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mad max on bikes would be amazing (quokk.au)
submitted 9 months ago by to c/sigh_fi
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[–] 28 points 9 months ago (14 children)

Good point. Now I gotta add tubes and tires to my prepper stockpiles. Chain oil, too.

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  • [–] 10 points 9 months ago (9 children)

    Those degrade over time, though. After ten years, you'd have trouble keeping your bike running.

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  • [–] 5 points 9 months ago (5 children)

    Sounds like a good reason to get used to doing plain parafin chain dips. That's what I do and it's so simple and effective. I just have a bag of candle making parafin blocks and mini like 1qt slow cooker.

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  • [–] 4 points 9 months ago (4 children)

    That won't help with the tires and inner tubes. And where are you getting the wax?

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  • [–] 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

    I'm just talking about chain oil, I don't have a solution for anything else 🙂

    Parafin seems easier to make at home since it's has been used for candles for a long time (since like the 1800s). Plus you can salvage candles in a pinch, and dipping a chain hardly takes any Parafin from the pot so the same pot will last decades. I've been using the same Parafin pot for about 5 years and the level hasn't noticeably changed.

    Not to mention that using a dry lube like parafin greatly extends the chain life because it doesn't collect dirt and sand that increases chain wear, and you wouldn't want to have to find a new chain.

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  • [–] 4 points 9 months ago

    Seriously - when I was a kid and just rode the old BMX around the neighborhood it was enough to hose it down every year or two, then douse the parts in some WD-40.

    When I started cycling more as an adult I quickly realized that I needed to learn how to maintain my bike (and that WD-40 is no good). Now, I spend so much time keeping the bike tuned and running smooth. All the drive components, tires and brakes need constant upkeep and replacement.

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  • [–] 2 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    Tires last a very long time. Tubes can be repaired over and over with patch kits. Chain lubrication helps keep the things running longer, but you can go a long time without lubricating your chain, and if you ever do need to lubricate it, you don't really need the specialized bike-specific oil, just any light machine oil.

    A typical bike emergency repair kit fits in a small pouch under the seat or inside the frame.

    There are some specialty tools you need if you are doing advanced bike maintenance, but I do most of my own repairs and I've never used half the tools in my lunchbox-sized tool kit. I know how to use a chain whip, but I've never actually needed one. I've never needed a bottom bracket tool or a crank puller. For the most part, the tools you need for bike maintenance can be found in basically any toolbox.

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