Getting motivated to do bike chores

[kajero]

How do you get motivated to clean the chain and wash the bike? Everytime I am going to do that, I wind up taking the bike for a ride!

[pll]

I only wipe the chain and put a bit of lube after a ride, wipe some parts of the bike with a moist paper towel. Deep cleaning is done at the bike shop, once per season. Maybe I will get the drive train cleaned an additional time during the summer.

[jessmarimba]

I go to clean the house.

Who wants to vacuum when suddenly the bike looks so forlorn? Maybe I'll just clean the bike, THEN vacuum...

[westtexas]

Here's what now motivates me - spent about $300 at the shop today getting a new cassette (dang those things are expensive!), new chain, new cables and the bike deconstructed, clean and reconstructed again. All things I could have done myself (except for the lack of parts on hand). I regularly clean my chain (every 100 miles), cassette and frame and it got me 3000+ miles on those parts. Gotta keep them in great shape now to get another 3000 miles!!

[bluejellybean]

Me too!!
(And yes, I end up just takin' her out for a ride!)

Here's what now motivates me - spent about $300 at the shop today getting a new cassette (dang those things are expensive!), new chain, new cables and the bike deconstructed, clean and reconstructed again. All things I could have done myself (except for the lack of parts on hand). I regularly clean my chain (every 100 miles), cassette and frame and it got me 3000+ miles on those parts. Gotta keep them in great shape now to get another 3000 miles!!

[marni]

after each ride, I inspect the tires, wipe down the brake pads, remove the surface grime, wipe off the chain and jockey gears. Every three hundred miles, or after each wet ride (and this counts riding through sprinkler puddles and or construction dirt from trucks on the road) I wipe the chain down and re lube it. If it's 300 miles, I floss the gears, bathe the bike, clean and relube the chain and lube the points.

I have been following this routine for over 5 years, so now it's an automatice sequence that kicks in and I have found that I enjoy the five minutes or so the after ride care takes. It gives a chance to rethink the ride, fiinish my water or electrolyte and start cooling down.

[Kiwi Stoker]

Do it on not great to ride weather days. Then at least you don't feel like you have missed out on riding.

I let DH bring our tandem into the kitchem (with a mat underneath) so he could rewrap his handlebars, clean the chain and regrease because it was very cold (southern hemisphere winter) the other day. And he cleaned up afterwards.

[Becky]

Do it on not great to ride weather days. Then at least you don't feel like you have missed out on riding.

I let DH bring our tandem into the kitchem (with a mat underneath) so he could rewrap his handlebars, clean the chain and regrease because it was very cold (southern hemisphere winter) the other day. And he cleaned up afterwards.

This. Routine bike maintenance is done at night in the living room with a drop cloth on the floor, while I catch up on shows on TiVo. Beer helps too More complex projects are done off-season or when a tropical storm (or remnants thereof) comes through.

[westtexas]

after each ride, I inspect the tires, wipe down the brake pads, remove the surface grime, wipe off the chain and jockey gears. Every three hundred miles, or after each wet ride (and this counts riding through sprinkler puddles and or construction dirt from trucks on the road) I wipe the chain down and re lube it. If it's 300 miles, I floss the gears, bathe the bike, clean and relube the chain and lube the points.

I have been following this routine for over 5 years, so now it's an automatice sequence that kicks in and I have found that I enjoy the five minutes or so the after ride care takes. It gives a chance to rethink the ride, fiinish my water or electrolyte and start cooling down.

No wonder your bike looks so good! Next time we ride, mine should make much less noise now that it's been re-fancified

[kajero]

after each ride, I inspect the tires, wipe down the brake pads, remove the surface grime, wipe off the chain and jockey gears. Every three hundred miles, or after each wet ride (and this counts riding through sprinkler puddles and or construction dirt from trucks on the road) I wipe the chain down and re lube it. If it's 300 miles, I floss the gears, bathe the bike, clean and relube the chain and lube the points.

I have been following this routine for over 5 years, so now it's an automatice sequence that kicks in and I have found that I enjoy the five minutes or so the after ride care takes. It gives a chance to rethink the ride, fiinish my water or electrolyte and start cooling down.

Wow, it only takes 5 minutes, huh? Seems like it would take me forever, but I will try it. I will have to discipline myself. After a long ride, all I want to do is come in the house, take a shower, and answer my email. That's why I thought maybe I could make a separate task out of it. Of course that isn't working so I will give your way a try!

[Owlie]

I find it really hard to clean the bike in summer. So I do it on rainy days or on days that I wouldn't have time to ride anyway.

[TigerMom]

after each ride, I inspect the tires, wipe down the brake pads, remove the surface grime, wipe off the chain and jockey gears. Every three hundred miles, or after each wet ride (and this counts riding through sprinkler puddles and or construction dirt from trucks on the road) I wipe the chain down and re lube it. If it's 300 miles, I floss the gears, bathe the bike, clean and relube the chain and lube the points.

I have been following this routine for over 5 years, so now it's an automatice sequence that kicks in and I have found that I enjoy the five minutes or so the after ride care takes. It gives a chance to rethink the ride, fiinish my water or electrolyte and start cooling down.

Marni must be a super fast bike cleaner. I think that what takes Marni 5 minutes, took me a good one hour. Cleaning the chain alone (with the Park's chain cleaner tool) took me 5 minutes.

Thanks TE for reminding me to clean my bike. I am due for my 300 mile bike cleaning again. Sigh.

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2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle

2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle

[marni]

to clarify, the daily wipe down of chain, tires and brake pads is what takes five minutes. The 200-300 mile clean up takes much longer.

marni