CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

[CitroJim]

Finally, something about cars

After a most excellent bike ride today that took me past the Millbrook Proving Ground, I came home and gave my little Pixo her winter service...

All was fine and she's doing well She's now good for another six months...

My cars are now serviced on a time basis... Every 6 months or every 100 miles

This is her little engine - all three pots-worth

Own Work

Alasdair has told me in no uncertain terms the engine bay is filthy and needs a good clean... It does and I must do so... I did start cleaning it in a small way today whilst chatting to my neighbour...

Alasdair has also told me I need to give my Saxo some love... She'll be getting some very soon as I properly put her to bed for the winter

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

Would that be the same 3 pot as in Mum in Law's 2011 Micra Jim? 1198cc? Goes well.

Nissan or Renault ancestry?

[CitroJim]

Would that be the same 3 pot as in Mum in Law's 2011 Micra Jim? 1198cc? Goes well.

Nissan or Renault ancestry?

Neither Puxa, it's a Suzuki Alto in disguise The engine is a 1000cc job and goes well enough but nothing like the little three-pot in the Citroen C1/Pug 107. It's a bit rougher too but lasting well...

[Hell Razor5543]

Jim, on the "Yesterday" channel (on Freeview, channel 19) there will be a new series of "Impossible Engineering" starting 20th November, and the first episode will be about the new sarcophagus for the Chernobyl reactor.

[Michel]

Jim, on the "Yesterday" channel (on Freeview, channel 19) there will be a new series of "Impossible Engineering" starting 20th November, and the first episode will be about the new sarcophagus for the Chernobyl reactor.

I forsee an issue here.

Jim has no telly.

[Hell Razor5543]

True, but it normally is available on the Web not long afterwards.

[CitroJim]

Jim, on the "Yesterday" channel (on Freeview, channel 19) there will be a new series of "Impossible Engineering" starting 20th November, and the first episode will be about the new sarcophagus for the Chernobyl reactor.

Thanks James, I'll look out for that one - if/when it appears on the web - always been interested in Chernobyl...

Indeed, I have no telly and not missing it one little bit

[Fake Concern]

All this cycling is taking a toll on my bike - it's needing a weekly service now... This year I'm currently on 7,200 miles and should comfortably exceed 8,000 miles before the year end... Aiming for 10,000 next year

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I for one would be interested in details of your maintenance regime, also how long various components last such as chain & cassette and what "lube" (oil to you & me!) and degreaser you use. I had been using Muc Off dry lube, but when I properly cleaned the cassette (taken off and separated) I found it had etched the surface plating of each sprocket so I've just ordered some Finish Line wet Lube and fast degreaser, interested to see if it's any better.

I know this is a car forum, but should we have a cycle section somewhere or shall we continue to post bike stuff on your blog?

[CitroJim]

I for one would be interested in details of your maintenance regime, also how long various components last such as chain & cassette and what "lube" (oil to you & me!) and degreaser you use.

My regime is very simple Fake! I use brake and clutch cleaner for degreasing as it's the only stuff I'm not wildly allergic to... I wash down the cassette, jockey wheels and cage and chain with it and bow-dry with an airline... I strip the cassette about every ten rides and give it a deep clean..

This is after hosing down the bike from a hose with a variable spray rose on the end... Occasionally I use the pink Muc-Off stuff if the bike is really mucky but I don't like it much.. Plain water and a wipe down with a chamois works for me - followed by a blow-dry from the airline.

I then finish off by re-lubing the chain using mineral chain oil... 'Wet Lube' basically... I've tried a few so-called 'dry-lubes' and other carlos-fandango lubes and found them very wanting...

After every ride I wipe down the chain and other oily bits with a couple of baby-wipes, re-lube and carefully check the tyres for cuts and potential punctures... Every time before a ride I check tyres and pressures again. This has saved a few punctures in the past... Not that it matters as I carry two spare tubes and CO2 on every ride...

My lube regime sees chains and cassettes last a long time - I've not yet had to change one...

Baby wipes are bloody marvellous for giving the rest of a bike a good clean too! They degrease well... I do wonder what they do to a baby's bum though

Finally, I sometimes give the bike a spray of silicone stuff and polish with a microfibre cloth if I want to make it look pristine but not often as I'm a bit sensitive to it...

