Thorough Chain Cleaning

Today gave my bicycle chain a thorough cleaning. I used three new products to do this and this is more like a review of them. Ideally it should be in the gear review section of my blog. But I thought this is more of a how I used them than a real review. So here it goes.

The three things used were - the IceToolz chain scrubber, IceToolz chain cleaner and Finish Line Dry Lube.

The chain scrubber is very small and looks very el cheapo but it is easy to set up, particularly if you check out this video from IceToolz . I did exactly as instrcuted and nothing much went wrong.

• Open the top cover
• Take the round black wheel out 
• Pour a little cleaner in the chamber 
• Pour a little water up to the horizontal line in the middle. (I had over filled and the moment I put the wheel back - which is the next step - it spilled out.)
• Place the wheel back
• Hold it aligned along the chain under the upper part of the chain
• Put the lid back on over the chain. This part might be a bit tricky
• Hang it from the frame by attaching the strap 
• Start pedalling with the right hand while holding the scrubber with the left. 

What went wrong? First time the chain was not really moving. I took it off and attached it again. This time it worked. A little noisy but that's fine. The water solution did not turn grey. Some water was spilling out. I was glad that I was doing it outside my flat and on some old newspaper. Progressively the chain started feeling cleaner to the touch. The solution also turned a little grey.

I threw out the solution. There wasn't much left though. Most of it had fallen out. Next poured a little plain water in the chamber and repeated the process once again. The chain now looked and felt much cleaner.

Now was the time to dry it out with a clean rag. The rag didn't turn black, as I had expected.

Next poured some Finish Line lube on the back free wheel. I had watched this video from Finish Line . Turning the pedal forward. I don't know why but all instructions advice you to pedal back. Perhaps to make it less dangerous because pedalling forward makes the wheel go round and can hurt.

I changed into all the gears and then let the cycle rest for a while. After some time I held the same rag again to wipe it clean. This time a lot of black muck came on the rag. It looks and feels much cleaner now.

The chain is moving smoothly now. There is no squeaking noise from anywhere, contrary to what is discussed on various cycling forums. However, I couldn't see any white film on the links either.

Let me ride the bike today or tomorrow and I will come back.

Happy To Get A Puncture !!!

I was actually happy to discover a puncture in the rear wheel of my bike tonight. I accidentally realised it had gone flat while hanging on the stand. I was more than certain it was a flat. I couldn't be more glad by this opportunity to test my newly acquired skill of fixing punctures. After all we don't get punctures to repair every day. So off I went to fix it. I felt so alive to be doing this, when all my friends I know are watching cricket.

Incidentally, this is Wednesday. I had gone cycling on Saturday. Should I be worried about the quality of the OE tubes and replace both of them - front and rear? Probably yes, if I was going on a long tour. But since I stay more or less within the city and carry two tubes, there is no need to panic.

I started the work at 9:35 pm. Finished it at 10:25 without any particular hurry (meaning I could've done it faster). But please take about 15 minutes out of this. Because I had sent Monisha to Nishi to get some lime for marking. She in turn sent Nishi to get it from a paan shop because he had none. All this took some time. So to take the wheel off, tyre off, discover the puncture, repair it, put everything back on, it took me 35 minutes. The first time on road just to change the tube took me more than 40 minutes. Of course at home I was using the floor standing Firefox pump. 

I am still a little iffy with changing the rear tyre, particularly when it comes to putting it back on. I prefer putting the cycle upside down to do this. This time I tried to do it standing straight but failed. I guess once the trainer comes in and I get the training wheel, I will become more adept at it.

This time the puncture happened in a better location, away from the valve stem. I didn't commit the same mistakes of the first time. Marked the area with wet lime. Put the solution thin. Didn't peel off the plastic from top. Used a small patch. Put the tube back on right away and pumped the tyre. Let me see if it lasts. I didn't even test it. 

May 24, 2018

As of this morning, there is no perceptible air pressure loss.

