The Singletrack World Festive Five Minutes

For those who have absolutely no interest in the Rapha Festive 500, we bring you the Singletrack World Festive Five Minutes!

Between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, your challenge – should you choose to accept it – is to…

Do THAT job that you’ve been putting off for the past… ever.

Ideally it should be a bike-related job what with us being a bicycling based media outlet. But, it is Christmas and you may wish/need to be doing something a bit more domestic/family related. May we suggest a quick run around the house bleeding the radiators?

Whatever you choose to do, post about it on The Social Media using the hashtag #FestiveFiveMinutes. Or don’t. It’s fine. We’re not that bothered. But it might be a small bit of fun amidst a sea of seasonal stress and excess.

In terms of bike related five minute tasks, we have a suggestion list for you.

• Bubble-bleed your brakes.
• Top up the sealant in your tyres.
• Put your riding shoes in order.
• Wrap up your spare inner tubes properly and store somewhere.
• Tidy up your toolbox and/or tool drawers.
• Scrape the black gunk off your jockey wheels.
• And chainring.
• And cassette.
• Check how much brake pad material you have left in your callipers.
• Untighten and move your seat post around to make sure it’s not seized in the frame (inc.dropper posts!)
• Tidy up the end of your rear mech inner cable.
• Empty the junk out of your CamelBak and/or bumbag.
• Whilst you’re at it, check your pack’s puncture repair stuff is still in good nick.
• Clean out and regrease you headset.
• Check all the bolts on your bike are tightened properly.
• Remove and clean your thru-axles. Furniture polish is nice.
• Gather up all your used-but-functioning bike parts for your nearest bicycle recycler.

#FestiveFiveMinutes

As ever, any other suggestions, leave a comment below.

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Ben Haworth

Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

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