There's not much left of this year, is there?
What kind of year has it been for you all?
Me?
It’s been a great year thanks to Grampus winning the championship (laughs).
Speaking of the end of the year, it's time for the "Big Clean."
However, it's still a bit early for house cleaning.
Speaking of a big clean, is there an old MTB or Road Bike that your father used to ride just sleeping away, covered in dust in the storage shed?
That's right, Japanese sports bikes from the 80s or early 90s (like MountainCat, Muddy Fox, Miyata Ridge Runner, Wildweat, etc.)—they really don't break; they were built to last.
I'm sure some of you are thinking, "Come to think of it, I do have a bike like that at home."
For example, a bike like this.
Also, aren't there many people who use their bike every day but haven't performed any maintenance on it since they bought it?
At a glance, it might look fine, but there are parts you can't see (like the various bearings) that may be worn down and in need of oiling or regreasing.
For example, a bike like this.
However, there is a big difference between "riding normally" and "still rideable."
So, I want you to know the fact that "bicycles can break, too."
It’s not just bikes—anything with a physical form will eventually break or wear out.
However, it is possible to extend the life of these items through maintenance and parts replacement.
But if you continue to ride while hearing strange noises, it could lead to irreversible damage.
Most of us Japanese start our cycling lives on a "mamachari" (city bike).
After that, we switch to what are called sports bikes.
Basically, you ride a mamachari without worrying about anything (even if the chain is rusty, the spokes are broken, or the brakes are weak).
It's something you use every day, but you're strict about repair costs, right?
(To put it bluntly, you don't want to pay several thousand yen to repair a 10,000 yen city bike; you just ride it until you can't, then replace it.)
Inevitably, right after switching, you can't quite shake that "mamachari" mindset.
I believe that those who switched to sports bikes were looking for something more than just a city bike (coolness, mobility, the joy of cycling as a sport, etc.).
(If you were fine with "normal," you would have just stuck with that.)
I’m getting a bit side-tracked from the "Big Clean" topic, so let me get back on track.
To put it simply: refresh your favorite bike!
In other words, by doing an "overhaul," inspecting the details, and replacing parts, this is the only way to ensure you can keep riding your bike for a long time to come.
The bar tape is torn.
The sprockets (gear teeth) are quite worn down.
The back of the BB (bottom bracket) is dirty too, isn't it?
The photo above shows a bike that was brought in after roughly three years of zero maintenance.
First, we take everything apart.
The wheels—the rotating parts—cannot be judged by their exterior, so we take these apart too.
The bearings (the balls that make the wheels spin smoothly) look like pinballs.
The photo is of the rear wheel, but we disassemble all the parts shown, clean them, oil and regrease them, and then reassemble.
(I'll show you photos of disassembling the derailleur another time.)
The bar tape is re-wrapped, the cables are replaced with new ones,
the bottom bracket area that you don't usually pay attention to is thoroughly cleaned, and of course, the chain is replaced with a brand new one.
That pitch-black rear wheel is now squeaky clean.
And here is the photo of the whole bike.
That feeling—yes, the excitement from when you first bought the bike—comes back to life.
The bike is refreshed.
The rider's mood is refreshed.
It can be your favorite bike for a long time to come.
Having said that, it is true that it's hard to judge these things yourself.
Remember back to when it was new.
(The feel of the brakes, the gear shifting, the feeling when pedaling.)
If you are concerned, please bring it in.
We can make that judgment.
(When to replace consumable parts, which parts need changing, etc.)
It will take a little time, about 1 week to 10 days.
Overhaul costs start from ¥16,000.
If you've been riding the same way for a long time, please come by and see us.
==SAL==
Spring Cleaning 2010
