WEEK 7
BIKE MAINTENANCE
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MONDAY 1ST JUNE
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This week we’ll be bringing you some tips and tricks on bike maintenance. Meet Jannine, a former Project Worker and current Board Member at Velocity. She’s also a member of Cycle Friendly Kingussie and spreads cheer everywhere she goes!
Jannine is here to show us how anyone can look after their bike, and what a beautiful day for it!
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When I ran women’s bike maintenance evenings at Velocity my number one tip was always – clean your bike regularly!
If you have a bike stand, jet wash, specialist bike cleaning tools etc. great, but it can easily be done with household objects such as a washing line and a garden hose!
Bike cleaner is also great if you have it but a bit of soapy water works too. Old rags and toothbrushes are handy for wiping down and reaching awkward bits!
Start by wetting your bike but be careful to avoid parts with bearings if your jet is powerful (bottom bracket, headset, wheel hubs). Then roll up your sleeves and get in there with a sponge! Move from one end of your bike to the other removing any dirt and grime. One you’re satisfied give it another rinse and wipe down – or on a day like today you can leave it to dry off!
If you have a spray lubricant this can be applied to the chain and cassette as it acts as a water displacer (being careful to spray away from the brakes). Hold a rag loosely around the chain and spin the pedal backwards to remove excess. Lastly, apply a bit of chain oil to keep things running smoothly.
Footnote (pun intended): I wouldn’t normally advocate for wearing flip flops during bike maintenance, but this is one job you can just about get away with!
Please share you bike cleaning set up and handy hints!
TUESDAY 2ND JUNE
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Dingwall Academy is showing us how to avoid being sedentary and emerge from lockdown more healthy and active! Last week 61 people joined their community strava registering 150.5 hours and 1130.3 miles of activity. This week they went 204 miles further! If you’re a pupil, teacher or parent from Dingwall, why not join in?
If you would like some inspiration or support to increase active travel at your virtual school please contact our Go ByCycle Team at [email protected]!
WEDNESDAY 3RD JUNE
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Some things in life are inevitable, right? If you cycle a lot, you will probably get a flat tyre at some point but fear not! It’s an easy fix – you can do it!
You can either replace your punctured inner tube, or repair it! If your punctured inner tube is otherwise in good condition, patching it with a good puncture repair kit can be a way to save some money and help the environment!
Here’s a handy guide to patching a puncture. If you need guidance on taking the wheel and tyre off, check out this video or give us a shout!
If you need a new tube or someone to help you, give Dan or Duncan a call at the workshop!
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To be able to fix a puncture on a ride, you will need to take some essentials! They are small, inexpensive, and easy to carry, and necessary to get you pumped (pun intended) and ready to ride again!
Check out this video and what you need in your puncture repair kit. I swear this was 100% unstaged and actually happened!
What you’ll need:
– puncture repair kit
– multitool
– tyre levers
– mini pump
You can buy these at Velocity!
THURSDAY 4TH JUNE
Meet David, a faithful friend of Velocity and keen mountain biker.
Our MTB group have been staying connected by sharing routes to ride individually throughout the week then posting their experiences via Facebook and Strava.
Watch this video to find out how David and the crew are riding routes from home within their ability while keeping a sense of community! We’d love to hear how you are staying active and connected as a family, school, workplace or club!
Follow this link for the latest guidance on cycling in Scotland: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/…/20200313-Scottish-Cycli…
Stay tuned as later we will launch our Velocity community strava to help people stay healthy and happy through active travel!
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We hope you enjoyed a bit of inspiration from David and our Mountain Biking group earlier!
COVID-19 has had a big impact on our lives. Some of the benefits have been less traffic, and the ability to cycle more safely.
At Velocity, we want to support people to lead healthier, happier and more sustainable lives by increasing active travel! This may be walking to the shops or cycling to work – perhaps journeys we would previously have made by car or public transport.
If you’re interested in making more active journeys, we’d love you to join our community of like-minded people embracing quieter roads and plans for improved walking and cycling infrastructure. Let’s see how many hours and miles we can cycle together!
Join our community: https://www.strava.com/clubs/VelocityCommunityStrava
FRIDAY 5TH JUNE
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We’re delighted to see so many people on their bikes enjoying the quieter roads and good weather. We’re hopeful cycling infrastructure can be improved too!
You could say your chain is the heart of your bike so it’s important to give it lots of care and attention!
This video shows everything clearly. We like how you don’t need fancy equipment; old brushes (he uses a paint brush!) and cloths can do the job! Although the chain case he mentions and a half round cassette brush are handy tools. We fully support using a biodegradable degreaser which you can purchase at Velocity!
Now roll up your sleeves and make your bike bling again!