Rusty Tools, Smelly Kit & Powerful Degreasers | GCN Tech Clinic

[@gcntech]

Ask us all your cycling-related questions using #askgcntech

[@DDai-qd8uk]

You know fish need oxygen to live right? You know... Those things that live in water

[@hippo71124]

Anyone also have some to tips with washing helmet straps? The smell is building up and I can’t seem to get rid of it (tried detergent, dish soap, Detol, and a combination of them 😢)

[@farizrd]

Hi guys, I recently upgraded the wheelset on my entry level rim brake bike. The new wheels are custom build by local bike shop. It has 20h with radial pattern on front wheel, while rear wheel has 24h hybrid pattern - 2 cross interlaced on drive side and radial on non drive side. I have ridden the new wheels for 400 km with no issue but I found out that many other rear wheels out there with 24h spokes has 2 cross pattern on both sides or even 3 cross. Should I change the pattern on my rear wheel? Whats the benefit for each lacing pattern? Thanks in advance. #AskGCNtech

[@paulgrimshaw8334]

Products called Waxoyl or Boesheild will protect tools. Spray on, leave to dry for a week. The solvent will evaporate leaving behind a thin firm wax. Store tools in plastic bags but only with a silica gel pack to absorb condensation.

[@matt_acton-varian]

The shoe question was pretty thought provoking. Whilst there are forces on the carbon sole that can cause material fatigue over time, the uppers, stitching, insoles and everything else are likely to wear out long before the carbon has any noticeable changes in properties.

[@on2play736]

I took apart one of my bikes and put all the bearings into a small bucket with degreaser in it to soak. Well, on a regular day it's perfectly fine if you leave it in for an hour or in most cases for several minutes then washing it down. I accidentally left the bearings for a week and when I checked it's totally damaged full of rust. I know it's cheaper to get a new set f bearings, but the point is cleaning it without spending extra on newer parts without disposing the usable old parts. Now I know to NOT forget my parts in the degreasers. Haha!

[@matthewhair6110]

When choosing amongst similar bikes at a similar price point, consider the quality of the local bike shop that sells them. Is it a place where you'll be happy to go back to for parts and service? I've got a garage full of Trek bikes, not because they're the absolute best bike or best price (they're certainly not the best price!), but because the LBS that sells and services them is fantastic.

[@hippo71124]

I second that! Used to have a cannonadale, which I loved. But the shop, not so much. Now I am very happy with a Trek because Trek Sydney is a very pleasant and confidence-inspiring shop to return to.

[@crailtap811]

You always want to wash your waterproof clothes! You should wash and dry from time to time. Especially after a big bike trip or a heavy rain storm. I working for a company that specializes in outdoor clothing and you must wash and dry (in dryer) to ensure that the water proof liners and properties remain active. Washing removes dirt and natural oils that will breakdown the fabrics quicker than normal (make sure you wash in non scented, no fabric softeners either), and the drying (low heat for about 10 minutes then hang dry) will re-aggravate the liner and waterproofing. I hope this helps everyone. Cheers.

[@klarkolofsson]

While it’s true you are most probably destroying our water while doing it. Stop buying teflon garments people.

[@diedrino]

What if I don’t have a dryer?

[@crailtap811]

@ hang dry is fine, the key is the washing, most importantly. If you have access to a dryer at any point, once or twice will be best.

[@martinsolder]

​@@diedrinoiron with a warm iron to reactivate the waterproofing

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

The coating washes off and buying them all over. More fun and money given the increasingly high quality quality of service and workmanship,? Spot On well done!

[@2009socalroadie]

To the person talking about expensive bikes from different manufacturers I would suggest looking at their support,ie crash replacement, warranty issues, and turn around time if you have to send it in.

[@smithandshortdogs]

On the last question, the best odometer I have found out there is Strava. It keeps track of the miles each bike has done seperately, as long as you tell it what ride was what bike. I use Lezynne GPS myself and they have a built in odometer as described. If you set up multiple bikes on the same head unit they also ask which one you are using before each ride so they can keep the per bike customisations separate... which includes an odo for each bike.

