare bits, and also bought an old custom tourer for my daughter.
I am thinking about getting my old dawes faux-racing frame (70's) and brazing some canti-bosses on and turning it into a SS cross bike. So my bike building problem has got worse!