Released & Regreased

 

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.  

      

Regina & Revision

 Knowing there would be some lead time before the Park Tool materialised, I took the opportunity to periodically flush the freewheel with PTFE spray, leaving it resting, allowing the lube to seep deep inside. Theoretically, this gives best change of release with minimal to moderate effort.  

The tool is coming from Germany since UK suppliers were talking in terms of 5 weeks. Recent transactions with mainland Europe suggest 10 days, although I won’t be holding my breath and I’m also hoping not to be hit with an unexpected (and unwelcome) import charge, since the UK is no longer part of the single market...Something that is having a catastrophic effect upon many businesses and leading to wider shortages, which are thus far, largely masked by the pandemic.  

Re-greasing the hub threads and skewers, with a compatible grease is a given. Lithium pastes may cling on but will lead to galvanic corrosion (seizure) later down the line. Depending on the quality, lithium pastes can also turn a little “clumpy” over time.  

That said; they still have some merit in old-fashioned cup n’ cone hubs, which would include the Athena. However, Park will be doing these duties. Partly as it needs using up and I’m trying to avoid having too many opened greases hanging around-stock rotation you might say.  

My other defaults are Muc-Off Bio grease TESTED : MUC-OFF BIO GREASE (sevendaycyclist.com) and Green Oil Eco Grease TWELVE MONTH TEST: GREEN OIL ECO GREASE (sevendaycyclist.com), which is reassuringly stiff (long-lasting) for an eco-blend. On par with those infused with PTFE but harmless to seals and other, rubberised components.  

Grease guns are the neatest, cleanest way of delivering lube to surfaces, although sometimes it’s easier to apply via examination gloves, say in cold weather when some formulas assume a thicker, less mobile consistency. 

Thus far, the Bat Wax is proving temperature stable and remains very clean, on both fixed and Ursula, which is pleasing. Miles per application also seems favourable, by genre standards, although miles are suggesting topping up little and often (weekly) gets the very best from it.  

In “Oh well, might as well” mode, I decided to strip the Teenage Dream’s chain and drive side crank, since these were sporting a surprisingly tenacious residual glaze-the remnants of a ceramic wax lube. Being a petrochemical blend, I would need to strip it anyway. Another little job off the list.  

The square taper Campagnolo crankset literally popped off the taper and plenty of grease remained on the bolt threads. These were several years old and otherwise untouched, which illustrates how often I ride it in the rain.  

Those couple of drops on the Kinekt 2.1 Suspension seat post KINEKT 2.1 SUSPENSION SEAT POST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) also seem to be keeping its moving parts quiet and sweet.  Talking of which, though roads in my locale are quieter and crucially, less frenetic than other parts of the UK, there’s been a steady increase in traffic as the lockdown restrictions remained and are now steadily relaxing.  

Though caution and critical thinking need to be deployed when watching footage, regrettably a third lockdown is on the cards. Open borders and the novelty of public spaces, such as pubs and bars reopening are an incendiary mix, least since alcohol and social distancing seem mutually incompatible.  

A few months regular service and I’ve reached my conclusions re the Zefal Adventure R11 Waterproof Saddlebag ZEFAL ADVENTURE R11 WATERPROOF SADDLEBAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) switching to the Kinekt Waterproof Seat PackKINEKT WATERPROOF SADDLE BAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), I was surprised to discover the Kinekt 2.1 had left a noticeable calling card on the Zefal’s sturdy fabric, suggesting there’s a sound argument for suspension specific luggage, or at least checking compatibility with closer scrutiny.  

Rule of thumb, based upon long-term pairings with suspension posts, suggests supple fabrics that can assume the suspension components’ profile fare better than laminated/ TPU types.