[@WestYorkshireCycling]

The problem is Strava uses GPS and can often under record your miles. On the desktop version you can get Strava to correct the distance on a ride. Remember GPS is not accurate for civilian uses.

[@smithandshortdogs]

@WestYorkshireCycling as a former USAF member with a secondary capability in electronic communications and an irrational interest in physics, I can tell you that your info on civilian GPS is outdated. Civilian systems were allowed the same accuracy as military ones in non combat zones in 2000. Military systems like the old PLGR and newer DAGR have two basic differences to civilian ones. Firstly they are dual band capable so can still work with full frequency if civilian GPS transmissions are degraded. Secondly they allow encryption, which from my understanding is to prevent spoofing. As to accuracy, GPS is more accurate (within limits) the faster you go. The bigger problem with missing mileage is typically that you sometimes loose a lock. If this happens most software will just draw a straight line from where positioning wad lost to where it was regained. If you went around a curve you will loose some distance. Cheers.

[@gcntech]

Hey thanks for sharing it!

[@WestYorkshireCycling]

@@smithandshortdogs Incorrect. GPS equipment uses two GPS signals. Civilian one GPS signal. That is why GPS is not accurate for civilian use. Source US Government www.gps.gov/systems/gps/performance/accuracy/#:~:text=top%20of%20page-,Is%20military%20GPS%20more%20accurate%20than%20civilian%20GPS%3F,while%20military%20receivers%20use%20two.

[@smithandshortdogs]

@WestYorkshireCycling respectfully, you should read the whole article with citations and cross references. What you linked to says civilian systems can generally be MORE accurate (you know as long as you read beyond the dual channel part). Here are more reasons civilian sets are just as or more accurate: Typically military systems in a permissive environment are run in single channel mode. Typically civilian systems made in the last 10 years support the civilian enhancements mentioned in your article. Typically civilian systems can access satellite constellations not available on militaty systems like Galileo or GLONAS. So no... on a typical day, a military GPS is not more accurate. Generally, unless something kinetic is occurring, it is on par or less accurate than the civilian version.

[@H457ur]

Strava also has a mileage tracker in the gear section of the settings-you can enter a default bike and then track your other bikes as well-and if you are disciplined about making sure that you record which bike you use, then you will know your mileage. The cool thing about tracking in Strava is that you can set a bike for a ride type, i.e., road, gravel, e-bike, etc, and if you set the ride type it will default to the bike that was set.

[@kurtroeder8785]

I use an ultrasonic cleaner and learned the hard way. Long cycles over 10 minutes, especially with heat, can etch the finish on a casette or chain and can also damage anodized parts. Be really careful with aggressive degreasers because steel can rust, flake and spall underwater, Ollie can talk about this. For a new chain, I soak for 15 minutes in a small amount of mild water soluble solvent like alcohol or acetone to soften the factory grease. Next, take out of the solvent and immediately sonicate for 2 to 5 minutes with diluted degreaser. Rinse or sonicate a second time in clean water to remove degreaser. Take the chain out and wipe it off with some acetone or alcohol. Hang it up somewhere warm to completely dry.

[@andrewmcalister3462]

I hope Mark is getting paid overtime for all the stand-in segments on GCN, as well as his GTN work. Thanks Mark.

[@ahnilatedahnilated7703]

For a good degreaser, I use purple power in my ultrasonic cleaner (50/50 water/degreaser) and run it for 30mn. Then take the chain out, rinse it vigorously with water, wipe it down with a micro fiber towel, and blow it dry with an air compressor. Never had any rust issues.

[@chuchuchip]

I use a battery powered hand held high speed blower (canned air replacement) to blow my chain dry. I live in an apartment.

