For those of us who, for the winter, have put our bikes away, it is now time for us to dust them off and get ready to ride. When you bring a bike out of storage, it is necessary to give it a mini tune-up. Chain, derailleur components, brakes, and wheels are the four areas that you need to pay special attention to.
1. Chain Consider switching to a wax-based lubricant if you have been using an oil-based product. There is one advantage to an oil-based lubricant and that is that it needs to be applied less frequently, but in every other way, wax-based is superior. For instance, oil collects trail dust and other things abrasive to the chain, whereas wax sheds abrasives. For a wax-based lube, it is recommended that you use White Lightning.
If you've been using oil-based chain lube, whether you want to switch to wax or not, you should remove the chain and clean it with a solvent to degrease it before adding fresh lubricant. While it would depend on your typical riding conditions, using a solvent to degrease the chain needs to be done once a year at a minimum.
2. Derailleur Components If you want to lubricate the pivot points, then use a good petroleum-based lube. Try using Tri-Flow. Next, lubricate and adjust the derailleur cables, which might have stretched over the winter. Adjustments are necessary so that shifting is crisp.
c) Brakes The cables should be once again lubricated. You can either use petroleum or wax-based lube and it would depend on how dusty the expected typical riding conditions will be . Adjusting the cables, which might have also stretched over the winter, is a must as well.
Check the pads to find out if there is plenty of rubber and if the pads hit the rims evenly. If using fluid-actuated disc brakes, check the brake fluid level in the reservoir.
d) Brakes Spin the wheel slowly checking for true. It is essential that the wheel doesn't wobble at all. You can make minor adjustments using a spoke wrench if it wobbles a little bit and you have the tools and skills. But you should take the wheel to a shop and have a professional true the wheel if there is substantial wobbling.
Checking the tire pressure is a must since it is bound to be low after a winter of storage. Try inflating to the manufacturers recommendations that are stamped on the tire.
It's now time to give the bike a once-over. Determine if the seat adjustment is still a good fit. Do you think there excess play or tightness in the bearings of the wheels, crank, pedals, and headset? You should also check the suspension joints for full-suspension bikes.
From this once-over, you will be able to determine whether it is time for a major tune-up. This could range from a few adjustments to cleaning and/or replacement of some parts. Opinions differ on how often a major tune-up is needed. It depends on how much you ride, and how much maintenance you perform yourself.
Whether you do the major tune-up yourself or take the bike to a reputable bicycle shop, every now and then the following maintenance is necessary for optimal performance and safety: repacking bearings and adjusting wheel axles, headset, crankset and pedals; replacing cables; truing the wheels; making overall adjustments, such as to the derailleur and brakes.
1. Chain Consider switching to a wax-based lubricant if you have been using an oil-based product. There is one advantage to an oil-based lubricant and that is that it needs to be applied less frequently, but in every other way, wax-based is superior. For instance, oil collects trail dust and other things abrasive to the chain, whereas wax sheds abrasives. For a wax-based lube, it is recommended that you use White Lightning.
If you've been using oil-based chain lube, whether you want to switch to wax or not, you should remove the chain and clean it with a solvent to degrease it before adding fresh lubricant. While it would depend on your typical riding conditions, using a solvent to degrease the chain needs to be done once a year at a minimum.
2. Derailleur Components If you want to lubricate the pivot points, then use a good petroleum-based lube. Try using Tri-Flow. Next, lubricate and adjust the derailleur cables, which might have stretched over the winter. Adjustments are necessary so that shifting is crisp.
c) Brakes The cables should be once again lubricated. You can either use petroleum or wax-based lube and it would depend on how dusty the expected typical riding conditions will be . Adjusting the cables, which might have also stretched over the winter, is a must as well.
Check the pads to find out if there is plenty of rubber and if the pads hit the rims evenly. If using fluid-actuated disc brakes, check the brake fluid level in the reservoir.
d) Brakes Spin the wheel slowly checking for true. It is essential that the wheel doesn't wobble at all. You can make minor adjustments using a spoke wrench if it wobbles a little bit and you have the tools and skills. But you should take the wheel to a shop and have a professional true the wheel if there is substantial wobbling.
Checking the tire pressure is a must since it is bound to be low after a winter of storage. Try inflating to the manufacturers recommendations that are stamped on the tire.
It's now time to give the bike a once-over. Determine if the seat adjustment is still a good fit. Do you think there excess play or tightness in the bearings of the wheels, crank, pedals, and headset? You should also check the suspension joints for full-suspension bikes.
From this once-over, you will be able to determine whether it is time for a major tune-up. This could range from a few adjustments to cleaning and/or replacement of some parts. Opinions differ on how often a major tune-up is needed. It depends on how much you ride, and how much maintenance you perform yourself.
Whether you do the major tune-up yourself or take the bike to a reputable bicycle shop, every now and then the following maintenance is necessary for optimal performance and safety: repacking bearings and adjusting wheel axles, headset, crankset and pedals; replacing cables; truing the wheels; making overall adjustments, such as to the derailleur and brakes.
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