General Cycling Discussion - Odd problem needing a unique solution, please help.

Here is the problem.

I store my bicycles inside, I have no garage. Our house has a weird little atrium that has been closed in and works as a great place to store the bikes. My wife just put in a tile floor in this area (good small size to practice that on) and she did a great job. So far no problem.

Our youngest cat is a long haired white cat that loves laying on the tile, often right under my bicycles. Can you guess the problem?

Thats right she get chain lube marks on her beautiful white fur.

What I would like to find is some sort of chain cover that I can slip on the bikes just for storage. Nothing permanently attached to the bikes, just something that is simple to put on and take off as needed.

any ideas?

I'm guessing shaving the cat isn't an option :D

If you have a sewing machine, I'd suggest taking a long oval of scrap fabric and running elastic around the edge - sort of like a long skinny shower cap that you can then pop over the drivetrain.

Plastic garbage bag,tear it if you need to,the chain lube will hold it in place till next ride.....use the same one or leave a bag of them close by and wrap,cover,the drive train after each outing.....

Or Shave The Cat:)

Dye your cat black...problem solved :D

Or make some sort of low "fence" that you seal off the bikes with, preventing the little furry thing from getting near all that grime.

A dog?

I would just raise the bikes with a stand or on hooks.

Too much lube! Wipe that chain down! Poor kitty-cat.

just throw the cat in the machine with a double scoop of bleach once a week - problem solved

http://www.sushiesque.com/photos/uncategorized/britain_cat_wash_lo_8412842_2.jpg

aaawwwww^

Go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy a small length of foam pipe insulation, cut it to the length of the bottom exposed part of your chain and just slip it on when you store your bike. (The insulation is split length wise so it should be easy to install.)

store your bike upside-down

Connect the bikes to the 220V line. No problems with the cat and you needn't worry about having your bikes stolen. :)

http://www.cdisports.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98&products_id=403
http://www.cdisports.com/images/BikeTub_red_thumb.jpg

cut a length of garden hose to the length of your exposed chain, slice it down one side, you now have a sleeve you can slip on and off as needed.

Make some coveralls for the cat.

This thread is useless without pictures of white cat with black bicycle tattoo.

Although it's also one of the funniest ones I've read for ages.

Put your cat in a plastic bag.








Um. No wait. :eek:

You could always just flip the bike upside down.

cut a length of garden hose to the length of your exposed chain, slice it down one side, you now have a sleeve you can slip on and off as needed.
+1. You posted it before I could.

A dog?
That's my solution! I like other people's cats.

Easiest is to flip the bike upside down. Second easiest is to have a sewn cover for the chain, as suggested by Buglady. Cheap, easy, and washable.

We do need photos of the tile job, and the cat. Please.

East Hill

Connect the bikes to the 220V line. No problems with the cat and you needn't worry about having your bikes stolen. :)

Now, if I can get a 220v line to reach the rack outside the office....

Park 'em upside down like Ziemas said or trade ends of one of 'em so they're chain-to-chain.

Or make some sort of low "fence" that you seal off the bikes with, preventing the little furry thing from getting near all that grime.
I don't think you understand cats who live with bikes. They must have access to the bikes on a regular basis. If your cat is unable to scent-mark them, the bikes become vulnerable to nefarious, feline bike thieves. Furthermore, even locks with a Sold Secure gold rating are no match for the evil powers of these thieves. Cats are performing an important task, and we must not interfere with that. :p

I don't think you understand cats who live with bikes. They must have access to the bikes on a regular basis. If your cat is unable to scent-mark them, the bikes become vulnerable to nefarious, feline bike thieves. Furthermore, even locks with a Sold Secure gold rating are no match for the evil powers of these thieves. Cats are performing an important task, and we must not interfere with that. :p
On the other hand. Cats just don't feel safe being carried on bicycles, it doesn't matter how much duct tape you use.