[@bikecommuter24]

As many have said here washing your waterproof clothing I got some goretex jackets and I wash those and then in the dryer for a few minuted then hang up in the bathroom with doors open for air flow, and then apply the waterproof spray as needed. I wore them a lot when I was riding motorcycles as my only transport, now with bicycles I still wear them on occasion, I live in California so it does not rain a lot here compared to other places. Really simple habit Once a month check your spares and tools over, I give my bike a monthly check for bolts, cables, tires, brake pads and pull the stuff out of my saddle bag to look them over, for my commute I just carry a spare tpu tube, tire tool, co2 cartridge inflator, modified multi-tool it only has the chain breaker and the few Allen wrenches I need for the bike, and a presta to Schrader adapter in case I need air from the service station. LOL I check my bike over on the day I pay my rent. PS my commute is3km so walking the bike home is an option if I break a chain, lol I would rather walk it home and work on it on the work stand than trying to fix it on the side of the road, but if I go for a long weekend ride than I bring my pump and chain pliers with links along.

[@IAAITKEN]

From hiking perspective for washing - Never had an issue using below: grangers tech wash / performance wash. Then if waterproof jackets, use the grangers repel afterwards.

[@BrianBell-p6y]

For stinky technical clothing, I've has success soaking them in a water / vinegar solution for 15-20 minutes then washing as normal.

[@stankotext]

+1 the new waterproof fabrics want to be washed regularly to remove the oils and salt that hinders the hydrophobic surface. To remove odor, wash in cold with 1/2 cup of white vinegar (and minimal cleanser). I do this for all kit.

[@kovie9162]

Probably not directly related but one of the most effective rust removers is also one of the most notorious rust creators, hydrochloric acid. In diluted form and for short dunks it's very effective in removing rust from old parts, so long as you immediately rinse off the parts with water after you remove it from the acid bath and then soak it in an alkaline bath (baking soda and water are what most people use) and thoroughly agitate them (to avoid hydrogen embrittlement). But if you put a container of even very dilute HCI in an closed space with iron-based objects, they will rust in no time. Not sure of the chemistry behind this but it's well known. So perhaps the cleaning solvent used here actually caused the rusting, because I'm sure that HCI isn't the only one that does this. Perhaps the solvent used has oxygen in bonded form and it reacted with the iron in the chain? I'd stick to mineral spirits, brake cleaner or some sort of approved bike or car part degreaser, then soak it in alcohol to remove any solvent or cleaner residue, and air dry in dry conditions if possible.

[@markusmencke8059]

Not sure what’s in the mentioned Fenwicks (couldn’t find an ingredient list) but as for HCl, it first forms Ferrous II Chloride (white-greyish powder), which then can react again and forms Ferrous III Oxide (Fe2O3, aka „Rust“). Full reaction can be seen on Wikipedia. HCl also is a bit problematic to work with (requires some protection iirc), so I’m not sure it would be in a degreaser like this one. As for extra Oxygen, that could probably be it. Especially if it is released in monoatomic form (O1). That’s what makes H2O2 so efficient as a cleaning agent - the released single Oxygen atom reacts with anything that isn’t a Noble Gas or Gold or Platinum before you can say „oops“, figuratively burning it to ash.

[@GregoryVeizades]

Naw, best rust remover is Evaporust.

[@hughbriz]

To keep tools rust free, I think camellia oil is best - a quick wipe down with a very small amount works well and it dries a bit too so does not feel too slippery. Also biodegradable and good for skin. Mostly used for gardening tools etc. so available from fancy garden shops or on line.

[@mathewrose2951]

The advice about using Nikwax wash and waterproofing treatment is absolutely valid, but if you have a case of organic stink penetrating the fabric, get a bottle of MIRAZYME, an enzyme wash, to soak the garment for a day before doing the Nikwax wash procedure. I can offer this advice as a former elite rower who got spray from sometime less than pure freshwater rivers on my kit to mix with sweat and dirt. It may cost a bit to wash your jacket this way, but I guarantee you it's cheaper than 300 pounds for a new gabba shell.

[@mikehoward7777]

Re rusty tools like the multi tool. I spray with lithium white grease, then wrap in a small piece of cotton. Old shirt pocket works well. Then put in a plastic sandwich bag. Stops it rattling and the cotton keeps the tool from becoming overly greasy.