[Fake Concern]

I for one would be interested in details of your maintenance regime, also how long various components last such as chain & cassette and what "lube" (oil to you & me!) and degreaser you use.

My regime is very simple Fake! I use brake and clutch cleaner for degreasing as it's the only stuff I'm not wildly allergic to... I wash down the cassette, jockey wheels and cage and chain with it and bow-dry with an airline... I strip the cassette about every ten rides and give it a deep clean..

This is after hosing down the bike from a hose with a variable spray rose on the end... Occasionally I use the pink Muc-Off stuff if the bike is really mucky but I don't like it much.. Plain water and a wipe down with a chamois works for me - followed by a blow-dry from the airline.

I then finish off by re-lubing the chain using mineral chain oil... 'Wet Lube' basically... I've tried a few so-called 'dry-lubes' and other carlos-fandango lubes and found them very wanting...

After every ride I wipe down the chain and other oily bits with a couple of baby-wipes, re-lube and carefully check the tyres for cuts and potential punctures... Every time before a ride I check tyres and pressures again. This has saved a few punctures in the past... Not that it matters as I carry two spare tubes and CO2 on every ride...

My lube regime sees chains and cassettes last a long time - I've not yet had to change one...

Baby wipes are bloody marvellous for giving the rest of a bike a good clean too! They degrease well... I do wonder what they do to a baby's bum though

Finally, I sometimes give the bike a spray of silicone stuff and polish with a microfibre cloth if I want to make it look pristine but not often as I'm a bit sensitive to it...

The baby wipes sound good (not sure about environmental impact) I use old rags to wipe the chain after every ride. Lately as the roads are mucky I've been hosing it like you do, but as I don't have an air line, I park it next a (central heating) radiator before it goes back in the garage.
I use one of those chain checker tools and change it (chain) before it will ruin the cassette, but i don't take the cassette to bits nearly as much as you do, probably twice a year. I'm still using my new bike despite the wet, muddy roads as I'm enjoying it so much and also the huge tyres (28mm, still not a fan really) mean I can plough through anything! I use car Ultimate quick detailer to clean & polish the frame and every now and then I use car wax to give it a good going over.

[Hell Razor5543]

Yesterday there was, on the BBC Breakfast, a lot about wet wipes (and especially about so called "flushable" wipes). The reporter had done an article on these "flushable" wipes a couple of years ago, and had placed such a wipe in a bottle of water at that time (where the bottle remained in her car). For yesterdays' article she (amongst other things) got that bottle out. That "flushable" wipe was almost completely intact.

One of the water companies said there was only one small company working to produce a flushable wipe that could pass the tests the water company needed for them to consider it to be flushable. NONE of the large companies were even trying to do this.

[daviemck2006]

I use baby wipes for a lot of stuff. They are great at cleaning my oily hands after a bit of spannering, and good for removing any stray oily fingerprints. Then I watch Kerri cleaning my 4 month old grandsons bits with them and think poor baby getting his bits cleaned with that!

[CitroJim]

James, I dispose of mine responsibly... I've had to rod my drains far too many times due to neighbours flushing baby wipes down the bog

I'd use rags but I don't really collect them... My old clothes I dispose of responsibly at the local recycling centre and besides, lycra is rubbish for cleaning anything!!!

I use baby wipes for a lot of stuff. They are great at cleaning my oily hands after a bit of spannering, and good for removing any stray oily fingerprints.

Yes, they're bloody magical for removing oily stains of all sorts from many surfaces and I find them excellent for removing the cyclist's trademark 'chainring tattoos' from ones's shins...

HaveFunBiking.com

These occur when one's shins brush against the front chainring and a lovely oily print is left behind

Then I watch Kerri cleaning my 4 month old grandsons bits with them and think poor baby getting his bits cleaned with that!

Makes him tough Davie!!! If he ever grows up to be a runner and a cyclist he'll be already well prepared and conditioned in that area

[Hell Razor5543]

Jim, I have NO doubt whatsoever that YOU would dispose of such wipes in a properly responsible fashion, but how many of us would believe the packaging when it said "Flushable Wipes"?

[CitroJim]

Jim, I have NO doubt whatsoever that YOU would dispose of such wipes in a properly responsible fashion, but how many of us would believe the packaging when it said "Flushable Wipes"?

Yes, a very good point well made James...