Showing posts with label Peaty's Speed Grease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peaty's Speed Grease. Show all posts

Sunday, 27 July 2025

The Repack aka Green Goo & Happy Pedals


 









After some deliberation and in some instances, a few years too many, I decided it was time to strip some of the Shimano pedals, specifically the M737 hailing from 1990. Cue Shimano TL-PD40SPD Axle removal tool, a 36mm headset spanner, some Juice Lubes Bearing Juice and WTB Grease. Though very effective, I’ve since gone for a metal tool with integrated handle, simply as its likely to be more durable, dare I say, more convenient.  

I started with these Shimano ED500, which have served well but were only a few years old. The lockring came free with reassuring ease and out with the axle. A quick wipe with a rag dipped in solvent rids any residual gunk or lube that might react unfavourably with the bearing juice or otherwise create mischief.

Mercury in the high twenties had softened the green synthetic putty nicely.  A liberal dollop from my index finger into the pedal body and from there simply a question of threading the axle home-noting right and left-hand threads.  Snugged down to 10nm the nasty soiled grease is forced out (in the same principle as pumping grease into a dedicated grease port). 

Wipe this and excess fresh grease. Now give the pedals a spin and check for any signs of play.  Ten minutes apiece, done twice yearly this will extend the life of bearings and other internals considerably.  Any decent waterproof grease will do, although I prefer stocky synthetics since they won't do anything nasty to seals and other rubberised components. 

A blend such as Peaty’s Speed Grease PEATY'S SPEED GREASE | cycling-not-racing is arguably better for hubs and Hollowtech II cranksets and possibly headsets but work just fine on pedals, if you’re a time triallist, or just really keen to keep friction lower than a snake’s testicles. I repeated this proves with the single sided A520 and its 530mountain bike counterpart. WTB WT-G Precision Bike Grease Wolf Tooth WT-G Precision Bike Grease | cycling-not-racing in the former, bearing juice the latter.

Back together and buttery smooth. 25 minutes all told, start to finish and strangely therapeutic. I switched Denise’s Leatt Endurance 6.0 in their favour, since I’d a hunch these patterns are the natural companion for the FLR MXT. Spoiler alert, this would seem so, although there’s a definite honeymoon period when it comes to contact points, any change.

I’ve always been a gang of one, my father perhaps unkindly referred to as a “non-joiner” hence I don’t belong to clubs, or similar social riding groups. I’ll chat, maybe share a joke mid ride, or at rest stops and I’m socially adept in commercial contexts. However, I’m very self-aware, can tell who is/not a good fit for me, like my own space and solitude to reflect and re-charge.  

The point of this lead up is the sudden preoccupation with a “male loneliness epidemic”. I’m not sure this is a contemporary phenomenon, rather getting a lot of attention in the context of romantic relationships. It has long been evidenced that men experience isolation due to their shrinking networks and relationships linked to formal work, whereas women forge cooperative relationships and identities beyond work and their immediate household.

This also means that many male relationships are centred around t economic sphere, and should there be a break- a loss in employment and the structures around this.

While this may have tapered off a little, thanks to the increasing number of people working remotely, there are a wealth of interactions engaged in and related with work. Similarly, there is the question of whether workplace relationships have any tangible depth or relevance outside of that environment.  Some people also persist or tolerate unhealthy relationships on the basis they fill a void and distract from tackling the real, underlying issues.  

I would also take some issue with the idea that gender roles have become more fluid. I'm not sure whether this is influencing a shift toward popularist right wing support, or whether such popularism seeks to entice people who are feeling more isolated, taking them along the classic fascist rabbit holes. Blaming women and other groups- trans people in particular for the perceived shortcomings-lack of status, access to opportunities etc. Classic themes in the fascist playbook.

Then of course, there is the stoking of fear. At present there is arguably a status anxiety, a sense of cultural de-throning. At its most basic, this is about people feeling threatened, resentful towards others and a desire not for improved opportunities, quality of life, or economic prosperity but pushing other groups down. This leads to a sense of restored dominance, dare I say superiority over others.  Right, I must whip out the patch kit and assert dominance over some wounded butyl.

 


Tuesday, 28 March 2023

Curiosity...







Left to my own devices, I became curious regarding the new Deore crankset’s suitability and wanted to check chain length, before introducing front mech, bar end shifter and cables.