[@ghowell13]

Heres a top tip for cleaning BO from clothing, but youll need to be near an ice rink that also happens to have an ozone machine for cleaning hockey equipment. Really not joking here. Should cost around 5-10 dollars, ponds, or euros. Takes about 5-10 minutes. And you can likely take ALL your kits you own in and do at once, as the machines are made to put an ice hockey bag i to, zipped open. Hope this helps someone, as it kills any and all bacteria immediately, has a neutral smell left behind, and you could wear any of it immediately.

[@DrJakeK]

The same happened to me with my dura ace chain and ultrasonic cleaner. I did leave it in the cleaner longer than usual, and was using the heater function.

[@bigbikerjohn64]

I use Sportsuds for all my athletic wear. For troubling odour/stain spots; use this SS in a diluted (as instructed) in those areas before washing. I wash my Castelli wear in warm water (just enough for the SS to work) and has never been an issue (I use it with all my Assos wear too). Hang to dry. 👍

[@888johnmac]

for the rusty tools .. chuck a few of those Silica packs many things are shipped with in with them ( once the tools are cleaned obvs )

[@johnstrac]

@1:50, maybe try putting one of those silica gel sachets in the bidon, just a thought.

[@TravisBrodie]

ive had good luck recently washing my kit with adding in a little bit of Oxy Clean odor buster powder

[@jr_kulik]

If you don’t want to use specialty antibacterial sportwash detergent, you can just put some standard white vinegar in the softener compartment, it will kill all germs during the final rinse.

[@batnball69]

I really enjoy your feed and wanted to ask a couple of questions. 1) I have a dual power meter, and I’m noticing a significant power imbalance between my legs. My right leg is noticeably stronger, with the best balance I've achieved, being around 43/57 when pushing hard. However, during easier rides, it can shift as much as 33/67. Could you share any advice to best address and improve this imbalance? 2) Carbon or steel spokes?

[@ThePassiton]

0:46 My first tought was that depending on what materials the ultrasonic cleaner is constructed of (cheaper ones i have noticed tend to use copper or brass for drains, attached to aluminium or steel tank) there might be some galvanic corrosion action going on and combined with the high concentration cleaner as an electrolyte it might contribute to the chain oxidising quite rapidly, not sure tough since we don't have all the details and my electrochemistry is a bit rusty.

[@LakesLee]

Poo bags for the win, put stuff in, spin it round then fold/wrap it up. Keeps my insulin pump dry as a bone and that definitely needs to be waterproof..!!

[@Grizzrock]

Re: the smelly jacket, I find laundry vinegar (scented is great) is the best for removing sweat odours. Soak the jacket in it overnight then add a capful each time you wash it. Hopefully you can find some where you live!

[@stankotext]

Plain supermarket white vinegar works fine too.

[@richardk6043]

Was looking for this comment. Vinegar is body safe, colour safe, colour locking. Performance clothes are sweat wicking which means water wicking so they resist laundry machine water. Soak kit in diluted regular white vinegar before washing; kills all bacteria. Nobody likes the smelly kid. Jk.

[@PixelVibe42]

1:54 I always wrap my bike tools up in a pair of latex gloves and shove them into a bidon. Stops them rattling, stops them getting scuffed. And all your road-side repairs are done with a clean pair of latex gloves!

[@slowridr]

Solution to kit pong is Vanish powder. Works at 15°C, quick wash, good spin, dry using a dehumidifier not a tumble dryer (and don’t just drip dry either).

[@jkmacie]

Had a similar 105 chain problem after a long degreaser soak. It rusted on the bike. Possibly poor lubrication but never happened before.

[@michaellitscher9456]

I used Super Clean degreaser, full-strength, on my chain and chain rings, and it damaged the anodizing on the chain, chain rings, and cranks. It has a really high pH (a very strong base). Strong acids and bases can react with other materials, including metals.

[@kovie9162]

I use Super Clean on car parts, just used it today in fact, but I immediately rinse it off and dry the parts, and they're generally not the kind you see normally so any discoloration caused isn't really a big deal, plus I generally treat them for rust and then paint them black so it's irrelevant. But yeah, it's really strong, and you can tell that it's very basic by the slippery residue it leaves on your skin (which is why I try to use gloves with it). I'd never use it or a similar degreaser on bike parts, just mineral spirits, citrus or brake cleaner, then a final rinse or soak with alcohol. Rule of thumb is as close to neutral pH as possible, then rinse off with water or alcohol and air dry. Usually dishwashing detergent is enough.

