Thank heavens for the rain and OCD

The rain put me off getting out on the road bike today (it had the same effect on my roadie friends) and no one wanted to go to Swinley for an MTB session. So I thought I just needed to give the road bike a light clean and put on mudguards for a club ride tomorrow.

Start cleaning the bike, all going well until I get to the drive train. Trying to clean the chain, but the black colour just will not go. So I lberally put grean clean gunk on the cassette and use one of those cassette brushes to have a go at the grime on the cassette. Recently had experienced a few odd jumps on the rear cassette when getting out of the saddle. I am now starting to think that there may be a reason for this, the chain has probably not touched the metal of the cassette in about a month, instead it has been floating on a sea of road crap.

I have just resorted to taking the entire cassette off and cleaning it cog by cog. Except the annoying ones that are clustered together, the seam on a towel has been dragged down that gap.

Miracles - my cassette is silver again. Now thinking I will have to take both chainrings off and give them similar attention.

Then both wheels should possibly go in the jig for a little truing and checking of spoke tension. Brakes could possibly be tinkered with. Ceramic braking surface could be degreased. Front mech needs a little adjustment.

I will have spent longer on cleaning the road bike than I would have been on the road today.

MTB still needs to be cleaned after last week - am starting to lose the will to live.

Clean casettes and chains with petrol.

It's like magic.

But not as appealing to the nerd in me. May have to try that next time.

Shall I post in the classifieds to see if anyone has any petrol?

Health & Safety?

I have a very low tolerance for maintenance.... Is petrol really a miracle degreaser, Dr Dov?

*Hosepipe at the ready

Petrol is a carcinogenic so you might want to avoid that.

Baby wipes are the best cassette cleaning agent ever. Fact.

Xylene based carburettor cleaner spray works a treat too. If you're going to use a petrol, use a nice light one like lighter fuel, or some plain old ethanol. Automotive petrol is full of unpleasantries. Doesn't taste as nice either.

Also be careful petrol or other serious de-greasant doesn't go in the bearings...
The baby wipes will save you re-moving the grease from your hub and accidentally destroying your wheel.

I ruined a nice Ultegra hub with over-liberal WD40 action trying to remove a stuck freewheel.

man at bike shop was not impressed when he opened it up to find watery melted grease and all the crap from the cassette inside.

I learned my lesson...

Brake cleaner (automotive) is good at shifting crap, handy aerosol form factor also

Yes, sealed bearings will not be sealed enough, and the seals will perish in the face of serious solvents, so take them out first. non-sealed bearings can be disassmbled, cleaned and repacked with decent bearing grease.

Brake cleaner (automotive) is good at shifting crap, handy aerosol form factor also

'tis evil! (but very effective, do not drink)

Shifts stubborn Jehovah Witnesses also, when fired through the letterbox

that was you?!

I only wanted to watch a film about jesus with you.

Then explain why you're going to hell and I'm not.

No need to be so unkind...

Look at the bright side- you're throughly degreased for the rest of the day now.

Petrol is a carcinogenic so you might want to avoid that.

Baby wipes are the best cassette cleaning agent ever. Fact.

agreed

Wipe cassette with baby.

Got it.

baby wipes clean chain lube and baby shit => baby shit and chain lube must have similar properties => lube chain with baby shit and save £££

FTW

Sort of uber baby wipes

Would you have to be careful around carbon fibre with those?

baby wipes clean chain lube and baby shit => baby shit and chain lube must have similar properties => lube chain with baby shit and save £££

I like your thinking. If anyone wants some high quality (mainly produced from organic ingredients) baby shit then I've plenty.

what the fuck is this thread

https://www.lfgss.com/thread9257.html
https://www.lfgss.com/thread47937.html
https://www.lfgss.com/thread39391.html
https://www.lfgss.com/thread37589.html
https://www.lfgss.com/thread27600.html
https://www.lfgss.com/thread6765.html
https://www.lfgss.com/thread42230.html

typical populist misuse of a serious mental illness combined with a topic that has been done.

Train just gone overhead?

Brake cleaner (automotive) is good at shifting crap, handy aerosol form factor also

Yup, cliving of and oiling shicft are not too bad as well.

Andy dear, petrol is carcinogenic only in a very small percentage... if not miserably lighted.

Baby wipe are flushed in the sanitary sewer.

Biodegradeables wipes for the win!