Ok those that don’t know and have been living under a rock. This Sunday (21st March) is the HBF Freeway Bike Hike and the club has a number of people doing this event.
Peter has organised for the club tent to be setup at Joondalup. He has a few people going to help him set it up Saturday arvo so if you can help with this contact him on admin@southperthrouleurs.com.au.
Also I have created a fund raising page for anyone that wants to donate some money to the cause of this event which is the Asthma foundation. Bit late I know, I thought it was automatic when I created the team. Anyway the address is
http://www.everydayhero.com.au/spr_transitional
For those that have entered this event make sure that you visit the kit collection point over the next three days to collect your number and other stuff. They say no number no ride…
Kit collection can be found here http://www.freewaybikehike.com.au/content/participant-pack-collection
I forgot when I posted this. Tracy mentioned for those that are getting the Train to Kwinana be at the Perth Esplanade Train Station at 5:30 am so we can all get the same train down. See Train Timetables at http://www.freewaybikehike.com.au/content/getting-there-and-away
Just so you know meet here. Meet where the green arrow is. Should be there by 5:15am
If you need to find us or miss it then call my mobile on 0412 850 501 and arrange to meet us.
see you there
Quick note: The trains can get packed with crew getting on at earlier stops with bikes and gear so it may be a good idea to catch the earlier train if possible to avoid disappointment.
That is why I have suggested the earliest train from Perth 5:50am
http://www.lionslair.net.au/user_imgs/1902.jpg
Is anyone from SPR doing the race?
Three of us met last year and there was NO chance of us getting on the train together even though we were first on the platform at Esplanade; half an hour before the first train was even due. The first train was already jam packed from people who had drove to Joondalup and got on there (somehow we managed to squeeze Lisa on as she was racing). The second and third didn’t even stop due to being full and in the end we had to get on an ‘extra’ train an hour after we met.
Hopefully better this year, but this is one of the things that has put me off doing it again (that and the magical flying bikes that seem to head towards you on a perfectly flat piece of tarmac). Maybe you guys should also arrange a meet somewhere in Kwinana in case you do get split.
Best of luck.
oh really … shall we try another option ? Shaw Nathan shall we try another option ?
I know John Phillips is doing the race ..
The other option is we ride to the start nice and early.like meet at south Perth and ride there.getting the bike in the car is a pain and leaving my up there is a pain.
I dnt mind riding to the start it’s only like 30km. Good warmup.
It was the transport that put me off this the last couple years so I would hope it’s better now and going to be adaquite. Anyone got a chance to call them and check out if they will have enough transport.
Otherwise anyone know someone with a truck or big bus that can take us up there in one hit.
Hi All,
It may be better to arrange a meeting time and point at Kwinana Station. It could be frustrating trying to get seven people together at the Perth end. Don’t mind riding down, however there may be several hundred others with the same idea – may prove dangerous on the cycleway. Is anyone riding back from Joondalup?
Yeah from what I can gather the train will be packed and it probably wont stop if its full. So unless you get on at Joondalup then you might miss it. I haven’t done Kwinana before so not exactly sure where it is. My thoughts right now are that we ride down there. 30km should take us an hour and a bit probably.
My thought is we get to the start around 6:30am so if we meet at South Perth under the narrows at 5am it will give us plenty of time. I am sure by this time the freeway will be closed. So we should be able to possibly ride up the way we come down.
The first First group leaves around 7am 10 minutes before we apart as I am aware.
I know it is early start but if we can’t trust the train and your not keen on driving or have a partner that will drive you then I am not sure of other avenues.
I will ride the stint up to Kwinana so those that are then going to join me please call me or sms me on 0412850501 and confirm so I know how many to wait for. I don’t have no one to drive me so I will be riding. Will be a good warm-up.
Anyone has issues with this plan or wants to then risk the train let me know.
Steve I had planned on riding back but Peter mentioned that cars are really anal about the freeway being closed and take it out on cyclists. I think play it by ear. I’m all for riding back. Will definitely make Sunday my longest ride I have done. Be it broken down into several stints.
Apart from riding it or risking the train I don’t have any other solutions.
