It's another one of those damn times in Michigan. Daily seasonal changes become a season of their own and happen a couple times a year. The November tweason means it's sunny, cloudy, foggy, rainy and snowy in a matter of hours and we just have to adapt because it will change soon (fifteen minutes according to legend).
But real winter is around the corner which turned into NOW this year. It's enough to send the spandex hamsters to their spin classes and video cycling. I'm spending the Thanksgiving holiday giving the bikes a cleaning and tuneup before putting most away for a few weeks,
The Park Tool Cyclone cleans my chains. I've seen many internet "experts" claim that this gadget simply does not work. My question is; If it doesn't work, why is it full of grease and grit when I'm done? I don't normally worry about getting my hands dirty but the gloves keep my fingers warm when the garage temps are in the twenties.
The brakes on the Soma needed adjustment and it's a simple method to use a small clamp to hold the pads to the rim. Then adjust the barrel adjusters to about 50%, loosen the cable bolt, pull the cable taut, re-tighten the cable bolt, remove the clamp and loosen the barrel adjusters until you have exactly the brake tension you like. There is a tool called "Third Hand" to hold the caliper, but I found the clamp works better since it's adjustable, the Third Hand is not.
It seems a bit early, but I'm swapping the regular tires on the Brompton for the studs. It's possible we'll have snow and ice on the streets until March, so err to the cautious side. Now I can choose between the winter beater with 50mm studs and the Brompton with it's 32mm studs. the Riv's and Soma will rest in the rafters until we get a thaw.
That wasn't the best way to spend a holiday weekend, but I am several weeks ahead and ready for any day that gets warm.
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