[@凸Bebo凸]

fail

[@philipflipflopg4065]

I have left a chain in the ultrasonic bath with white spirits for too long. It must have taken the protective coating of the chain. It did then start to rust

[@jakebrakebill]

I like the Ziploc bags that some nuts and cookies come in. they're not huge and heavier than a food Ziploc and work great for tools and things you want to keep dry.

[@nigelwilkinson-xg9us]

I bought the same jacket on eBay and it stunk of sweat. I soaked it in a diluted vinegar solution over night then put it through the washing machine. Did this twice and the jacket was completely fresh and the smell never came back.

[@edithmaverickfolger4014]

I had a fleece jacket that had been left in a lost and found for over a year. It stunk but otherwise was a nice one. It took three washes and spraying with Febreze in between to get the stink gone. The Febreze perfume did stick around for a bit after that though--next time I'm trying the vinegar!

[@davidingalls3881]

Yes for vinegar. 2 kids sport kits for lacrosse, wrestling, soccer over period of 10+ years worked wonders getting rid of certain smells including working great to get rid of mildew smell. Added to detergent (sometimes not) let basin/bucket/washing machine fill up and let it soak for an hour of so before finishing washing it.

[@VictorElGreco]

As Daimler-Benz commercials would go, “You don’t buy the car, you buy the company”. At that £7000 price point, buy into the company with the best support mechanism for repairs, parts, etc.

[@MartinBrown-mb7pz]

Strava lets you monitor total distance on different bikes. Doesn't split it into years though...

[@songfta]

Fair point, tho simple to suss out if you're handy with scripting languages.

[@leburgh8242]

Oxygen is present in small quantities in all aqueous solutions 🙃

[@oldfatzed]

sinkdstink is a wetsuit enzyme based cleaner it is the bomb

[@overcookit1433]

Shaving your armpits already reduces the risk of all clothes getting smelly (not only bike stuff). Additionally, I use an antitranspirant deo before each ride, as washing them to often bleaches out th colours; e.g. my beloved Adidas black jerseys which are the only ones that in size XS are not flapping around (just a little bit on the back in the area of my shoulders) have changed to dark brown here and there.

[@larrylem3582]

Iron can rust submerged in cleaning solvent if the liquid contains oxygen. Iron will rust under water.

[@farizrd]

Hi guys, I recently upgraded the wheelset on my entry level rim brake bike. The new wheels are custom build by local bike shop. It has 20h with radial pattern on front wheel, while rear wheel has 24h hybrid pattern - 2 cross interlaced on drive side and radial on non drive side. I have ridden the new wheels for 400 km with no issue but I found out that many other rear wheels out there with 24h spokes has 2 cross pattern on both sides or even 3 cross. Should I change the pattern on my rear wheel? Whats the benefit for each lacing pattern? Thanks in advance. #AskGCNtech

[@bengt_axle]

To keep your kit smelling clean: Prepare a solution of laundry detergent and water and use this spray solution to hand wash (with water rinse) the kit after a ride and hang it to dry. This does not replace normal washing but what it does is remove most of the salt and can kill some of the bacteria (you can also add a tiny amount of bleach to this washing solution). To deodorize, you can wash the kit normally and add some baking soda to the wash water. Wool is naturally odor repellent and there are some companies making merino wool jerseys in a modern style. These only need a handwashing in water at the end of the day and can be worn several times before machine washing.

[@PixelVibe42]

I read a paper online about 2 years ago (can't now find it!) that explained bacteria bond more readily to synthetic fibres in modern sports clothing - which is why over time they stink even after 'proper' washing.

[@bengt_axle]

@@PixelVibe42 Yes, that's exactly what is happening. There is also a special deodorizing soap called Hex Performance and it is made for hockey and other equipment, and it also works quite well for cycling kit. Avoid putting your kit in the dryer as the heat can damage the material, and in my experience, actually "cook" in the contaminants that cause odor.