Just clarifying that although we had a long wait the extra train was put on for us and we did get there before the start. The issue might be getting there together.
hmmmm… not that im adverse to riding out but I think may give the train a shot. We can swap numbers and try and meet at Kwinana.
if you are going to ride down, just remember, that it will be dark and the bike path is not well lit. i had to take a good set of lights down, but luckily gave them to a friend who had their car down their so i didn’t have to have them on the bike during the ride.
good luck and see you in joondalup.
Ok will discuss this with those that are at the breakfast tomorrow. I just got a sms from Gary, He Ivan and john are going down to Kwinana and will meet us there.
This is the reply I got from the organiser regarding the train
This year there are two extra trains.
We advise everyone to get to the train station in time for the first train so they have 4 other trains to catch if there is not enough room on the first.
The trains are popular, so please have a plan b in case.
Kind regards,
Kellie
HBF Freeway Bike Hike for Asthma
Ok I need some help. On my way home ran off the path trying to avoid my brother crashing into me and for my troubles dragged my chain through the sand. Was is the right way to clean up the chain and gears.
Also to lubricate the chain what does everyone use and where do you get it from. These sound like stupid questions to most but if you don’t know you gotta ask.
These links might help:
chain cleaning http://bit.ly/b7karU
lube http://bit.ly/czKsPk
How did the ride go? I would have joined you guys but I was riding in the Audax Opperman All Day Trial.
step 1. curse brother for forcing rapid dismount!
step 2. head to lbs for citrus degreaser and maybe a chain cleaning kit (helps run the chain through brushes/fluid and includes specific brushes to get into nooks and cranny’s (pete had one for raffle prize at bf…))
step 3. use combination of soapy water/brushes and degreaser to get EVERY speck of sand off running gear.(maybe u-tube will have a demo)
step 4. lubricant is personal choice, many products – talk to lbs.
p.s. avoid getting degreaser into cranks etc, as it will remove grease on important areas that need it. If you overdo it your bike creak like a b——d!
p.p.s. worth watching someone do it – as there is a knack to cleaning groupset and a few variations in technique.
Cheers Shane just sent ya an email.
Might do a write up see how I got tonight. Just went and bought a chain cleaner and lube. Wasn’t sure on the wax or oil so got the oil lube.
nath, the best thing to do is get one of those special links in your chain so that you can split it apart easily.
here is my chain cleaning process.
take the chain off and soak it in jar of turps before scrubbing it with a toothbrush (both sides). wipe it down with a rag then wash it in hot soapy water to get rid of the turps. wipe it down again (different rag) then put it in another jar with clean turps. scrub it with a tooth brush again then wipe down with a rag. wash in hot soapy water again, then wipe clean with a rag.
while it it soaking in the turps you should be cleaning your cluster and chainrings. best to take them off, but you don’t need too. just don’t go throwing turps all around if you have a carbon fibre bike. hot soapy water and a paint brush works best.
put your new chain back on and then from the quicklink, put a drop of lube (oil, not wax) on every link until you get back to the quicklink. run it through a few times by back pedalling, then get a rag and wipe down the entire chain of excess lube. the only place you need to lube is the pins inside the chain. any lube left on the outside of the chain is just there to attract dirt. especially in perth as the whole place is built on sand which can just grind away at your drive chain.
if you get a “dry” lube you will need to do it more often as it disappears quickly. if you get a “wet” lube you will need to do it more often as everything sticks to the oil. every couple of weeks is best but most people don’t have the time for this. at the end of the day, a little time investment will mean that you don’t need to buy a new chain and cluster as often.
peter
Ok I got a cleaner lube (oil) and simple green. I think all the things I need to make a great big mess on my tiny porch area. Hopefully its not dark when I get home.
The cleaner came with some brushes also for the gears etc. Should have it cleaned up and good in the morning. I’m sure Shaw will tell me Ive done it wrong and my bike will be a noisy SOB in the morning. Any luck I’ll track down the soft ticking noise I picked up Saturday. Couldn’t find it Saturday arvo.
i use a hose and olive oil.
Chain cleaning – always a topic to raise a 101 different (and many definitive) solutions.
Tried using a clip on chain cleaner with fancy brushes and orange organic goo but not happy with the result – so am now a confirmed chain splitter using a re-usable link (. . . . anyone want a hardly used chain cleaner ?).
