Overdue Bike Work

I am pretty easy on my bikes and am fortunate to not have to do that much work on them. I also try to do a little at a time to keep the big projects at a minimum. That is tricky when riding through winter in Minnesota, or attempting something like Trans Iowa. One, not so big. The other, quite large.

I developed a Rice Krispies effect when I switched my winter/spring commuter to a fixed cog after the ice pack melted. It has quieted some, but has been very persistent. I decided to make use of our fancy parts washer at work and clean up some parts and replace some others. At least make sure most of the salt was off the most important of parts.

WOW! I have done it before, but I failed to remember just how nice a new drive-train can feel. Replacing the chain that was stretched off the chart and fancy new cog was just what that bike needed. If I hadn't had to replace a busted shut off valve in my basement, I would have just kept riding. One project checked off the list.

That brings me to my Cross Check which has been sitting untouched since my failure in Iowa. I have been a bit busy at work and every day off has been filled with personal situations that have left me no time to take care of it. Well today finally allowed me a window for cleaning. Mother Nature decided to help out by raining while I was washing. Just that much less water I had to purchase to clean away the mud and debris. I think I have some pictures here from last year as well, and I bet in a few years I won't be able to tell the difference. I have the same setup and my bike came back looking almost the same. A little less cornstalk jammed in the brakes this year.

The first part of the cleaning process is finished. Knocking all the mud off is the easy part. Now I have to set aside some serious time to overhaul her. Or maybe I should just start using her for commuting without doing all that work. A little lube here and there should keep the noises down, and anything else that may be wrong should be righted by riding. Ride more is a hard philosophy to argue with.


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