[@lwittrock1]

Testing on Carbon Fiber reveals that it will last 50 years at minimum, meaning no stress fractures or fatigue. There's no need to worry about your carbon shoes wearing out, at least not the carbon section/portion.

[@adamolig3865]

uhhhh, testing on carbon fiber could also reveal it breaks in one load application in 10 sec - it all depends on the load level compared to the geometric size of the carbon fiber part. So it absolutely can break or de-laminate if under-designed for the repeated loads being applied by your foot during pedaling. I suppose it's really a question of how much do you trust your shoe brand/manufacturer?

[@凸Bebo凸]

The resin in carbon fiber breaks into a random pattern after 2 years. Sometimes this pattern is strong, sometimes it isn't. You have a bit too much faith in the carbon friend.

[@ebikescrapper3925]

1/2 teaspoon 2.5ml 1 teaspoon 5ml Tablespoon 15ml

[@huggcycles1545]

I would have thought that direct to consumer brands would be cheaper, or are they ripping us off!?

[@pembrokeshiredan]

#askgcntech Hi guys! I recently had to retire my old Garmin head unit, and now have a bleeping Wahoo Elemnt Roam instead. Is there any way to customise the bleeping notifications on this bleeping device? I know I can turn them off completely, but some are actually useful, such as when I'm approaching a junction (though to be honest I'd prefer it if the bleeping Wahoo bleeped to tell me if I'd missed my bleeping turn). I don't need a bleeping notification when I've stopped and the bleeping unit has auto-paused. I don't need a bleeping notification when I've started moving again. And I really don't need a bleeping alert when I'm about to climb a bleeping hill - I can see that on the road in front of me! How do I customise the bleeping bleeping?

[@broccoliwobbles]

#askgcntech As a cheapskate, what's the absolute limit of the number of patches i can do before replacing my inner tube?

[@aveedub7403]

I spray the inside of my helmets with s household antibacterial spray such a Dettol, and would do the same to armpits in clothes too, from time to time. If you do this from purchase and regularly job done!

[@bigbikerjohn64]

In regards to spending a large amount of money on a bike; compare the warranty! Some are lifetime and some have a limited time. Super important when spending a ton of money.

[@bewster7]

All brands are not equal. Do your research (Mapdec have a great video). Piss poor QA from some.

[@mattkavanaugh5623]

Hambini has also done some YT reviews I think. Also, some brands charge a big premium for the name (designer label pricing) so you get lesser components for the same total built-bike price than some of the other brands.

[@annetted380]

#askgcntech I have a S-works SL7 and was going downhill at about 80 km/h. This is when the bike started to wobble. I could hardly control the bike anymore and almost crashed. Is this an indication that there is something wrong with my bike? What could be causing such a wobble? #askgcntech

[@windscreen91]

What happened to the usual mic(s) you have in the studio? Usually the sound is top notch, but this video has a lot of hard surface reverb and a subtle hum (maybe around 80 Hz).

[@hartstrengthendurance9643]

if your tools are getting damp, try putting a piece of white bread in with them. Well, that works for cookies, maybe not as practical for tools. But you could try a dessicant pack?

[@Grizzrock]

#askgcntech Hi. Does GCN's resident bike washing guru (aka Ollie) have any tips for cleaning bikes without using water? Here in northern Finland winter is coming and the temperature will pretty much stay below zero 24h a day for 5-6 months, so washing outdoors with a hose is impossible (and no I'm definitely not allowed to wash my bike in the shower!). Currently I use wet wipes for the frame, fork and wheels and a spray-on drive train cleaner which I just wipe off with a damp cloth, so not ideal (wet lube, no wax sorry Ollie). Any "dry cleaning" products I should know about (especially for the chain)? Thanks!

[@凸Bebo凸]

Rubbing alcohol + microfiber cloth works fine for everything but tree sap.