May 27, 2018 

As of this morning also, there is no perceptible air pressure loss. I guess I have reached that stage where you can just repair the puncture and go. But I am still iffy with putting the back wheel on. I have to learn how to get the brake loose a bit. I think the brake pads are too close to the rim in the rear wheel. Need to widen the gap just a bit. I have no clue how that is done. Let me see. 

Elite Class

I finally pulled the trigger on an Elite Qubo Digital Smart B+ trainer. Click here to go to the company site. It's an interactive smart trainer. The supplier is the usual suspect - Exad Sports. The items should arrive by next week, I guess.

Elite is a reasonably famous and top of the line professional cycling trainer manufacturer from Italy (I am not too sure if this trainer is made in Italy). They are the official suppliers to many top of the line cycling teams like Sky, BMC, Merida, Movistar etc. So their credentials are unquestionable. They also make home cycle trainers for amateurs like us. What I am getting is an entry level kind of model within the smart trainer category. The MRP is Rs 31K. However, being a long term customer I am getting a decent discount that others may not get. In fact we are getting two. Both of us are getting the discount.

Apart from the trainer I have ordered for two more items. One is a Su-Sta stabiliser block to be placed under the front wheel so that the bike is level on the floor. Its tilt can again be adjusted to give a real road feel while climbing hills (upto 6 per cent incline). The other item is a bottle cage. It looks pretty smart and I fell for it. I will possibly get a dedicated training tyre later. As of now, I am okay with my normal road tyre. I am also on the lookout for a used rear wheel to convert it into a dedicated training wheel. 

If I get a tyre only for the trainer - every time I want to ride the trainer after a normal road ride, I have to change the tyre. And then again change it when I want to go out. This is not feasible. That will put me off. I know. So I would rather have a dedicated wheel with a specialist tyre than change it every time I change the type of ride from home to road and vice versa. 

I am new to smart trainers. I have no clue what all it entails. And how much I can use it, in terms of technology and compatibility with various products. I am reading up on everything. Let me see. Once it comes home I will learn more things. 

As of now I know these things about connectivity. It can connect to my Android phone. It can connect to my Mac. That's what Jasraj said. I will have to check that out. I thought it's only PC. It can also connect to any ANT+ device like a Garmin Edge 520 but that alone is more expensive than the trainer. The trainer can calculate cadence. It is an algorithm based calculation and may not be 100 per cent accurate, which is fine with me. I am not preparing for Le Tour.

My initial plan is to use it first with my phone using their own software. I believe the software can even make a virtual course out of a real route you take (with the camera of the phone on video mode) and then you can go on that route at home. I am curious to check this feature out. 

After this I shall graduate to either my computer or get a tab for myself. 

I am not sure if I can afford Zwift. As of now, it costs $15 per month. And then every time I make a dollar payment the bank charges me. That will make it about Rs 1500 per month or so. Expensive. Though cheaper than most gyms. I am hoping they will soon have an Indian affiliate who will accept INR.

Update on 4th April, 2019

It has been almost a year since I wrote the post above. The trainer was set up after it arrived without too much fuss. The instructions weren't very dependable but there weren't too many things to do. I set it up fine. Perhaps had to make a few phone calls to Nishant Maheswari (who bought one with me).

Once I set it up and started riding it was kind of fun. But for the life of me I couldn't set up the Elite training app. I just couldn't understand how to use it. I took a temporary Zwift account and rode on that game for a few weeks. Zwift was good but not really affordable at $15 per month. The Zwift free account is not forever. So gradually I lost interest in using the trainer.

Another problem for me with the trainer was it makes you feel immensely hot. And in the hot and humid summer of Calcutta it wasn't fun to ride the trainer. When you are cycling on the road you have the benefit of the breeze on your face which keeps you cool. At home there is no such advantage. People use pedestal fan to overcome this. In my room there is no such space for a pedestal fan. So gradually the trainer fell into disuse. But it was exposed and right in front of my eyes.

