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| Pete's Tip 'o' the Day:
Degreasing Your Drive Train |
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A clean, degreased gear system will outlast and outperform one that has not been maintained. However! It must be done properly; if not, you'll actually wear out your gears in no time at all.
First up: degreasing the chain. I use a chain bath as I find the brushes work wonders. Otherwise, take your chain off the bike and stick it in a can/bottle/container you never want to drink out of again along with some solvent such as kerosene, turpentine, or degreaser. Now shake it like a Polaroid picture, refreshing the solvent until it remains fairly clean after agitation.
The second step is critical: you must wash the solvent out of your chain. If you don't, it'll stay inside the rollers and then, when you add lube, it will turn into a cutting oil and chew your chain to shreds! Worn chains lead to worn cogs which in turn leads to upset, complain-y riders who think Shimano are purposely making parts that wear out too quickly. But I digress.
Get some very hot, very soapy water and either shake the chain about in it in your degreasing container or smother the chain on your bike in dishwashing liquid and then pedal backwards to really work it through. (You'll see the solvent appearing as black crap rising to the surface of the water or coming to the outside of the chain.) Once this is done, dump your super-hot-and-soapy water over it, still pedalling backwards.
All you need to do now is rinse off the soap using boiling water either in the container (shake it!) or by repeating the pour-and-pedal routine until the chain is clean and shiny. Leave it in the sun to dry off, then lube.
To clean the chain rings, cassette and jockey wheels, it's best to remove them from the bike if you have the appropriate tools. (If you don't, simply remove the rear wheel from the bike and tip it downward so that the cassette is angled towards the ground and not towards the hub bearings; this way the solvent will run away from the bearings, not into them.) Get a stiff-bristled brush and your solvent, then scrub away. Do the same for the chain rings, again angling them away from the crank bearings. Now wash with hot, soapy water, then rinse with boiling clean water, and you're done! Now, wasn't that easy?
If it all sounds like a horrible waste of time, just over-lube the chain, let it soak overnight, then buff off the excess. Although it isn't perfect, it's much better than degreasing improperly or doing nothing at all. | |
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Dear Subscriber,
We're the birthday, we're the birthday, we're the birthday boy and girl... Yes, Bio-Mechanics Cycles & Repairs is 3 years old! Hey, time for leather presents! Oh, wait, that's wedding anniversaries. Anyway, to celebrate, this edition is chockers with birthday specials just for our subscribers. Because we love you. Well, not in a physical sense, but... you know...
Once your eyes have recovered from the dazzle of money saved, you'll find one more surprise at the end of the e.newsletter: BMCR's Big News! No, don't scroll straight there now... You'll miss all the other stuff! Oh, fine. Go on. We'll be here when you get back.
For those who have stayed, here's the fine print: All specials are valid until Jan 31st and you'll need to mention the special in-store. Unless you know the secret hand-shake.
With the holiday season upon us, you may also be asked by loved ones for present suggestions. Three blissful words:
BMCR. Gift. Voucher.
Enjoy! :-D |
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Take this! |
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If you've been dithering about whether to treat yourself to the luxury of a Brooks saddle, now's the time to pounce as we're pleased to offer our subscribers 10% off the Brooks range! Whether you're hankering for a titanium-framed Team Pro, dreaming of the B17 Special with its chamfered sides and copper studs, or just want a bit more spring in your caboose courtesy of the Flyer or B67, BMCR's got you covered. With Christmas coming up, feel free to print this e.newsletter and leave it lying around the house with your preferred model and choice of colour -- black, honey, antique brown, or British racing green -- ostentatiously circled. (We like to make it easy for you.) |
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And that! |
Something else required to whet your appetite for accessories? Well, sure. Been thinking of getting a new bike computer to keep track of your holiday riding? What about a second sensor kit for your other bike? Or how about the ultimate fitness tool: a heart rate monitor? Would you also like to take 10% off the price of all BMCR's Sigma stock? Of course you would. And now you can. Woo! |
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And one of these! |
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We don't think we've spoilt you enough. You deserve more. In fact, you deserve 15% off a Chrome Backbone or Mini Metro bag! The Backbone is ideal for those who want the durability of a messenger bag with the double-strap support of a backpack, while the Mini Metro is a compact bag with a cross-chest stabiliser strap and a funky seat-buckle closure. Both models include a secret stash pocket and are built to last a lifetime, guaranteed. [Note: hurry - this special is only while stocks last!] |
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The last hurrah. (Not literally.) |
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One more special. Ummm... hmmm. OK. How about this, dear reader: if you spend $100 or more on parts and accessories, we'll give you a $15 gift voucher towards your next service or purchase. Ta da! Happy holidays to you, your bicycle, and your wallet from Bio-Mechanics. |
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Ooh la la - BMCR's Big News! |
Some of you may have felt a disturbance in the force on November 22nd. Never fear! The sweet siren song which compelled you to the window in the dead of night was only saying, "Commençal... Commençaaaaal..." Yup, Commençal bikes, admired and desired from their native France, have finally arrived in Australia and BMCR is the only stockist in S.A. Let's pester Pete for details! (And because it's fun.)
LIA: Tell us about Commençal, s'il vous plaît.
PETE: OK, say this -- "Pete wiped the sweat from his brow and mused..."
LIA: No. Stop ripping off 'The Office'.
PETE: "Pete quipped..."
LIA: I will write this myself if I have to.
PETE: Fine. I've always been passionate about Commençal because of their pedigree and dedication to performance; their engineers come from a Formula 1 and WRC rally background so their primary concern is perfecting suspension rather than just making an easily-marketable product.
LIA: So you've broken the no-new-bike thing, huh?
PETE: I was never going to put bikes on the floor just for the sake of putting bikes on the floor. From the shop's inception, I was only going to sell something if it was really special. Customers had also mentioned that they wanted to be able to buy a bike through the shop, and this is a way of accommodating them with something that's unique.
LIA: Which bikes are now in stock?
PETE: We've got the Supreme Mini DH, Supernormal, and Meta 4.2, and are expecting more models in February.
LIA: Anything else to add?
PETE: Yes. Are you making coffee now?
LIA: Oh, geez. Again? You've had, like, five.
We'll let you know as soon as we have pictures online but, for those who can't wait, check out the Commencal website or come and say "Bonjour!" to BMCR's beau new additions.
(For the roadies, the search continues for a Commençal equivalent...)
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An especially big thank you to all of you for supporting the shop; we couldn't have reached our third birthday without you. Many thanks, and we hope your holiday season is a happy and healthy one.
Keep riding, and stay safe. Cheers!
Pete & Lia
Bio-Mechanics Cycles & Repairs | |
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