[elcee]

@KLizotte 12122 wrote:

Has anyone tried an old fashioned toothbrush to clean their chain? Am wondering if that is a good, low-tech route to try since the Park Tool cleaner is messy and clumsy. I would keep the chain on the bike in this case.

I used to do this and it’s even messier, unless you brush the chain while it’s soaking in solvent.

Quote:

I understand that if I wanted to remove the chain for a soak, that I should get a quick release link installed and purchase some sort of plier like appliance to take it on/off. How easy is it to thread the chain back through the drivetrain when all is said and done? Please note that I live in a high rise apartment so all bike maintenance is done in the parking garage but I have a big mechanics stand and a costco sized box of rags.

SRAM Powerlinks can be removed by hand. Rubber or latex gloves help. I don’t have experience with other quick links.

[elcee]

Pictures of the party here:

http://www.waba.org/blog/2011/12/waba-holiday-party-recap/

[elcee]

You’re sure? The center part of the handlebar bulges to 25.8 or 26 or 31.8 mm and is clamped to the stem, but the rest of the bar should be 23.8 mm, which is the usual road lever size. (22.2 mm is the standard MTB bar size.) On the two lower pictures with the Thomson stem, you can clearly see where the bar is sleeved.

[elcee]

More ambitious than I’m prepared to be. I’d hesitate to drive on Columbia Pike during rush hour. I assume you’re going to take the sidewalk?

[elcee]

@americancyclo 11629 wrote:

I went this way home on Friday, and getting from the CCT down to the bridge was pretty easy. I had figured out what mile marker the path should be at, and kept an eye out for the intersection, since the CCT is above the road and bridge at this point. Conveniently, there is a big wooden fence that begins right at the head of the path, so it’s hard to miss. …

I finally found this path today. From the CCT, it’s just south of mile marker 7. From the Chain Bridge side, it’s about 50 ft north of the actual intersection, about 15 ft before the barrier ends. I had high hopes for the path but I can’t recommend it. The path itself is very rocky. Crossing Clara Barton Parkway is even more of a challenge; you never have the lights in your favor so you end up waiting for gaps in traffic.

It’s really too bad, as the path would make Bethesda much more convenient.

[elcee]

@DismalScientist 11549 wrote:

take the footpath from the corner of Glebe and Canal right up to the CCT!

What’s this? Something I don’t know about?

[elcee]

@americancyclo 11540 wrote:

This makes me want to ride 41st on my way home. Am I crazy to try to ride part of the tow path on 25c road tires? Is the muddy path from the CCT to the bridge still there? Is this crazy at rush hour?

The tow path between Fletcher’s Boathouse and Chain Bridge is a bit less than a mile, so it might just must be doable on 25c tires. On the other hand its surface seems to be deteriorating every time I ride through.

If you continue on the CCT past Fletcher’s Boathouse you’ll come to a bridge that crosses over the canal. It is possible to walk down the embankment to reach the tow path, though it’s not an official trail and can be very muddy at times. This cuts your time on the tow path to 1/2 mile.

[elcee]

I don’t have any great slogans, but what about a passport for shopping or dining around Arlington? You get a stamp if you visit a store by bike. It could be a plain paper book, or as sophisticated as a smartphone app that tracks history, rewards frequent shoppers and bike-friendly merchants, and allows transportation planners to look at real-world usage.

[elcee]

@paulg 11313 wrote:

Maybe someone can weigh in on washing this stuff down the drive to the drain.

I try to direct any runoff into my lawn or garden. Just lay a hose down on the driveway.

[elcee]

The forum deleted 3 of the 4 videos that I originally posted. Apparently I didn’t pass the Turing test.

Here’s one:
[video=vimeo;9653206]http://vimeo.com/9653206[/video]

[elcee]

I have to add to this thread. I’ve been watching a lot of cycling videos on my Roku and these are some of my favorites. All are beautifully photographed and inspirational (that is, within the extent of my biking abilities). Great viewing for those moments when you’re feeling just a tad lazy.

[video=vimeo;9653206]http://vimeo.com/9653206[/video]

[video=vimeo;17073983]http://vimeo.com/17073983[/video]

[video=vimeo;23606577]http://vimeo.com/23606577[/video]

[video=youtube_share;0zLuqKNKOqs]http://youtu.be/0zLuqKNKOqs[/video]

[elcee]

The Park Tool site is my go-to place for bike maintenance. Here’s a link that illustrates how to wash your bike:
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/bike-washing-and-cleaning

I don’t bother with a stand. I just lean the back tire against a wall; the bike is angled out so that the front tire doesn’t touch anything (except the ground, of course). This usually provides enough clearance to spin the cranks backwards.

I just accept the fact that there will be splatter. On the other hand, I usually clean the chain, cogs, and rings before there’s a big build-up of dirt. Sometimes this means immediately after riding, e.g. the C&O on a wet day; I may not use the chain cleaner, but I’ll squirt some Simple Green into a rag, wipe the chain down, then relube. I find it easier to clean a little bit often.

[elcee]

I’ve been looking for the legendary Michelin tire levers but have not found them locally nor at my usual on-line retailers:

http://tenerife-training.net/Tenerife-News-Cycling-Blog/2007/12/bike-review/michelin-the-worlds-best-tyre-lever/

Everything else seems to break eventually.

I also discovered that I’ve been mounting tires incorrectly. See Michelin’s advice, step 5:

http://www.michelinbicycletire.com/michelinbicycle/index.cfm?event=mounting.view

I’ve always started at the valve, but Michelin says to start at the opposite side. I’ll try their technique the next time.

[elcee]

@gtownbikedude 10876 wrote:

however I’m primarily using these results for a Finance class.

Well, that probably means “new bike purchased at retail,” which invalidates my inputs. Wasn’t there a question about financing? I would think that there’s no financing mechanism for bikes, as opposed to cars, because it’s so hard to calculate residual value. I’d also think most people finance their purchases through their credit cards.

[elcee]

A few comments on the survey:

– “Road bike” should be better defined. Or maybe it should be broader. I’m sure there are lots of people using their mountain bikes as daily commuters, or hybrid bikes on 30-mile weekend rides.

– “Retail price” – what should I specify for a used bike, the price I paid for it or the price that it retailed for? Would this be actual dollars or inflation-adjusted dollars? (At least one of my road bikes is 20 years old.)

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