After Rana and I firmed up the plan to go to Darjeeling hills, I revived my interest in the trainer and restarted it. Initially the bluetooth connection was not working and I panicked that it might have started malfunctioning. However, it soon started working fine and I finally took a paid account in Zwift on 12th February.

Now I have been Zwifting consistently for two months. This is serious practice and training. If I go to my account I can see I have already clocked more than 300 kms and climbed more than 5000 meters in this period.

Recently of course I discontinued my membership because from 12th April I will be off for a week and then take some more time to recover. Once I am back in shape I will most definitely take the membership again. It is like a temporary suspension.

The trainer works fine for me. I have used both my Merida and Surly on it. The Surly tyre is much wider. I used the 1.5 inch Continental tyre on it. I can't remember but there is a maximum tyre width.

My FTP on the Surly is much less than my FTP on Merida. It stands at 146 now for the Merida.

Now that it is April, I am beginning to sweat a lot while Zwifting in my room. I sit bare chested on the saddle and drink lots of water. But I sweat rather heavily during the training sessions. After a one hour full blast training, my shorts and the brief inside are wet like I had a swim in the pool.

I have half a mind to install an AC in the room (there is no space for a pedestal). If not, then I will have to take the trainer and computer to our bed room every time I want to train, when more serious summer sets in. Let me see. Installing an AC in my study room is easier I guess.

Thorough Clean Up Job

During the morning ride before cleaning

Washed my bike for the first time. A complete and thorough kind of job. My bike is just about 700 km old and needed a cleaning for some time. Since this was the first time, I did it carefully and perhaps it took me a little more time than it should when I get more practice. Today I had gone on a 3-hour ride around New Town (went in through VIP and came back through Rajarhat)

Here I will write down what I did step by step. You may or may not agree with everything that I did. Your call. But I am going to write down my way with notes on what I should have done. 

Doing a somersault 

Step one - Took off all the accessories from the bike like the Cat Eye Velo (only the display unit), the saddle bag and Night Rider headlight etc. Next I took off both the wheels and kept the bike upside down (some newspaper for cushion under the seat and hoods). Next step was to prepare a bucket full of water with some Surf Excel :-) . I think it is time I invested in a car shampoo instead of stealing the home supply for washing clothes.

The cleaned and dried wheels

Took the wheels inside the bathroom and sprayed first with plain water from a jet (all modern Indian bathrooms have this). Cleaned the wheels with the sponge dipped in foamy water from the bucket. Cleaned the cassette (it is possibly a flywheel - will have to check) with an old tooth brush dipped in the soapy water. Once thoroughly cleaned sprayed plain water once again from the jet. Dried the wheels up with a clean, dry cloth. 

Next I spread a thin sheet of foam on the floor of the bathroom and let the wheel-less bike sit on it - upside down. This is the kind of foam that we take along on treks to use as a mattress in the camp to sleep on. Followed the same principle. Gentle jet of water first followed by soapy water. Used the brush also for the stubborn mud stains. Cleaned the chain. Didn't disturb the derailleur much. 

Again dried more or less thoroughly with the same cloth. I must add here that since I have hardly ever taken it on wet roads there was virtually not much mud stains on it. So I did not take too long for a nice shiny look. 

Finally put the wheels back on in the drawing room. Sprayed the chain with some lube and cleaned it off with a dry rag. I am guilty of using Motul chain lubricant which is basically meant for motorcycles. Motorcycle chain lubes would be a little thicker. So theoretically it will not enter all the nooks and cranny of the chain. I think while technically it is correct it is a needless concern. 

The job is done

More Mock Practice For Puncture

Today I took out the front wheel once again. In the comfort of the drawing room. Basically to do some more practice and also to check how the tube was doing inside. Whether or not it had developed some crease, what with its larger circumference and all. 

