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IC E ith
E S Cw
G BA ANbers 05
PA O Nmem v 20
8- E T NTECTCct/No
D AI to , O
UI . Fregeazine
G EM
0 a
K 1.5 m
BIrice Cycle
by CTC
Searle & Dan Joyce
& Ben searle Photos: Ben
Words: Chris Juden
PRE-RIDE CHECKLIST
CLEANING AND
LUBRICATING
CHANGING AN
INNERTUBE
FIXING A PUNCTURE
REMOVING &
REPLACING A WHEEL
ADJUSTING BRAKES
AND GEARS
PREVENTING
PROBLEMS
WHERE TO
LEARN MORE
THE NATIONAL
STANDARD?
The National Standard for
Cycle Training has been
developed by all the bodies
involved in cycle training and is
supported by the Government,
cycling and road safety
organisations. CTC runs the
schemes Training Helpline.
National Standard trains
cyclists to be competent and
confident using their bikes for
all sorts of journeys. Part of
the three-level course includes
basic bike maintenance.
The National
Standards for
Cycle Training
M-check
assesses
the bike for
damage, wear,
and security
Frame
Inspect your frame, particularly
just behind head tube. Wrinkled
paint or bent tubes indicate the
bike has been in an accident and
the frame should be replaced b.
If you have suspension, check
that it is correctly adjusted to your
weight and that there is no excess
play between moving parts b.
Transmission
Grab the cranks and check for
any sideways looseness b. Make
sure your pedals
are secure in the
cranks and they
are not bent or
damaged b.
Youll want
something (or
someone) to lift the
back wheel off the
ground so you can
turn the pedals.
Do that whilst
WASH AND GO
Most of the products mentioned
throughout this guide are available
from CTC Shop where members
get 10% off. Tel: 0870 873 0069 or
buy online: www.ctcshop.com
BARBIERI
CHAIN
CLEANER
SET 14.99
Clean your chain on the bike
without mess. Contact: 01727
798345, www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk
CLEAN
& LUBE
A
PREPARATION
Collect in a bucket some old
sponges and brushes (tooth-,
bottle-, scrubbing- ) or buy a set
designed for the job.
A workstand to lift the back
wheel is convenient. Or just lean
the bike against a wall. Dont turn
it upside down, however, or water
may enter the headset and other
bearings.
CLEANING
A car jet wash will blast water
into bike bearings even sealed
ones. A bucket of warm water
plus washing-up liquid or car
shampoo works pretty well, but
the following method is better
still.
Spray the cycle with a
biodegradable cleaner, loosening
hardened mud with your brushes.
Use a water soluble degreaser on
stubborn oily grime, including the
chain.
Special brushes and scrapers
are available to get between
sprockets, and there are devices to
Its easier
to spot and
fix any faults
on a clean
bike before
they become
expensive
problems
FINISH LINE
TEFLON-PLUS
DRY LUBE 4.99
(4oz)
A clean dry lube for
chains and all pivot
points. For very
wet conditions and
muddy mountain
biking, use Finish Lines Cross
Country lube (same price). Contact:
Madison 0208 385 3385, www.
ultimatepursuits.co.uk
MUC-OFF BIKE
CLEANER 6.49
Economical
and effective
bike cleaner
safe for all cycle
components.
Contact: 01202
307790, www.muc-off.com
MUC-OFF BIKE
SPRAY 5.99
Use on components
and frame to drive
out water and
leave a water- and
dirt- repellant
surface. Contact:
as above
MINOURA
DS500 FOLDING STAND
16.99
Lifts the back
wheel off the
ground. Good
for cleaning
and gear adjustments. Contact:
01845 521700, www.zyro.co.uk
33
CHANGING
AN INNERTUBE
I
REMOVING A TUBE
Remove the valve cap, completely
deflate the tube and unscrew any
ring before pushing the valve up
into the tyre, to free it.
Insert a tyre lever under the tyre
bead (its edging), pull up and over
the rim edge then hook this lever
behind a spoke. Insert another
about 15cm (6in) away and slide
it around the rim, lifting the tyre
bead completely off one side.
Pull the tube out and lay it
down as it came out of the tyre.
