Easy maintenance for a thicko...

[RichardWHardwick]

Finished the coast to coast yesterday, by far the biggest ride I've ever done (three days of course).
Amazing, except the four hours of heavy rain and wind in our faces on Friday.
But, Hartside to Alston
and down to Rookhope
and the forest near Consett
and a great welcome home because we only live six miles from Tynemouth
and the fact I don't even have a hangover
and I finished last night's lamb vindaloo for breakfast

The bike's showing signs of wear and tear though, and I'm hopeless
I hosed it and wiped the mud off.
I'm going to put it in for a service (brakes, gears, crank etc, the back tyre is a bit knackered and out of shape).
But is there anything else I should be doing today?
I'm crap so I don't want to take things off it and fanny about. It will take me ages and I'm snowed under with work.
Should I do something with the chain? Spray it or owt?
Anything easy for a thicko appreciated

With thanks - Richard (still buzzing)

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Finished the coast to coast yesterday, by far the biggest ride I've ever done (three days of course).
Amazing, except the four hours of heavy rain and wind in our faces on Friday.
But, Hartside to Alston
and down to Rookhope
and the forest near Consett
and a great welcome home because we only live six miles from Tynemouth
and the fact I don't even have a hangover
and I finished last night's lamb vindaloo for breakfast

The bike's showing signs of wear and tear though, and I'm hopeless
I hosed it and wiped the mud off.
I'm going to put it in for a service (brakes, gears, crank etc, the back tyre is a bit knackered and out of shape).
But is there anything else I should be doing today?
I'm crap so I don't want to take things off it and fanny about. It will take me ages and I'm snowed under with work.
Should I do something with the chain? Spray it or owt?
Anything easy for a thicko appreciated

With thanks - Richard (still buzzing)

When is it going in for the service?

At least I would wipe the chain with a dry cloth, lube it, wipe it and repeat a few times. A few drops of oil on the cogs will help a little. Also a few drops of lube down the gear / brake cable outers (so the oil is between the outer sheath and inner cable).

 

[Black Sheep]

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help


you might as well have a go, if you manage to fix something then you've learnt something

if you don't, the bike shop will do it and you've lost nothing but time as you were going to pay them anyway

 

[RichardWHardwick]

Thank you Black Sheep and Angelfishsolo.
That website looks great but I really don't have time at the moment to do very much at all, and then I would have to learn it all first. I have a new book coming out in a week and a half, so I'm snowed under with stuff - and that's before normal work and family stuff. I will though, refer back to that site in a month or two, thank you.
I will do your recommendations afs. I'm going to ride the bike on a 15 miler tomorrow morning, just to give my legs a turn over. I reckon I will put the bike in for a service on Friday