[@Drew-e8s]

#askgcntech Hi, more of an equipment question than tech. I wondered if you have any recommendations for bike security while bike packing? My "popping to the shops" Kryptonite New York lock weighs close to 2kg and I really don't want to carry that on a trip, when I'll be using a much nicer bike (that doesn't usually get parked anywhere apart from inside the house). Thank you!!

[@凸Bebo凸]

The 120 dollar Abus foldy lock is pretty strong and light.

[@dannyheyrman4848]

#askgcntech i recently bought a smart trainer. I run a 48 T on my road bike. does this smaller ring affects the power, distance and speed on the rouvy or zwift app? what will the affect be on speed, power and distance if i put on a 52 front ring or use my gravel bike wich has a 1x 38T front ring. I use an older elite direto smart trainer

[@titomon]

#askgcntech Hi! How do you guys maintain your helmets after rides? I know there is a spray you can buy to deodorize helmets but what other methods do you guys use? Thanks in advance!

[@DH-.]

Anyone wear baklavas or similar things to keep your face warm?. And are there winter gloves specifically for biking?

[@heksogen4788]

Any windproof and thus often waterproof gloves that give you sufficient dexterity to push the button/lever will be fine.

[@astroturd]

I wear a merino wool balaclava, and it works great! Also for winter cycling check out gloves for cross country skiing. A lot of them are windproof which is what you want. But keep in mind that for cycling you need relatively warmer gloves than for cross country skiing because your upper body isn't producing nearly as much heat. For instance in around +2 degrees Celsius I use XC skiing gloves that are designed for -8 to -20 C.

[@chrisridesbicycles]

I really cold conditions, most gloves will get cold over time. I have two pairs from Castelli that are pretty good. With the thicker option, it gets a bit tricky to shift on the 2 button Shimano levers.

[@LegSpinna]

I prefer to eat baklava. Very nice they are too.

[@Joda91]

#askgcntech Howdy! How many watts do you actually lose by having a normal/small saddlebag on your bike? (I know that bigger saddlebags can be more aero) I had this discussion in a another forum and some people didn't gave any number on how many watts you were loosing but they said that they could notably feel the difference between having/not having a saddlebag on their bike. Me, myself and I can not feel the difference and I usually ride in an average of 30kph.

[@chrisridesbicycles]

I remember a video with aero testing where the big long bike packing bag was a little bit more aero than without bag. So I would not expect a big difference.

[@ronohronohronoh]

Hey gang, I live in a small apartment in London, and my girlfriend won’t allow me to store my bikes inside over winter (fair enough…). However, we do have a balcony. Is it okay to keep my bikes covered on the balcony throughout the winter months? Would additional layers over the bikes minimise potential issues? Thanks! #askgcntech

[@SedatedGhostwriter]

Sports clothes that smell: white vinegar, diluted in water. Acidic enough to break down the cause of the smell, but not strong enough to destroy the clothes and coloring.

[@SherlynTalactac]

Try adding vinegar to your wash. The sour smell disappears.

[@jamesmckenzie3532]

I'm using a wash solution called Defunkify. It removes all sorts of smells from my kit and other stinky clothes.

[@lovemesomedetail]

philosophical take on the "where to measure chain wear" question... above... under... how about *beyond*???

[@adyjclarke]

Sodium bicarbonate gets rid of smells. Waterproof stuff should be washed using soap flakes

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

Same Price Point? Fit and Intuition. Making a long term investment hopefully not hangin out in the Indoor Car Park.

[@patsmith4462]

Rusty Tools: Seal tools in a plastic bag & put in a chunk of camphor. Camphor evaporates slowly & deposits oil on items nearby.

[@lwittrock1]

Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Rub it on the area and let stand for 5min. rinse then wash in the laundry. it will remove bacteria and stains

[@Imagine2035]

hydrogen peroxide can break down pigments and colors

[@benoitbvg2888]

Chain left too long in alcohol can rust. I've experienced it. No alcohol is 100% pure, so there's always a little water.

[@DetroitJohnny]

I have found that the most fragile thing in my cycling kit is the reflective tape.

