Please don't shout - newbie question....

[mookie]

Hi everyone

Disclaimer: I know *nothing* about bikes apart from how to sit on and pedal but I'm learning

I have a Subway Carrera 2 and took it into Halfords for it's 6 week check over - I've had really crappy service from them so far with regards my bike and my son's bike, but they were a far enough distance away from the house that it gave me an excuse to cycle on Saturday morning and get away from the kids

Anyway, when I went back to collect it, the guy said that my "back cassette" (I'm sure that's what he said) was "bone dry". I *think* he was referring to the gears?? He then asked me if I had oiled my bike - to which I said no (that was the "don't shout" bit), and he said I should be "oiling it every time I ride it". Is that right?

What should I be doing? I ride the bike about 4 times a week and it's for an 8 mile round commute.

Thanks in advance!

 

[marinyork]

You should certainly be oiling it. Some of the rainshowers we've had the last month you really do need to be oiling it otherwise it'll start rusting as quickly as overnight. Every ride, no. More often than 6 weeks - yes.

 

[ChrisKH]

Every time? The bike would be dripping with oil ffs.

Wipe down chain and front/rear cogs with rag twice a month and re-oil. More often if mileage or conditions are excessive (eg rain, etc.).

 

[I am Spartacus]

how to sit on and pedal but I'm learning

don't want to be too harsh on you but you probably don't know how to sit and pedal if you think you can just leave a bike (whatever the pedigree) as tho it was a car i.e. drive it and forget it apart from fuel

keep on this forum and keep learning

 

[mookie]

You should certainly be oiling it. Some of the rainshowers we've had the last month you really do need to be oiling it otherwise it'll start rusting as quickly as overnight. Every ride, no. More often than 6 weeks - yes.

Thank you marinyork - I haven't actually ridden in the rain as I've been fortunate that every time I've been out it's been dry - thank you for your reply!

 

[John the Monkey]

Anyway, when I went back to collect it, the guy said that my "back cassette" (I'm sure that's what he said) was "bone dry". I *think* he was referring to the gears?? He then asked me if I had oiled my bike - to which I said no (that was the "don't shout" bit), and he said I should be "oiling it every time I ride it". Is that right?

The rear cassette (the cogs in the back) shouldn't need oiling.

Your chain does need a bit of looking after. chain maintenance can be a vexed question, with different people doing different things.

Personally, I would wipe the chain with a rag after a wet ride.

Every so often (frequency depends on riding conditions, but I'd say after a couple, or possibly more, but not more than a week's worth of wet rides), oil the chain. You do this by putting a drop of bicycle chain oil (do use chain oil, not 3 in 1, or motor oil, or basil infused olive oil) across each link. Your aim is to get the oil inside the rollers of the chain.

Once each link has been oiled, wipe the chain with a rag again, until it's more or less clean (the rag). You only need oil inside the chain, not on the outside (where it will attract grit etc).

This is just what I do - by all means look up "bicycle chain maintenance" and choose a method that suits you.

 

[mookie]

Every time? The bike would be dripping with oil ffs.

Wipe down chain and front/rear cogs with rag twice a month and re-oil. More often if mileage or conditions are excessive (eg rain, etc.).

Thank you very much Chris - that is really really helpful - thank you for your straight "no shouting" answer

 

[mookie]

The rear cassette (the cogs in the back) shouldn't need oiling.

Every so often (frequency depends on riding conditions, but I'd say after a couple, or possibly more, but not more than a week's worth) of wet rides, oil the chain. You do this by putting a drop of bicycle chain oil (do use chain oil, not 3 in 1, or motor oil, or basil infused olive oil) across each link. Your aim is to get the oil inside the rollers of the chain.

John - thank you so much for that response - I was advised by Halfords to buy 3 in 1..... Which I duly bought. Jeez, I really *do* have a lot to learn. Thanks a million - that was really helpful.

 

[ianrauk]

The Carrera Subway is a good, very well made bike though, look after it and will last a good while. Take it along to your LBS (Local Bike Shop) rather then Halfords. They won't mind giving it the once over and in fact will probrably be very happy for your (future) business.

 

[mookie]

The Carrera Subway is a good, very well made bike though, look after it and will last a good while. Take it along to your LBS (Local Bike Shop) rather then Halfords. They won't mind giving it the once over and in fact will probrably be very happy for your (future) business.

I fully intend to do so Ian - I was made to feel pretty small in the shop. I appreciate that the majority on here are very serious cyclists and as such must be in utter horror at the stupidity of my question, but it's times like this when someone who's new to cycling (or hasn't ridden since they were in single figures) needs to be given guidance and not a talking down to!

Thanks very much for your response.

 

[John the Monkey]

J I was advised by Halfords to buy 3 in 1..... Which I duly bought. Jeez, I really *do* have a lot to learn. Thanks a million - that was really helpful.

Don't worry - everyone starts somewhere, and too many people just expect you to pick up this sort of stuff by osmosis, or something.

Bookmark Sheldon Brown's site (Chain section here).

Bicycle Tutor is a great site too - How to clean and lubricate a chain. (He also explains why motor oil & 3 in 1 aren't good).

And keep asking questions!

 

[marinyork]

btw

 

[Dan B]

I'd expect the factory lube on a half-decent new chain should last several hundred miles, unless rain washes it out. The OP has probably done a couple of hundred, so it may be time to start thinking about cleaning it, but I doubt he's exactly done it any damage already

See also Sheldon: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

 

[ianrauk]

no one is in 'utter horror' at the questions, hence the replies. Remember, we all had to start somewhere and this is what the Beginners section of the forum is for.
So keep asking away, there are more then enough good people on here who will answer any questions you have and help you to enjoy your cycling.

 

[redjedi]

The rear cassette doesn't need oiling.

Lubricate your chain with chain specific oil regularly. I do mine once a week if it's been raining or once a fortnight if it's dry (weekly commute)., and once before a long ride.

But you don't need a lot of lubrication. My housemate keeps asking if I've put a new chain on. No, I just keep it clean.
I like my chain and cassette to sparkle in the sun