Thursday Thoughts ~~ A little Housekeeping

Summer Maintenance:  Computers, Bikes, and Lights

Computers:  I’ve always thought that the beginning of Summer is a good time to replace computer batteries.  In modern cyclecomputers, the batteries tend to last two to three years.  (Less, if it’s a wireless device.  Grrr)  Since cyclecomputers are useful for keeping training data, and maintenance information, we don’t want the battery to go dead, and thus lose all our data.  Batteries are cheap, and the time it takes is minimal.

A quick and important note:  Before attempting to replace the battery in your bike computer, record all of your data!

Bikes:  This relates to the computer item above.  Do you keep a training log?  How about a Maintenance Log for your bike?  I like to record the mileage, and date, of each and every maintenance operation performed on each bike.  This doesn’t have to be too involved.  (I use an Excel Worksheet.)

Every time a component is replaced (chain, cable, cassette, bar tape, etc.), and every time the bike receives any work (lube, clean, adjust a brake, etc.) I note it.  For most of you, you will find that your mechanic will appreciate knowing the answer to the question,  “When did you _____ ?”  Oddly, this is really rare.  I can think of only two customers of mine who maintain such records.  They get really good wear from their bikes, and really good service from me.

Lights:  With the Solstice Night ride over, it’s a really good bet that most of you are pretty much through with your lights for the next three to four months.  Would you like them to be ready for you, the next time you want them?  Would you like that to cost?  The way to accomplish this is to store you r lights correctly.

The critical item in a lighting system, is the battery.  How you handle storage of your lights depends on the battery type. 

Disposable battery type lights:  Remove the batteries at once.  If this is not done, there is a very good chance that the batteries will fully discharge and “cook off,” leaking lots of goey acid loaded gunk.  Usually this situation destroys the light.  So store this type of light without batteries installed.

Rechargeable battery type lights:  Rechargeable batteries “like” to have regular attention.  They should be stored with a full charge.  More, they should be exercised at least once every month.  This means you should use them for an hour or two, and then recharge them again.

If you don’t plan to ride at night, here are two strategies for exercising those lights.  1)  Active burn:  Go ahead and use them for an hour or two in the day time.

2)  Passive burn:  This is a bit trickier.  Light systems make heat, and they don’t like to be too hot.  If you want to burn your lights without riding them, set them up so that they are in the path of a good strong fan.  Then run them for that one or two hours, before recharging and then returning to storage.

I’d say do it now, while you are thinking  of it.