Degreaser in Folkestone?

pottssteve

Hi,

In a couple of weeks the we are going over to the UK to stock up on Christmas items (crackers, pudding, Black Sheep, Newcastle Brown, Theakston's OP etc..). We will have a day in Folkestone and I'd like to get some decent chain cleaner/degreaser - it's bafflingly hard to get here. My first choice is Finish Line Citrus, but I'd settle for Muc Off or another recommended brand.

I know there's a Halfrauds in Folkestone but I'd rather go to a proper bike shop if possible. Any recommendations of where I can buy Finish Line would be greatly appreciated.


Cheers,
Steve

Yossie

Why go to a bike shop and pay 5 times as much for the same stuff as you'll get in Halfords/any motor factor?

Bike shops have a great line in selling over priced tat to people who are bike snobs: degreaser is one of these things.

I suggest that you head down to Halfords/a motor factor and get a huge can of Gunk or Jizer for a tenner/£15 - exactly the same job as Muc Off/Finish line, just not the extortionate proces or trendy packaging so it won't look as "cool, I'm a racer cyclist" in your garage if anyone cares to a) look or b) cares at all.

I pay £13 for 5 litres of Jizer and it lasts a year/18 months but doesn't come in a trendy plastic bottle.

But then again, hey, its your cash. I'm sure that you'll be able to grab a bargain because every bike shop is packed full epxerts ready to sort you a deal.

Frank the tank

White spirit is good stuff and generally available.

pottssteve

Yossie wrote:

Why go to a bike shop and pay 5 times as much for the same stuff as you'll get in Halfords/any motor factor?

Bike shops have a great line in selling over priced tat to people who are bike snobs: degreaser is one of these things.

I suggest that you head down to Halfords/a motor factor and get a huge can of Gunk or Jizer for a tenner/£15 - exactly the same job as Muc Off/Finish line, just not the extortionate proces or trendy packaging so it won't look as "cool, I'm a racer cyclist" in your garage if anyone cares to a) look or b) cares at all.

I pay £13 for 5 litres of Jizer and it lasts a year/18 months but doesn't come in a trendy plastic bottle.

But then again, hey, its your cash. I'm sure that you'll be able to grab a bargain because every bike shop is packed full epxerts ready to sort you a deal.

Yossie, Thanks for your reply. Just a couple of points:

I doubt it would be 5 times as much. Could be a pound or two more though. I've used Finish Line and it works, hence my inquiry.
What's a motor factor?
I can't be a bike snob - I ride a fukcing Tricross, for God's sake.
I'm not a "Racer cyclist"
I've never heard of Jizer, but I do like the idea of a trendy plastic bottle. Presentation is important for all the people who come to look at my garage and its contents.
Yes, it's my cash.
Do you not like bike shops? I love them.

Other than that, a very helpful, if rather passive-aggressive response. I shall certainly explore your Jizer, as you suggest.

Cheers.

15peter20

As Frank says - white spirit is all you'll ever need. Everything else is just marketing guff.

DIESELDOG

There's grease in Folkstone?

Local kebab shops must have upped the donkey order then.

Love n hugs

DD

martinwitnam

If you want a decent LBS in Folkestone then you can't go far wrong with a shop called Activ which you will find on Sandgate Road.
To be more exact:-
145 Sandgate Road,
Folkestone, Kent,
CT20 2DA.

Ask to speak to Luke as he is the man when it comes to bikes and stuff. Failing that it has to be young Steve!

pottssteve

Thank you for your replies. I will certainly try Activ. I may also just get hold of a bottle of white spirit and see if I can tell the difference between it and the more expensive options.

Cheers,
Steve

Gazzaputt

Auto Glym engine cleaner. Brings a chain up lovely.

guinea

I swear by the Halford's citrus cycle degreaser.

Adrian Waine

I'll second the white spirit recommendation. Put some in an old plastic milk container add chain and shake. If (when) the chain loops, you can cut the bottle to remove it. I leave the used WS in another bottle to settle, decant off the clean stuff then reuse it. Finish off with some fresh white spirit.
When it's too dirty to re use take to council recycling depot for disposal.

rolf_f

pottssteve wrote:

I doubt it would be 5 times as much. Could be a pound or two more though. I've used Finish Line and it works, hence my inquiry.

No - 5 times as much is an underestimate! I got a 5 litre can of degreaser from B&Q for about £7.00. Not sure how much five litres of Finish Line would cost but it would be a lot!

That said, the FL was better if only because the contaminants settled out so I was able to recycle it more. This doesn't happen with the B&Q stuff.

MattC59

Why this car is automatic
It's systematic
It's hydromatic
Why it's a grease lightning................

Wrong topic ?

Yossie

Yossie, Thanks for your reply. Just a couple of points:

I doubt it would be 5 times as much. Could be a pound or two more though. I've used Finish Line and it works, hence my inquiry. Nope - sorry, you're wrong. Wiggle: £5.09 for 500 ml aerosol (not as good as a can and paintbrush), £12.00 for 5 litres of Jizer. You do the maths. Maybe not 5 times, but hey, more than a pound or five.

What's a motor factor? Its a place where the trade go and get their bits and bobs but its open to anyone, just don't expect carpets and a cheery fellow behind the counter in a tie. Generally found on industrial estates. They also supply the shops that you buy your stuff from. If you buy enough stuff from there at Christmas they'll give you a calendar with pictures of girls with their norks out on.

I can't be a bike snob - I ride a fukcing Tricross, for God's sake. A fukcing Tricross? Blimey, I bet that was hard to get past the name approval section. Then again, I heard the new Cervelo "Millar's a cnut" special limited edition TT bike stalled when they found the name wouldn't fit on the frame. Personally I ride a "fcking hill's too steep" ali/carbon job.

I'm not a "Racer cyclist" Why not?

I've never heard of Jizer, but I do like the idea of a trendy plastic bottle. Presentation is important for all the people who come to look at my garage and its contents. You could always buy some Jizer and pour it into a Muc-Off bottle. Or perhaps an old Krug bottle. I use Petrus as we had a big session the other week and i have loads left kicking around.

Yes, it's my cash. But it soon won't be.

Do you not like bike shops? I love them. I like them if they aren'r staffed by tw5ts

Other than that, a very helpful, if rather passive-aggressive response. I shall certainly explore your Jizer, as you suggest. Thankyou. I try to be of some help sometimes.

Cheers. Pleasure - anytime.

Wirral_paul

5L of Swarfega oil & grease remover for me - still using the same one i bought 2 years ago. Its very strong so can be heavily diluted and costs only aroun £9 or 10 from Screwfix / B&Q et al

http://www.screwfix.com/p/swarfega-oil-grease-remover-5ltr/20817?cm_mmc=GoogleBase-_-Datafeed-_-Cleaning-_-Swarfega%20Oil%20%26%20Grease%20Remover%205Ltr

pottssteve

Thanks once again for your suggestions and replies (especially Yossie, it must have taken you ages to type that, what with having no opposable thumbs ) I never knew there were so many cheap alternatives to my regular degreaser, I will certainly investigate the options that Folkestone has to offer.

Steve

giantorangedale

Jizer for me

finchy

pottssteve wrote:

I will certainly try Activ.

While you're there you can buy yourself a kayak as well.

pottssteve

johnfinch wrote:

pottssteve wrote:

I will certainly try Activ.

While you're there you can buy yourself a kayak as well.

Sweet! The Missus can drive the car home through the Channel Tunnel and I'll paddle...