First of all - I did it in a breeze. Possibly in five minutes, if you take the actual time spent on doing the real job. I saved a whole lot of time while taking the tyre off and also while putting it back on. I purposely took the entire tyre out as opposed to keeping one half of it over the rim. 

To my pleasant surprise I found this time the tube was sitting more snug around the rim !!! I kept the tube slightly inflated and inserted it inside the tyre when I put it back on. Inside the tyre it fitted absolutely snug and didn't seem oversize at all. As I went along placing the tyre into the groove of the rim, I had to deflate a bit. I have quite got the hang of it now. If I was working in a bicycle store I would be an expert at this in about a couple of days with 2 repairs a day. 

I discovered another major thing and this is a real learning. Last time on the road I could barely put enough air into the tube with the tiny pump. I guess a little over 20 psi. In fact I could have got another puncture on the way due to such low pressure. First I thought it was possibly because of the unbranded pump that I used. But even my Park Tool pump at home wasn't of much help. I could barely add anything extra into the tube with it.

Today I managed to pump the tube up to 50 psi pressure with the hand pump!!! Ask me how. 

Simple. When using the floor standing pump I keep the valve on the floor and pump in. I did the same on the road as well and I was sitting on the footpath while pumping. You cannot really stand up and pump when the valve is at 6 o' clock position. This time, with the hand pump, I kept the valve at 12 o' clock position (you have to rest it against something) and pumped in while standing. This gives one a lot more leverage and one can use the full force of his deltoid. If I had a little more strength in my hand, as it was before my wrist fracture, I could possibly have managed 80 psi. Although the front tube does not need more than 60 psi, the rear tube would need some more. 

A New Spare Tube

After the puncture of the front tube last Sunday I ordered for another spare tube for the saddle bag from Bums On The Saddle Bangalore. It arrived today and I promptly put it in the bag. Now I know how important it is to have it with you when you are out on the road beyond walkable distance from home. By the way, that's super fast delivery from BOTS.

This is not a review as I am yet to use it but just jotting down the details of the tube. It's a Schwalbe tube. Size is obviously 700C 18-25. The length of the valve is 60 mm. The dust cap on the valve is a cute transparent one. The OE dust caps were black. The replacement Maxxis is orange. This is transparent. Quite a range. I do not know if the core is removable. If it is I will use Loctite to fix it tight so that no air can escape through the gap.

It might just be a perception but I think this tube is a little heavier than the OE tube. I have been handling it every now and then in these last couple of days.

I have half a mind to put this on and see how this size measures up. The replacement Maxxis I used that day near AIR was a little longer than my rim's circumference. I somehow shoved it in. But now I am curious to check this out. It is also not a bad idea to check out a new tube at home, rather than be surprised by something nasty on the road. Let me think about it.

Fixing a Puncture on the Road

Yesterday the thing I dread most about cycling happened. I got a puncture. Not too far away from home but not a very walk able distance either. I was around 7 kms away from home. Right in front of All India Radio office. It was around quarter to six in the morning when it happened. It was the front tyre.

I will write down chronologically the exact chain of events. But first my mental reaction. "Oh God. Had to happen on a day when I am not carrying my pump. Didn't I just see Rana cross and wave at me near Eden Gardens (he was going towards Mohun Bagan stadium and I was headed towards HSBC)? He usually carries a pump on his back pocket. Let me see if he receives the phone. I have the spare tube in my saddle bag. Or shall I just get a cab and hop in? Feeling like I perhaps need a potty break. Can I wait for that long?"

I first took out my phone and switched off Strava. Next I phoned Rana. He not only received my phone but said most reassuringly, "just wait where you are. I am coming." After about ten minutes he came along. We met near the traffic island in front of the cenotaph where the road forks out towards AIR and Eden Gardens. 

I had half a mind to take a cab and just go home. Rana took the pump out and said, "do you have the tube?" I said yes. He said, change it. Sit comfortably on the side walk of the island and change the tube and then go home. "Oho Rana. Let me just take a cab home." "Dada, you take a cab. No problem. But first change the tube and then take a cab. You will not get another opportunity very soon of doing it on the road. Just do it. Don't avoid it." 

