 |
| Act Sustainably with Resposibility |
Our industry excels at making us want to buy ever more products. Whether it’s to have the most current bike, the trendiest accessories, or the latest gizmo to make our riding better, or something else. While this is the obvious course for any industry looking to stay alive and profitable, it doesn’t always align with the modern goal of protecting our resources, whether they are raw materials or the finished products themselves. In our little niche of bikes, there’s a depressingly large carbon footprint involved in the creation and delivery of the products we use. And it’s easier than ever to forget that each of us plays a role in how much is consumed or wasted along the way. If we each put some thought into a few small things, we can combat the increasing trend of our “throwaway” society.
Here are three areas to consider:
1. Make your gear last longer
This is a great goal if you love your bike and want to keep it for many years, but it still applies even if you buy and sell bikes frequently. Either way, there are ways to keep your bike running well and prevent unnecessary parts replacement while you own it.
-Don’t use too much chain lube. First of all, it wastes lubricant. But more significantly, the sticky coating of excess lube attracts dirt, which then wears out your drivetrain prematurely. Use a light application of the appropriate lube for your weather and conditions, and make sure to wipe away any excess that’s clinging onto the outside of the chain, where it’s not serving any lubricant purpose, anyway.
–Replace your chain at the first measurable sign of wear. This may sound counterproductive but bear with me. Yes, you will consume a couple more chains in a year (depending on how much you ride), but the rest of your drivetrain — the expensive, materials-intensive parts — will last much longer. You can go quite some time on the same cassette and chainrings if you keep your chain fresh. So, how do you know when to replace it? Bike shops have tools that will measure the elongation (or “stretch”) of the chain and can establish when that base level of wear has occurred. In the case of newer 12-speed chains, which are more stretch-resistant, a more reliable technique is to pay attention to the side-to-side flexibility of the chain. A noticeable increase in flex can let you know it’s time to replace it, as is a degradation in shifting that has no other cause.
-Keep tires in circulation longer. When your tires wear down, move the front tire to the rear and only replace the front. Then see if another bike can use the old tire — a townie bike, or another steed that has fewer traction demands.
-And finally, clothing-related: Don’t wash your jerseys, bibs, etc. in harsh or highly fragrant detergents. These will cause your expensive clothing to break down prematurely and require replacement. Or use a detergent for technical apparel. Plus, only some garments state low heat in the dryer on the care labels. Those are typically DWR treated fabrics, where the heat reactivates the coating. Let’s be honest, technical fabrics are designed to dry fast, let them hang dry while you save energy and your gear.
bikerideghana@gmail.com
+233 544294746
No comments:
Post a Comment