Brompton Chain Replacement

Using the chain wear indicator, it says the chain is over 0.75 wear, therefore due replacement.  Leeds Bike Mill Amanda told me these Brompton uses narrow chain.  Amanda also reminded me to check the number of links from manual, not from previous replacement.

I have changed chains before, and I never had to worry about any of these, just a standard chain and repeat the last setup. 

Armed with this information, I did some research. Because Brompton is like a fixed gear bike, chain is not expected to move laterally, so narrow chain 3/32" will be better suited for application.  Brompton customer service was not particular helpful in helping me to determine the number of links required, but their website does have a guide, it also confirmed 3/32" chain.  So I counted up the teeth and confirmed it needed 98 links.

When I read up what 0.75 means, 0.75 means 0.75%, and that is enough to cause extra movement between chain and sprocket to cause undue wear!

I double checked on the Brompton, the old chain was definitely sliding sideway, unnecessarily.  I got the chain and the tool ready, lo and behold, the old chain had 100 links!  Maybe the reduced tension caused accelerated deterioration?  

When the chain is off, I can see there is visible wear on the chainring, so let's hope it holds.  I gave the rear sprocket a good clean.  

I cut the new chain to size, put it side by side with the old chain, unperceivable.  So the combination of the roller wear and the chain stretch making 0.75% difference to the original chain.  I took the rollers to check, also unperceivable, even on caliper.

I fitted the new chain and it seems okay.

Painting Prep

With the last bit of the paint, it is just enough to paint another wall, and I decided it to be in the living room.  I gave it a wipe and brush down already, but you always find holes in close up.  So I filled in all the holes, and rubbed them down.  Surely it is painting time now!

Lay Tea Leicester

We tried a new bubble tea shop, Lay Tea.  The tea is quite substandard and on the expensive side, but the straw is compostable.  Was that what I paid for?

Leeds Bike Mill Bike Maintenance

Leeds Bike Mill delivered basic bike maintenance on behalf of Cycle North.  So I brought Miles to the training and took the opportunity to learn more about a Brompton.  

I gave Miles a good clean, and found a few bald spots.  There are specialist tools I don't have at home, and it was handy to check Miles chain with a proper chain guide.  I was going to get a chain from them, but she told me I should use a narrow chain.

Good workshop.

Whittard Shortbread

We had some Whittard shortbread, and they tasted extremely evil.  I read their ingredients list, they are the classic 3 ingredients shortbread, sugar, flour, butter.  I have since adopted the 4 ingredients shortbread with corn flour.  Now I think the 3 ingredients shortbread is evil!

Equality Opportunity Gun Violence

Sometimes you come across a news story that buck the stereotype, you are happy that equal opportunity exists, albeit not a nice way.

So this off-duty female cop of East Asian descent shot her lover and lover's lover.  Silver lining - equal opportunity in action.

Brompton Technical Support

I want to double check something with Brompton.  I have used their webchat, except it was a video and audio webchat, I was probably better off just telephone them.

I have asked them a technical question, and their response was showing me their website and directed me to their authorized dealer.  I wonder what kind of questions are they can actually answer.