I thought what he says makes eminent sense. Instead of chickening out I should take the battle head on and win it. Once you go through the process next time you will be more confident. The conditions were right. Weather was fine. Hardly any people. India has this problem of onlookers crowding around you when they see you doing something on the road. Most importantly, I would not be completely alone. Rana would be around. 

Rana said he would be cycling around this area and come once every 15 minutes or so to check out on my progress. He was going in rounds along the route of Strand Road - Princep Ghat - Police Training School - Victoria - Fort William - Red Road. Those who are familiar with Calcutta would know this is a circular stretch of about 5/7 kms. 

I parked the bike against a lamp post. Looked at the watch. It was 6:08 am. 

Step one. Take the tools out and keep them ready. I took my tools out of the saddle bag. The spare new tube a Maxxis 700C 18-25 with a 48 mm valve stem, the Park Tool tyre lever set. That's all one needs really. 

Step Two. Take off the wheel. This takes a few seconds. I took off the front wheel. Next was to take the tube out. I had to struggle a bit with the levers. But finally I managed to take the tube out. To my utter surprise I discovered, the tube had still some air left in it and wasn't quite completely flat. I pushed the air out. I had half a mind to try and pump on the same tube and go home. Then I thought, what's the point. When the main work is done, might as well change the old tube. 

I cleaned the inside of the tyre but found nothing. I guess this was a very fine hidden sort of leak. I will have to research this out. The tube lasted for about 650 kms.

Now came the confusing part. The OE tube which had developed a puncture sits snug on the wheel. But this new tube was slightly longer than the OE one. About an inch more. Did I get the right size? I got a tad nervous here and decided to wait for Rana. Soon enough he arrived on the scene. I explained to him the problem. He checked it out and said nothing was wrong with the size. Push it in Dada. "By the way, why did you take off the entire tyre from the wheel?" "Well, I kind of thought this is the right thing to do." OK. Go ahead and put it back. 

Now started the struggle to put the tube round the wheel and fit the tyre back on. I cannot remember exactly what I did but there were lots of trial and errors and finally I succeeded in putting the damn thing back on. One of the tricks to know here is that use both your hands to put the tyre's edge back on so that it is done uniformly on both the sides. 

Next step was pumping the tube up. Rana's small pocket size pump did a wonderful job here. I do not know how much pressure it managed to create but it felt tight pretty soon; the tyre felt tight enough to take me home. After a few quick photographs I put the wheel back on. It had taken a total of 40 minutes to do the complete job. I think next time I can finish it in 20 minutes. I am more than certain.

All photographs taken after the tube was changed

Rana came along once again. I returned his pump with a lot of thanks. He indeed not only saved me, he gave me the courage and encouragement to earn this important right of passage in the world of cycling. My father would have been very proud of me. He always wanted me to learn this very important job of how to fix one's own punctures. But I could never learn it because we did not have youtube in those days. I am sure yesterday he saw me do it from wherever he is. I am very grateful to you for instilling these ambitions in me. Too bad you cannot see it all or I cannot go back home and tell you these stories. 

Lessons Learnt

1. I should have known the tube was bad even before starting. I found it was almost flat in the morning when I started. Tubes lose some air when you don't ride for some time. But they don't go flat like that. Alarm should have rung when I found the back wheel did not lose that much pressure. 

2. Always carry all your equipment. Pump, spare tube and levers. I was lucky I had Rana. I might not have him. I normally carry my small pump. But these days since I am riding mostly within city limits I got a little casual. But I have to remember that walking seven kilometers with a flat tyre bike is not easy or comfortable.

3. Should have perhaps checked out the new tube (Maxxis bought from Good Earth) in the comfort of my house rather than on the road. I have already ordered for the next tube. A Schwalbe 700 18-28C with 60 mm valve (my OE needs 48 but this brand does not seem to have that size. 40 or 60 - I chose 60). 

