Road Cycling - Any Good Ideas Out There??

Free form post of any good ideas you may have that would be helpful to others.

Mine is - Use the blue automotive paper towels from the auto parts store for general wiping/cleanup of your bike. They are much tougher than the kitchen level and are still quite inexpensive. Box of 500 for less than $10. Great for wiping excess lube off your chain after a good spritzing of same. Carry a couple with you on your ride to help clean-up after a flat repair, etc.

Now its your turn. What's your good idea?

I use the blue towels in the same manner as ParamountScapin. Toothpicks are a good tool for cleaning out speedplay cleats if you happen to get crud behind the locking mechanisms. A touch of White Lighting or similar wax lube on the surface pedals will keep any squeaks away.

old underwear makes a great gift!

Dawn dishwashing soap is a great dirty hand cleaner. It is also an excellent parts degreaser.

If you're a high-pressure freak, deflate your tire a little between rides, they'll last longer-- and wash your butt with Dawn anti-bacterial to get rid of saddle sores.....

I've been thinking about this thread since it appeared, and I've come to the conclusion that, these days, I have no good ideas.

If you are riding your road bike with clipless, it is a GOOD IDEA to not try to go through several feet of missing bike path filled with mud.

Ask my shoes, clips, pedals, wheels, brakes and tires. They will all confirm this.

Carry some hand cleaner or wet wipes in your tool bag to clean up with after working on the bike on the road. I put the hand cleaner on a small rag, then put that in a medicine bottle and then put the medicine bottle in a plastic bag. Does not weight much but is worth it when you need it.

Get a plastic bag that they put your dry cleaning into since it is so thin. A small amount of this can be used for an emergency rain vest (works well under your jersey), seat cover, wind break, put down on the ground to work on the bike, etc.

I strap a five gallon water jug on my back to clean off the bike halfway thru a long ride. It has the added benefit of an extra 30 lbs. of weight . My thighs are the size of a weightlifter and I have the sprint of Super Mario and the climbing ability of Simoni!

Pretty trivial...

One time I needed a flat wrench, for tightening the nuts on the front axle. The special bicycle wrench cost 8$. I grinded regular taiwan made wrench and it worked just as good. The price for the 12 piece set of this wrenches was 5$.

Originally posted by RacerX
old underwear makes a great gift!
Do you wash them first ????:D

Originally posted by greywolf
Do you wash them first ????:D
No need... They will give it back to you as a gift next year.

Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
Dawn dishwashing soap is a great dirty hand cleaner. It is also an excellent parts degreaser.
Yes.... very good degreaser.. I use dishwashing soap too.

Hi,
ProGold works great as a base lubricant. I am very impressed with this stuff; but I always use it in conjunction with something else. I have tried it with
oil,wax, and pure teflon. Works best with oil. The stuff bonds to metal, so clean the chain thoroughly the first time you apply it, and apply lots. I squirted some in my citrus cleaner, and that carries a little bit in when I clean.
The other thing is a bit out there. Once a week I lift weights, and my Saturday ride is long or fast. After both of those I have a Phyto tein shake. I mix a scoop into 10-12 oz of low sodium V8 (V8 is a tomato based vegetable drink)
http://www.houseofnutrition.com/natplusphytp.html
I first bought the stuff out of a closeout bin, it surprised the hell out of me by working. I use two scoops on the rare occasion I work hard in the gym. You just seem to heal faster.
Over the last couple years. I have read 3 or 4 articles about research concerning green tea. The stuff is disgustingly good for you. It takes some getting used to. I drink Fusion, one bag is enough for a small teapot (about 20 oz). Brew for one minute and 30 seconds. I currently brew for 2 minutes.
http://shopstashtea.com/030680.html
We never cover the subject, but I have trouble finding good socks for cycling.
I'm too lazy to hand wash wool socks, so while they are wonderful, they don't last for me. DeFeet are just too narrow, and most coolmax socks feel almost as hot on a hot day as any other synthetic sock. I could use a good suggestion.

For my running around socks in summer I wear the white ankle length sock (same as a cycling sock) sold in the women's section at Target (Tarjaaa - that famous French department store). Have tried a couple of other brands, but these are the only ones I have worn which have decent elastic (doesn't die in the drier). Think they are about $10 for six pairs. I wear with my running shoes and sandles, etc., as they seem to prevent picking up small stones, sand, etc., as I walk around. Have never been able to figure out why I get these small bits in my shoes when I don't wear socks but they get in my shoes when I have socks on.

my only great idea was to floss my cassette with a shoelace doused in degreaser. and i don't even think it is my idea. it is my idea to tie it to the bikestand and pull it up and through as you pedal.

Originally posted by RiPHRaPH
my only great idea was to floss my cassette with a shoelace doused in degreaser. and i don't even think it is my idea. it is my idea to tie it to the bikestand and pull it up and through as you pedal.
great idea! I'll try that.

Can use an old toothbrush to throughtly clean the rear gear sets and chain.
Here is my favorite way of cleaning those:

Get a can of brake cleaner or carburator cleaner, which is 78c at Wal Mart :D. One can will be enough for several uses. That alcohol based cleaners dissolve the grease like hot water washes the plate after the cake.

Then it's good to dry all of the parts out with compressed air, or at least wipe with clean rags. (If you don't have access to compressed air, more cleaner will do the job just as good).
It is important to let all the fluids evaporate before applying fresh lube.

Just don't get the carb cleaner on your paint.

Originally posted by Inoplanetyanin
Can use an old toothbrush to throughtly clean the rear gear sets and chain.
Here is my favorite way of cleaning those:

Get a can of brake cleaner or carburator cleaner, which is 78c at Wal Mart :D. One can will be enough for several uses. That alcohol based cleaners dissolve the grease like hot water washes the plate after the cake.

Then it's good to dry all of the parts out with compressed air, or at least wipe with clean rags. (If you don't have access to compressed air, more cleaner will do the job just as good).
It is important to let all the fluids evaporate before applying fresh lube.

Just be careful around paint. Brake cleaner is no joke and will eat through it.