I love rain. I know how much we need the rain to fill our dams, supply our farms and to keep our gardens thriving but I must say that I’m kind of glad that we’ve got a few more fine days on the way. Rain really does nothing for my bike.
I’ve held off from doing a major bike clean for a long while because I’ve known that It’d just get filthy again. A few minutes riding in the rain and everything starts to gunk up. Rain will never stop me cycling but it will stop me thoroughly cleaning my bike regularly.
I bit the bullet on the weekend and gave my bike a birthday. New brake shoes, a new cable and a couple of other bits and pieces as well as removing and cleaning the chain and other running gear. I was surprised to find that my chain isn’t really black, it’s silver, and that the colour on the sides of the tyres is red not a faded magenta. My frame even got a wash and polish.
It felt so nice cycling to work today on such a clean machine.
I’ve now got my bike knocked into shape for lots of spring and summer cycling. Now I suppose I’ve just got to get the rider back into reasonable shape.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
I’m sure it goes faster too
So, how far do you bike to and from work each day?
Unfortunately at the moment it’s just over six kilometres. That means I have a round trip of just under 13 km each day.
Within the next couple of years the radio station will move across town and I’ll have a round trip of closer to 35 km. I’m really looking forward to that. The distance at the moment just isn’t far enough.
Had to take my bike to the shop today — I don’t do mechanical stuff — and I’ve been putting it off too long. Needs new bottom bracket, new cassette, new chain…
But it will ride like new when it comes back instead of making strange clunking and grinding noises. Which will be nice.
Rain is what we have plenty of in Maryland!