4. Don't be afraid of soiling your hands but you can use the gloves to take the wheel out. Also, overcome the inhibition to squat on the footpath. After completing the job, I used the water from my drinking bottle to wash my hands.

5. Have to practice taking off the rear wheel. It is not as easy as the front wheel. Particularly putting it back on. I have done it a few times. But it's like those tougher chapters in Mathematics. You do it once and then avoid, thinking you will somehow manage in the exam hall. In the exam hall a friend my bail you out but on the street there will be no one to help you.

6. Must carry small change for Sulav Souchalaya and some toilet paper in the saddle bag.

Epilogue

As I was riding back home slowly down the road near Victoria and it had gotten a bit late by my standard (around 7ish) I saw a group of amateur photographers out on their morning shooting practice. The probably spotted me before I did and started clicking me in all seriousness. I guess with my red bicycle and orange jersey I was perhaps looking like a professional cyclist to them (but a complete MAMIL to myself). I smiled at them. That possibly spoilt their frame but I surely felt like winning a stage in le Tour de France.

Back Home

Just checked the punctured tube. A. The core of the valve is possibly a fixed one and cannot be removed to apply Loctite (incidentally it is available in India now through Henkel). B. The pressure in the tube that I fixed on the road was just 20 psi. Disappointingly low and could cause another puncture if I had hit a hole in high speed. But as I said, it felt pretty tight to finger pressure. I have to check how good my own pump is. C. The air loss problem is not with the valve. There indeed is a leak that has developed just under the valve area. I filled the tube with a lot of air and sunk it in water. Bubbles immediately started coming out from a point. Possibly in low pressure the air loss isn't much. But nevertheless it is not insignificant. I am tempted to buy a puncture repair kit and fix it myself to keep it as a spare tube.

Fixing The Puncture

Certain things about Calcutta are so disgusting. After discovering the small puncture in the OE tube I was in a dilemma. Whether to fix it myself or get it done by one of the street side repair guys. I thought DIY would mean investing in a few patches, some cement and a piece of sandpaper (these repair guys typically paste the sandpaper around a small metal tube and make a nice sanding block that is useful). I have no problem with the investment but since I don't foresee too many punctures happening in the future I thought investing in the full kit would be a waste of money. Also the cement might freeze by the time the next puncture develops.

So last evening I went to the nearest puncture repair guy in the neighbourhood. This is a small shop near the Mudiali Meat Shop and they repair motorcycle, car and commercial vehicle tyres and tubes. I went with the OE tube and my mini pump because I foresaw them saying, "we don't have the adapter to pump this valve" etc. This bored looking Bihari shop owner (who didn't have any customer) took a casual look at the tube and said, "no we cannot do this" and looked the other way. I told him that I had the pump but he refused to listen, saying this is too small for them. He refused to get into any discussion and kept saying, "go to a cycle repair shop".

There is a second shop right next to the guy. This fellow didn't look as bored but he also denied. I asked him what is wrong and why is a cycle tube so different from a car tube. He said, this type of rubber is too thin and we don't have the right file to clean it. Our files would tear the rubber. Go to the cycle repair guys. They will do it with a sand paper !!!

Today I went to the nearest cycle repair shop. This is just before Grand Saloon. The bugger is closed.  It was in the evening. Around 7.30 pm. He is not even a shop. Just sits by the road side with a floor standing pump and a wooden box with some tools. But I see him busy fixing a bike almost all the time.

Adamant. I went all the way to Kalighat Road (the friendly neighbourhood red light district) where there is a big cycle repair shop. It's a proper shop with 2/3 mechanics. This bugger is also closed. Had to come back home fuming.

However, I learnt to push out the last mili gram of air out of the tube. You just roll it up like a tooth paste tube, working towards the valve and keep pressing the valve from time to time. Every single drop (?) of air would come out and the tube would become completely flat.