Re: cleaning the commute bike

On 1/19/2025 9:33 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:

In slightly disappointing news I’ve discovered that the Old school roadie
commuter does need to be cleanse or shifting becomes hit and miss!
 Unlike the old MTB who’s cables run safely out of reach of muck and grime
the roadie runs the shift cables around the bottom bracket, which collected
salt/grime which eventually stopped it shifting reliably to the big ring.
 I use wax based lubes so the drive chain remains clean, but it hadn’t
occurred to me, that it would pack up on the commute! Off road is one thing
pounding the streets of london is another!
 Has been cold and so frosty roads plus salt etc, ie mucky roads but even so
cleaning commuting bikes I’m not sure I approve of the idea!

When my friction shifting drive train starts feeling odd, I always check those plastic cable channels under the bottom bracket. They're easy to forget, and they can get clogged with road grime.
I think I had less of that problem with the older style metal channels brazed on above the bottom bracket. But I don't ride those bikes as much these days.
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- Frank Krygowski