Some moth balls scattered around that area might keep kitty out of there.

Put a rocking chair in with the bike and the cat will avoid it like the plague.
I like the shaving part best. :)

My white cat rarely brushes against the chain enough to get a grease spot.

Yeah, Home Depot or Lowes, but instead of the foam pipe insulation or the garden hose, try the clear plastic hose that's used for these big fish tanks. The hose has to be of a certain diameter.

This clear plastic is a little more flexible than the standard garden hose and more sturdy than insulation type foam plastic.

I difficulty I see is getting the plastic to wrap around the chain ring. Even the sprockets on the rings are messy.

If you have a real leather seat the cat may rip it to shreds if it has front claws. Maybe even if it is not leather.


Guess I how I know that. :(


Cats are performing an important task, and we must not interfere with that.

Would you like to buy a nice bike seat? :D

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=b3032

Get rid of that horrible chain lube and use white lightning or paraffin. No more crud on you either...


Sheldon

I don't think you understand cats who live with bikes. They must have access to the bikes on a regular basis. If your cat is unable to scent-mark them, the bikes become vulnerable to nefarious, feline bike thieves. Furthermore, even locks with a Sold Secure gold rating are no match for the evil powers of these thieves. Cats are performing an important task, and we must not interfere with that. :p

Do you really want to stop Catwoman from breaking into your house?

Better take care of the problem or Pepé Le Pew will think your cat is an exotic reverse striped skunk-babe.

http://i13.tinypic.com/52ooutz.jpg

Hang the bikes on the wall. There are nifty little contraptions that fit on the front wheel rim that are fixed about chest height on the wall and the bike hangs from that with the back wheel just off the floor. They take up less space that way too so when you have 20 cats they will still all fit in that space. Still haven't seen any pictures.......

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=b3032

Thanks for the link.

Hanging the bikes on the wall is not an option.

Here are some pictures of the little beast ;)

http://www.u.arizona.edu/~hankinsj/Bettyg5.JPG
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~hankinsj/Bettyg6.JPG
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~hankinsj/Bettyg8.JPG
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~hankinsj/Bettyg9.JPG
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~hankinsj/Bettyg13.JPG

Shave the cat, then tattoo him.

...

http://www.u.arizona.edu/~hankinsj/Bettyg9.JPG

...

cat's name wouldn't happen to be fred?

cat's name wouldn't happen to be fred?


lol Her name is Betty, but she definitely has some tomboy in her ;)

Switch to wax based lube.

Okay, question. Why in the first picture is the cat trying to lick your derailleur cable? Did you spill some tuna liquid on it or something? Then again my parent's cat randomly licks the side of the fridge... Not sure what he tastes there but he likes it.

she often licks or tries biting different parts of the bike. Most often it is the chain stays. I have no idea why, but we joke about her being the bike eating monster.

Make some coveralls for the cat.


HAHAHHAHAHA!! :D :D :D

ok found my solution.

I finally made it down to BICAS ( a Tucson bike co-op) and found the perfect items. 2 old chain guards. Cost $1 for both of them.

Attach upside down with 2 strips of Velcro (already had some extra Velcro from computer cables) and done. Here are the pictures.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z180/Bolo_Grubb/Gear/bstorage.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z180/Bolo_Grubb/Gear/bstorage2.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z180/Bolo_Grubb/Gear/m8307chain1.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z180/Bolo_Grubb/Gear/m8307chain2.jpg

Treadmill still usable and I can get out either bike very easy. And Betty the bike eating monster can still lay on the cool tile without getting dirty.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z180/Bolo_Grubb/Bike%20eating%20monster/Bettyg5.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z180/Bolo_Grubb/Bike%20eating%20monster/Bettyg6.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z180/Bolo_Grubb/Bike%20eating%20monster/Bettyg8.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z180/Bolo_Grubb/Bike%20eating%20monster/Bettyg9.jpg

cat, the other white meat.