Hi Kevin,

I just finished the MS-150 and rode in the rain. My bike is nasty! It has this oily stuff all over it and with the mud and gritty stuff I was thinking I should take it to the carwash. Is this a good idea?

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

Stop! Please don’t go to the car wash. There are grease seals on the bearings of your bike but they can’t handle the water pressure. What you will do is to force that nasty stuff into the bearings. It will be a very costly mistake.

You need to either take the bike to your bike shop for cleaning or learn how to properly wash the bike yourself. Here is an article I wrote on the steps to properly clean your bike. The only thing that is a little out of date is I use Dumonde Tech lube now or Purple Extreme. Both are the best I have seen. Look at the next question regarding lubes.

Kevin

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Hi Kevin,

I see so many types of chain lube at bike shops. I have also read that WD40 is best. What do you use at KGS Bikes?

Ken

Hi Ken,

Chain lube discussions can approach the level of politics and religion for differences of opinion and strongly held beliefs. While we use either Dumonde Tech or Purple Extreme here we also think ProGold is a good lube.

First, WD40 is not a chain lube, but a solvent. It also is a spray, meaning stuff gets sprayed all over your bike. Please don’t use WD40 as a chain lube! Second, I don’t like the wax based lubes like White Lightning on chains because the lube doesn’t stay in between the plates where it is needed. I like White Lightning on Speedplay cleats, though.

ProGold is a fine lube but I think Purple Extreme is a little better. We have used both for many years. My current favorite, however, is Dumonde Tech because I think it works even better, plus you apply it before a ride, and all the others require you to apply it after the ride and let it sit overnight. When I get done with a ride I am done.

It really boils down to personal preference and if you prefer to apply after a ride, go with the Purple Extreme. If before, go with Dumonde Tech. You can’t go wrong. Make sure every link is lubed on the inner and outer plates with either product. Wipe off the excess and you are in business!

Kevin

Kevin Recommends

We only recommend products, services or companies that we have actually tried or worked with personally. A recommendation, like a reputation, is very important and we do not take this responsibility lightly. The following links are to our friends at the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas. Dr. Kenneth Cooper is considered “The Father of Aerobics” and has put together a group of world class companies that have a direct impact on us as cyclists and as professional people:

Cooper Complete – We have arranged for 10% off anything you buy from Cooper Complete if you put “KGS” in the coupon link and then “recalculate”.

Cooper Clinic - The world renowned Cooper Clinic is starting to create medical exams and services aimed at professional adults who ride bicycles.

Cooper Fitness Center – The Cooper Fitness Center has a special strength training introductory program for cyclists.

These links are to our frame builders and other providers that make KGS Bikes the premiere custom bicycle studio in the world:

Co-Motion Cycles – We’ve long enjoyed a reputation for building tandems that simply handle better.

Guru Bikes – Our approach is based on combining the best of both worlds: cutting edge technology delivered by hand and with an old school attention-to-detail.

Kirklee Bicycles – KirkLee is an up and coming great framebuilder from Austin. We are very excited about the quality and performance they bring and are proud to offer KirkLee frames as part of our KGS custom bicycle options.

Parlee Cycles – Simply put, PARLEE frames are the best built and best riding carbon fiber frames available today, at any price. They are functional works of art.

Red Licorice Events – The “Sweet and Twisted” team that promotes Austin’s best athletic events. KGS Bikes is an ongoing sponsor of triathlons produced by our friends Erin and Leilani and we are thrilled with the relationship.

River Place Country Club – This is our Austin address where we can meet in person to define your custom bike. We arranged with the folks at River Place CC to rent space on an as needed basis to offer a quiet focused environment to determine your ultimate bicycle position and then design a custom bike around that position. The New York Times describes cycling as “the new golf” and River Place CC recognizes that they can offer more than golf to the active lifestyle advocate.

Sem Custom Paint – Dave Sem is the best extreme detail painter in the world.

Serotta – Only Serottas have the extensive engineering of our proprietary Colorado Concept tubing design. It’s the foundation behind the unique ride of each and every Serotta.

Source Endurance – They are teaming with us to provide physiological testing, data analysis, training consultation and long-term coaching. They have two state-of-the art labs, one in Austin and one in San Marcus. We are proud to recommend them and invite you to check them out.

Tacx – Home of the Fortius Virtual Reality trainer. This is the trainer component of our “Ultimate Spin Bike”. Tacx also makes many other fine products. KGS Bikes is an Authorized Tacx Testing Center.

Topolino Technology – Our wheels embody this ethic: A fundamental redesign of wheel construction to take advantage of extraordinary materials with amazing properties, yielding a wheelset that performs like no other.

Zinn Cycles – For more than a quarter of a century, Zinn Cycles have been working to make cycling more enjoyable for customers, and that commitment remains at the heart of everything they do.

About KGS Bikes and Kevin

KGS Bikes is known around the world as the premiere custom bicycle studio. Kevin Saunders, President, has over 25 years experience in bicycle fitting and design of custom bicycles. He also has a broad knowledge of anatomy, structural engineering and industrial design. KGS Bikes creates custom bicycles with the best components available and uses framebuilders such as Co-Motion, Guru, KirkLee, Parlee, Serotta and Zinn. Visit kgsbikes.com for more information, including beautiful photography of the bikes carefully created for their owners. Don’t forget to find us on Facebook, twitter and at your next event to photograph your bike position and post it on Facebook and Flickr for you to share with your friends.

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends! We appreciate your time and interest.

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