 

Off came the 1x10 deore (switched to the Dawes Edge frameset for safe keeping GRAVEL ON A DUSTBOWL BUDGET: HARVESTING COMPONENTS (sevendaycyclist.com)). Plenty of Peaty’s Bicycle Assembly Grease PEATY'S BICYCLE ASSEMBLY GREASE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) graced the Shimano XT Shimano Deore XT PD-M8100 Pedals | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) pedal threads.  


The Juice Lubes Bearing Juice was still clinging to the Hollowtech II axle. Pleasing, given its primarily designed for bearings SIMPLE SERVICE: CUP 'N' CONE HUBS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). . With the new, 2x10 Deore , I opted in favour of the Peaty’s Speed Grease PEATY'S SPEED GREASE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). Everything back together and buttery smooth, 110 link chains seemed correct- no hint of straining at the lowest gears.  


Confirmed beyond reasonable doubt on the following morning’s twenty-mile test run. Nonetheless, I had plenty on, so the front mech and shifter could be fitted at my leisure. Sometimes things need to be works in progress, rather than rushed.  


Quitting while ahead some might say. Besides, the Crane Cousins sacrificed a front mech and shifter to save precious grams on their Special Products Raleigh Bikes for their epic tour...Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Richard Crane, Nicholas Crane - Google Books Ok, let’s not get too carried away...Who was I kidding???  

Saturday morning, I returned from a 430am ride and decided I’d get busy in the methodical, offer stuff up and check sense. I managed to retain the “child at Christmas” sense of urgency until 7am. Yup, that I’ll just do some preliminaries went out the window too. In for a penny... 

 

Chain split, the biggest challenge was the front mech.  


The Deore was proving a non-starter with the MPart Mount, so I decided to save time, cut my losses and reach for the STX. My hunch that the 24-year-old mech would save the day proved so. I also needed to remove the serrated panel from the rear Blumels Shiny Mudguards SKS BLUEMELS SHINY MUDGUARDS | cycling, but not ususally racing (sevendaycyclist.com) to allow unhindered cage travel. 


Cable outers cut, everything connected, I needed to adjust the travel but despite being designed for a 3x7, it slipped back and forth very snappily-without any cage manipulation. Although being a triple, I was meticulous, borderline neurotic when adjusting the limit screws.  

Having ensured it wouldn’t drop off either side, I reintroduced the Souma Leather Handlebar Tape Souma Leather Handlebar Tape | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), checked everything shifted reliably and popped the old girl away.


4.40am on Sunday morning, the acid test. Better quality inner wires tend not to require intervention but either way, I leave inner wires eight hours (or overnight) and then pull through once, if needed. I’d toyed with leaving things another day or so and switching to the fixed meantime but 440am came around and a shakedown ride called.  


No nasty surprises, the old STX shifted impeccably in both directions with no hint of cage rub, or similar teething troubles. That said; the Merida cage gracing the seat tube bottle boss chose this opportunity to expire- without warning. The tool caddy was ejected onto the front rings, causing a moment’s anxiety.  


In the darkness, I thought the worst-broken derailleur cage, popped chain... I had spare links and replacement magic links in the tool caddy in any case. I packed the cage into Ursula’s Axiom Ocean Wave City+ Seat Pack AXIOM OCEANWAVE CITY+ SEAT BAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and rode home. I’d considered this Zefal Pulse Z2 Zefal Pulse Z2 Bottle Cage | cycling, not usually racing (sevendaycyclist.com) before settling on the winged carbon fibre Boardman.  


While I understand and appreciate magic links, I’m not completely at ease with them. I much prefer a pin of some description and that’s on a derailleur transmission, let alone single speed, or fixed setup.  


A 2x10 transmission has given me a range between 26.9 and 84.3 inches some added power on the road with greater torque offroad, or when a trailer’s trundling behind.  


Staying with chains, the Muc-Off Wet lube seems to be holding its own, despite rains of biblical proportions. The sort that creates deep, lingering puddles, which can conceal a multitude of nasties-potholes are extremely fertile right now.  


John Moss has been developing a mount for the TRP HYRD calliper. Although I’m not in a rush for it (am planning to fit to coincide with cable and/or pad replacement), I'm getting quite excited...