A slotted “screen break” and the arrival of this Park FR4 freewheel remover presented the ideal opportunity to tackle the Teenage Dream’s Regina freewheel. I’d applied several helpings of PTFE lube and left it marinating for several days, so a sporting chance of it budging and without taking the Athena’s hub threads into the bargain. I switched the Shimano head on this Cyclo tool for the Park, gave the freewheel another firm blast of PTFE lube, then engaged the tool. No surprise that the Park’s splines meshed beautifully with the Regina’s.
However, despite some considerable effort, nothing was moving. Another blast of PTFE-based lube was followed with a few deft taps from an “engineer’s” mallet to the tool handle. Holding the wheel firmly with my left hand, applying considerable pressure to the tool with my right while grunting like an 80’s shot-putter secured movement and ultimately release.
Threads unscathed, I decided to give the freewheel a liberal helping of Muc-Off fast-acting degreaser to remove congealed brown gloop. A mix of propellent and strong solvent rapidly bites into the grot, breaking it down but still demands liberal stiff-brush agitation.
Dinner plate clean required a subsequent helping of Squirt Bike Wash Concentrate, some further agitation, and finally, a warm water rinse. same story with the hub threads. As I’ve said in an earlier post, they’re not badly “out of round” rather nuisance value, and now is the time to correct that.
At this stage, deadlines were my priority, so I packed everything away, penciling in the hub strip and re-grease for another time. Not least as I couldn’t find my 14mm cone spanners and am “on the clock” during the week. Sure enough, I found my cone spanners and got busy on Saturday afternoon, following my first AstraZeneca COVID shot.
Everything came apart reasonably easily, although the existing grease had turned the consistency of gravy. 9 bearings each side and the cones were decanted into a magnetic parts bowl. I gave everything a liberal blast of the Muc -Off High-Pressure Quick Drying Degreaser - Chain & Cassette and a quick clean rag scrubbing later brought everything up to spec.
No signs of pitting/similar damage, so I pumped a load of Park into the races, repatriated the bearings, setting them into the thick green gloop, before adding another generous piping over the top. Same story with the hollow axle before sliding this through and winding the cones and other components home.
Getting the tension bang on took some perseverance-so close each time but still a fraction too tight/slack. Paid off in the end. The front wheel was much easier, although again, the grease had turned to an oily brown gravy. Two blasts of the Muc -Off High-Pressure Quick Drying Degreaser - Chain & Cassette dismissed this and evaporated I the time required to locate the Park Grease.
I’ll drop the wheels to a well-respected local builder for truing, as opportunity presents. Common side effects (head cold type symptoms-aching limbs and minor headaches etc) kicked in that evening. I managed a ride beforehand and another the following morning but felt distinctly rough during the day, then onward.
Mornings remain cold and crisp and at the lower end of single figures. I’ve stuck with tights and winter booties and alternate between winter weight, long sleeve jerseys and summer weight models with these Primal Comic Book Thermal arm warmers PRIMAL COMIC BOOK THERMAL ARM WARMERS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and a technical jacket. This 7mesh Cypress Hybrid Jacket 7mesh Cypress Hybrid Cycling Jacket | Seven Day Cyclist being a great default. Gilets are another wise investment.
The really thin, shell types are great for contingencies and very changeable conditions since they pack small but I’m rather fond of middleweight designs with a laminated fabric, which will keep the torso temperate and relatively dry. They often have pockets, which is another welcome touch. My preference is for those with the classic three terrace rear, zippered breast up front, perfect for stowing compact camera and similar tech, I’d want ready access to.