Wash the chain a few times in Turps / White spirit until no more gritty bits appear (I re-cycle the dirty solvent by filtering it through a rag and kitchen paper coned inside a funnel & it goes back into the cleaning jar – still waiting to find a gold nugget in the sediment . . .).
Hang chain up to dry and then use Putalene which comes in a tin and is solid black wax / graphite grease combo intended for dirt riding motorcycles. Requires gentle heating in a dish on the barbeque – carefully lower the chain in and let it cook for a couple of minutes, slowly pull it out hot with a bit of bent coat hanger, wiping it down as you go and hang it on the washing line for a final wipe down.
The wax fills the holes around the link to stop the sand getting into the important bits, and the graphite lubricates.
Been riding in sand ? simply gently hose of the sand, let the chain dry off and lightly wipe it down on the outside with CRC on a rag – stops it going rusty.
Down side is that it’s a bit of culinary performance, and does leave a black stain around the teeth of chain rings and the jockey pulleys – but that comes off the next time the bike gets cleaned. Upside is that I don’t have to touch the chain for 1500 klms.
I run chains in pairs and at 1200 – 1500klms or so unclip the chain, thread in the (previously cleaned) one and put the ‘dirty’ one aside for the next mass chain cleaning session. So far have ridden over 23,000 klms on a single pair of chains (rarely ride that bike in the wet though) and they still have life in them.
To clean a cluster properly, I reckon its best to take it off . . . . but if not then take care if using a cleaning solvent on the cluster when its sill on the wheel – do need to avoid getting the solvent into the grease which lubes the freewheel mechanism or into the wheel bearings.
Best insitu cluster cleaning rag is the collar / cuffs of an old shirt . . . .
Chain wear ? – the Sheldon Brown method of measurement . . . . from link rivet to equivalent link rivet on a new chain is 304.8 mm (12 inches). Change the chain before it gets to 306 mm and the cluster should still be ok.
Olive oil hey Toby? Now I know why your face was full of chain grease on Saturday – couldn’t wait for the Big Breakfast?
Nathan, I expect to see your whole chainset looking and sounding brand new by Tuesday! 🙂
So many different views. I don’t have the space or equipment to strip the bike down so on bike cleaner is what I’ll have to do. If anyone knows where to get a portable work stand from let me know its something I need. One had to clean and the other holding the bike spreading grease where I already cleaned is how I roll. Shaw knows the areas I skip and my excuse is I don’t want to drop the bike on the ground. Yes I could flip it but I could hand from the roof so its the right way up too. 🙂
Well I bought the stuff today see how I go. If I am not there in the morning Shaw know I have stuffed it all up :). Programmers are good with keyboards useless with tools in most cases. 🙂
Awesome so well trying to do this now I got to not get hit by lighting also because of some storm approaching. So I might stuff the bike or be fried. Taking Bets.
nath, got a spare home-made bike work stand that is free to a good home if you want. i have upgraded to a proper park tools one, but this one worked fine for ages. i will send you an email with a picture.
With the weather being like it has been tonight I for one will be highly interested in reading this write up your thinking of doing Nathan 😀
Umm I wont be making it tomorrow. I left work bout 4:40 raced home to shut all my systems down then raced back to galleria to get my car undercover but drove through this massive storm. Missed the hail so that was good thing. Dark now and no light to do this cleaning. So will have to put it off and get it sorted for the Thursday ride.
But Good to see you finally posting Jamie
Tip stolen from dr Ronny. If you’re stuck for a bike work stand, use an ironing board and hang your bike by the toptube. Good luck explaining the grease on the board to your wife / mum tho.
Hey Jamie, are you still after some shoes+pedals? If you are, I have an old pair (size 44) that are slightly worse for wear (cleats worn down a bit, and a broken strap on shoe), but they’d do until you get a decent pair.. let me know if you’re interested..
I have just finished cleaning the bike cleaning the Chain and relubing. Should be all good for tomorrow mornings ride. Looking forward to it 🙂
Hey Michael, thanks for the offer its much appreciated but just got some bike shoes and pedals from someone else in our group (I don’t actually know who that person is yet but a big thankyou to you as the shoes fit perfectly and everythings great). Looking forward to the ride and seeing everyone VERY early tomorrow morning.