SHIFTING WOES

Does your bike shift properly? Even though most peeps say yes I bet it's off a bit. Alot of cyclist do not keep their bike in tune like they should. Some peeps do not even clean their bike, bad bad bad. You should always keep your rig in top shape so you won't be pushing your beloved steed out from deep within the woods. You know if somethings going to happen it's going to happen at the farthest most point from your trailhead ya know....



Shifting woes can lead to things like this below......

I recently read 5 small points for beginners that I would like to pass on:

1. Leave the small screws on your derailleur ALONE! If you think you need to turn one of them to properly adjust bad shifting.................you shouldn't be anywhere near your bike working on it. Take it to your favorite local bike shop! PLEASE! I'm not even going to tell you all what they are for....

2. Lube your chain! THEN WIPE IT OFF !!! Nothing wears a chain out faster than a dry un-lubed chain. You know the saran wrap crunching sound or the little bird chirping sounds, yea you know what I'm talking about! Wiping off that lube is JUST as important as lubing it! Lube that's on the outside of the links does nothing but attract dirt and debris! Inside the tiny rollers is where its needed.

3. Cables, have them replaced every year, period. Nothing makes a bike shift smoother than butter than a new set of cables with fresh housing and if you raced or rode in the nasty gritty mud/rain, do it sooner. If you wanna go one step farther (for the better) then have your local bike shop install housing that runs all the way from the shifter to the derailleurs, no breaks! Long lasting butter smooth shifting. Just ask Capt. Dingo! Yea there may be some problems when trying to secure the housing to some place on the frame but jagwire makes all kinds of sweet stick-on plastic pieces to remedy that now.

4. Inspect your tires, you can catch things in the comfort of your own home or garage easier than on the trail where it's too late. While your at it check that pressure as well.

5. A clean bike is a happy bike! Don't go to the car wash to clean it (although we all have). If you must DO NOT APPLY PRESSURE near any bearings. It washes the lube out and away from the tiny little balls = premature wear = $$$$$$$ spent on repair = time missed on your bike = sitting on a couch sulking somewhere = people making fun of you = having to move away... see it could cause more problems than you could have ever imagined by not listening to me! If you wash it at home (which you should), don't blast the hose at the bearings full force, no more pressure than what comes out of the outdoor faucet is all you need. I get teased about me keeping my bikes really clean (I'm OCD yes about that) but out on the trail it's not me having the problems...............just sayin' yo.

After not getting to hit the MSG#6 CX race today because of having to run the shop this morning I'm going to try to get in some mileage at Bay's Mtn tomorrow. Should be a brisk ride, temps only supposed to be 50 if that.

LAter G............................