34
Find the
cause of the
puncture,
address
that, then fit
your spare
innertube
FIXING A
PUNCTURE
F
Apply one
thin layer of
solution. Let it
dry. Really dry.
Be patient. Its
easy to put on
too much or
be too hasty
WHAT TO TAKE
WITH YOU
Take a spare tube, tyres levers,
patch kit, pump and a mini-tool on
every ride.
REMA TIP
TOP PATCH
KIT TT05
3.95
Hard to find
but the best. This version comes
with tyre levers. Contact:
www.wiggle.co.uk
TOPEAK
HEXUS
(HUMMER) 16
17.99
Allen keys,
screwdrivers,
good chain tool, spoke keys and
more Contact: 01933 672170,
www.extrauk.co.uk
TOPEAK EINSTEIN
II, 24.99
Quality mini-pump,
2-stage pressure
selector works up
to 160psi. Contact:
01933 672170,
www.extrauk.co.uk
Thoroughly sand
the target area until
its a darker matt
black
MINOURA
HANDY EXCEL
11, 12.99
Top-notch allen
key set with
fold-out socket
driver and sockets for crank bolts.
Contact: 01845 521700,
www.zyro.co.uk
VAR TYRE LEVER,
6.99
Also designed to safely
fit tyres, even very tight
ones. Contact: www.
bikeplus.co.uk
MICHELIN AIRSTOP
INNER TUBE, 3.99
More reliable and
easily patched than
most. Check valve
and size. Contact:
0178 240 1853,
www.michelin.co.uk
35
REMOVING AND
FITTING WHEELS
36
HOME TOOLKIT
ESSENTIALS
Buy tools to take with you first, then
expand upon these as necessary.
TOPEAK JOE
BLOW MAX II,
19.99
Good value floor
pump with pressure
gauge fits all
valves. Contact:
01933 672170,
www.extrauk.co.uk
BRAKES&GEARS
B
Above left: On V or
cantilever brakes,
hold brake blocks
in and un-hook the
brake cable
Above right: Adjust
the cable first then
the limit screws if
necessary
Left page, top: Lift
the bike, pull the
chain and rear
derailleur back
and let the wheel
drop out
CYCLUS CRANK
EXTRACTOR,
from 7.50
Removes cranks
from bottom
bracket spindles
check type
required. Contact:
www.wiggle.co.uk
SHIMANO
SIS CABLE
CUTTERS,
29.99
Cuts all cycle
cables and outer casing difficult to
manage without. Contact: Madison
0208 385 3385,
www.ultimatepursuits.co.uk
PARK MINI
CHAIN BRUTE,
15.95
Top quality, to
remove and install
any derailleur
chain, and remove stiff links.
Contact: Madison 0208 385 3385,
www.ultimatepursuits.co.uk
Some
brakes have
balancing
screws at the
sides: screw
inwards to
stop that side
rubbing
37
preventing problems
Bicycling Illustrated Bicycle
Maintenance, 15.99 Todd
Downs, Rodale, ISBN 1-40508788-9. Very detailed fully
comprehensive US classic. UK
edition just published. Revised
2005.
Bicycle Maintenance, 14.99
Ben Searle, The Crowood Press,
ISBN 1-86126-084-9. Includes
detail for older bikes and tourers,
and building wheels. Pub. 1997.
WEBSITES
Product technical information
Shimano: http://cycle.shimanoeu.com/ Go to Products then
component of choice.
Campagnolo: www.campagnolo.
com/home.php
SRAM: www.sram24.com/
newtechdoc/english/dealers/
index.html
Sturmey-Archer: www.sturmeyarcher.com
General cycle maintenance
www.sheldonbrown.com/repair/
index.html A vast resource on all
things cycling.
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/
Bicycle_repair The user-editable
encyclopedia.
CLASSES, COURSES AND
QUALIFICATIONS
There is nothing like first hand
experience to help you learn.
Local bike shops, cycling clubs
or your local authority may have
courses or experts available to
help you learn.
See the Training section
on the CTC website www.
ctc.org.uk/cycletraining
for more information on
National Standards and links
to bike maintenance courses.
Alternatively, call the Training
Helpline, tel: 0870 607 0415.
cycle october/november
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2005