Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 57, Issue 6

5 May 2011

      for us U.S. folk, I emailed them about distribution and they're now

distributed through QBP.  They're a little pricier than phil wood

stuff, but maybe we'll try a couple on our next order and let you all

know.
Kelly
On May 5, 2011, at 12:09 PM, Geoff Heath wrote:
...
I just called Orontas and they'll be distributing their bicycle

lubes, greases & degreasers through babac cyles

distributors(Montreal) in the very near future.  They just sent

babac their first batch for distro 2 weeks ago so it should appear

in the new babac catalogue & online very soon.  It will be available

in 20 L (5 gal) format so no need to bother with them pesky eco- 
aerosol cans and I reckon it'll be hella cheaper in bulk.
I'd assume that they are available through other distributors as

well, I just happen to use babac so that's all I asked about.
Reviews to come,
Geoff
The Wrench, The Bike Dump
Winnipeg, Manitoba
On Wed, May 4, 2011 at 9:15 PM, <thethinktank-request@lists.bikecollectives.org
...
wrote:
Send Thethinktank mailing list submissions to
       thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
       http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
       thethinktank-request@lists.bikecollectives.org
You can reach the person managing the list at
       thethinktank-owner@lists.bikecollectives.org
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Thethinktank digest..."
Today's Topics:

Re: non-petroleum lube (The Bicycle Tree)
Re: non-petroleum lube (Beth & Josh Goran)
Re: non-petroleum lube (joshua muir)

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 4 May 2011 22:28:13 +0000
From: The Bicycle Tree info@thebicycletree.org
To: thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] non-petroleum lube
Message-ID: BLU139-W9768A8639FB78DC790201B3810@phx.gbl
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
We've been using Pedro's ChainJ biodegradable lube and their Bio

Grease as well. I can't say I've done scientific tests on either so

I can't precisely describe their merits. The chain lube is somewhat

oily, doesn't wash away easily. The grease does experience some

separation; I'm not sure what liquid is separating. This may be a

drawback in action.
Theres a review of the grease here: http://road.cc/content/review/17600-pedros-bio-grease
plus a negative experience for a skateboarder here: http://www.amazon.com/Pedros-Bio-Grease/dp/B003UWLWPW
ChainJ reviews here: http://www.amazon.com/Pedros-CHAINj-Bike-Chain-120ml/product-reviews/B000N22...
I hadn't heard about this one until doing a little perusing right

now: Dumonde Tech Bio Green http://www.rei.com/webservices/rei/DisplayStyle/778317?source=gpla&cm_mm...
I usually use the excellent ProGold ProLink which is biodegradable

and calls itself "environmentally friendly" though I'm not sure of

its toxicity or ingredients. http://www.mtbr.com/cat/accessories/lube/progold/prolink-chain-lube/PRD_3523...
-Paul
The Bicycle Tree
P.O. Box 881
Orange, CA 92856
http://www.thebicycletree.org
info@thebicycletree.org
To: thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
From: bovineoaks@aol.com
Date: Wed, 4 May 2011 17:07:38 -0400
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] non-petroleum lube
In the 1980's a hippy friend of mine used Olive Oil on his drive

chain. He came to me after using it for a year because his

derailleurs would not work. The Olive Oil had turned into a shellack

that I could not get off with the most aggressive solvents. It stuck

together the moving arms of the derailleurs so firmly we had to

throw them away. The chain was a mess. incredible wear on the pins

and thick goop everywhere.
Try paraffin. at least you can light the chain on fire to have a

mini bon fire
Bicycles don't get hot like cars.   The main lube question i have is

for the chain.  Chains  need to be lubed and cleaned  very often

just because of the  exposure.  For Hubs, BB and Headsets of course

it is different.   i will try olive oil  on my chain and report back

later.
jim
From: Mark Rehder mark@re-cycles.ca
To: The Think Tank thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
Sent: Wed, May 4, 2011 11:08:10 AM
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] non-petroleum lube
My Dad was a metallurgist. I once asked him about using plant-based

bearing grease, and he said the main issue of course was the ability

of any lube to withstand the heat from friction.  Petroleum-derived

is the best choice for this, though he said one could use plant- 
based if one didn't mind far more frequent overhauls.  Now, this was

fifteen years ago, and I'm sure someday someone will find a good

formula for a non-petroleum lube. Maybe the linked stuff is it?
Our shop uses MEC's Bio-Cycle for cleaning, but standard high-temp

bearing grease for hubs. It'd be great if a plant-based product

indeed works as advertised.
Mark Rehder - Coordinator
re-Cycles Community Bike Shop
http://re-cycles.ca
On 4-May-11, at 1:42 PM, Chris Chan wrote:
...
MEC used to stock a biodegradable lube.  It didn't work very well.
...
...
If you build a
covered shed, you can keep your solvent tank outside. You just need

something to keep the rain from getting into your system--before we

stopped using our varsol tank, our shed was just big enough for the

system itself (you stood outside of the shed to actually use it).

You can just hammer together something really simple.
...
...
...
On Wed, May 4, 2011 at 11:13 AM, Jonathan Morrison <jonathan@slcbikecollective.org 
wrote:
...
Has anyone heard of or used this plant based lube line?
...
http://orontas.com
...
...
Sincerely,
...
...
Jonathan Morrison
...
Executive Director
...
Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective
...
2312 S. West Temple
...
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
...
w: 801-328-2453
...
c: 801-688-0183
...
f:
801-466-3856
...
www.slcbikecollective.org
...
...
The mission of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective is to promote
cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and

as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The

Bicycle Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational

programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income

households.
...
...
...
On Wed, Apr 2, 2008 at 10:33 AM, Michael Wolfe <gzuphoesdown@gmail.com 
wrote:
...
Page 13 of the 1992 Bridgestone bicycle catalog has a unique
recommendation of using olive oil.
...
...
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/
...
...
...
...
...
...
On
4/2/08, Bob Giordano mist@strans.org wrote: Indoor air quality is

tops on our list for a healthy shop atmosphere.  We
...
do not store anything that gives off harmful fumes.  Tooth brushes
and
...
simple green (highly diluted) in a small wooden bowl is our parts
cleaning
...
station.  We are even moving away from simple green (i've learned
it is
...
harmful to some)- to a citrus based cleaner.
...
...
I guess tri flow is the only thing with fumes in the shop.  Often
we ask
...
people to use it outside.  I'd like to find a non-petroleum lube.
...
...
-Bob Giordano, Free Cycles Missoula
...
...
...
Michael Wolfe wrote:
...
...
Speaking of liver damage, etc..  Wondering if any shops out
there have
...
had
...
...
issues solvent tanks in their shop?  The fumes give me a headache
but
...
others
...
...
don't seem to mind it.  Mostly I worry about the health effects
on the full
...
...
time people in the shop.   Short of installing a hood or
ventalation
...
system,
...
...
what options are there to locate that stuff outside?
...
...

Thethinktank mailing list
Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave@bikecollectives.org
To manage your subscription, plase visit:
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...

Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 57, Issue 6

Kelly Martin