[@harleypurcell7766]

Titanic rusted… no oxygen 😂😂😂

[@doctorscoot]

Sea Water contains dissolved oxygen. If it doesn’t it’s called ‘anoxic’ and there be no (oxygen breathing) life in it.

[@dperreno]

What about the O in H2O?

[@凸Bebo凸]

Just use mineral turps. Degreaser does not belong on a chain, especially ones with tons of water in them.

[@frantzs1077]

4:04 Color. Color is more important than brand.

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Anti-stink trick from the MTB side: Putt the stuff in a plastic bag and into the freezer. This also kills the bacteria.

[@thestomach]

Bacteria are preserved by freezing. Freezing just stops their growth. Once thawed, the bacteria will continue to grow.

[@larryt.atcycleitalia5786]

Why remove the perfectly good lube on a new chain? Wipe it down with a rag wetted with solvent if you worry about the grease being sticky and catching dirt. Spray some anti-rust stuff on your tools and put 'em in a plastic bag. If you have to get 'em out to work on your bike...dirty hands will be the least of your problems. ..that's why cycling shorts are BLACK. Stinky kit? Wash and dry IN THE SUN (I admit that's hard in the UK) as sunshine kills a lot of the stinky stuff. Bikes these days are all made-in-China...the only real difference is warranty if something fails...you'll probably do better with a big-brand than no-name. Carbon shoes? They make springs out of carbon, unless your shoe sole is cracked it should be OK almost forever. Chain checker? Doesn't matter where you stick the thing in, but check in various places and average 'em. Wahoo? Don't know- don't care. Should I give you an address to send the check? :-)

[@chuckgliderable]

Material science and corrosion questions? Where's Ollie when you need him?

[@PoulHansenDK]

What happened to the microphones? They sound awful!

[@littlemrdrummer]

Not as fun as Manon, but it'll do.

[@vo2maximus177]

BO smell on clothing? I'd have thought using a biological powder would prevent that, even on a 30C wash. I have bike clothing that's years old, I never have any residual smells. A caveat is that some people are allergic to bio detergents.

[@kalijasin]

Can someone tell me which f@&king screw driver too use on the front and rear derailleur? The H, L, and B screws or whatever the hell its called. The LT woo woo derailleur broke - it snaped in half, so now i'm using this cheap piece of junk Shimano Acera RD-M3020-SGS. #AskGCNTech

[@PoulHansenDK]

Keep your tools in a cloth with oil.

[@klarkolofsson]

Buy clothes that are made in majority of natural fibers, wool would be preferable. Be happy.

[@bobfoster687]

Plastic bag with silicon desiccant packet!

[@Graps19]

105 chains are prone to surface rust. If you degrease then you need treat the whole chain with WD 40 or equivalent. Then use your chain lube. Use vinegar in your wash to get rid of odour. Just a small amount in the wash and also in the rinse.

[@rayF4rio]

Also there are loads of fake 105 chains out there. I would check the original packaging in detail, its very difficult to tell.

[@bikingchupei2447]

@@rayF4rio let me tell you, genuine shimano 12 speed chains rust like crazy on the outer link plates, anything below the xtr m9100 chain that is.

[@rayF4rio]

@@bikingchupei2447 I've never run a Shimano chain. Just Campy record and Sram Red flat top. In very humid environments, thankfully never had any rust issues with them.

[@markperroni69]

WATER = H2O = 2X HYDROGEN + OXYGEN Soooooooo....... There's oxygen in water....... Soooooooooooo...... Metal will oxidize in water!!

[@biketrip2011]

One thing to minimize the stank of your cycling clothes is to not put them in the laundry bin until they're dried. Once I started letting my clothes air dry before washing, the stank has significantly improved.

[@thomasdavidbassett483]

Don't just go to your local independent bike shop and pick their brains then go home and buy of the Internet. If you get a relationship with your local shop it will be better in the long run. You can't ask the price Sh***ers to sort out a problem on a Friday afternoon when you have an event on the Saturday.

[@jeremynorth]

Why do you entertain so many stupid questions? Most of them don't need you to answer. Should I put my left shoe on first or my right?