Bike maintenance

[Ben Harvey]

Hi all,

I'm fairly new to road cycling and have a Triban 3A (the white one!) and was looking for some general advice on how to get started with maintanence. I've rode my bike a fair bit now and really don't want to run it into the ground so I need to start giving it some love.

Could you guys give me a run down on 1) Where to start (cleaning chain, what to wash down, how and what to lube/grease) and 2) What tools I'll need and what you would reccomend.

Appologies if this is in the wrong place, I thought about putting it in technical but seeing as I'm new I'm hoping it'll also benefit some other newbies out there.

 

[cyberknight]

I clean the bike once a week and then use chain oil for the chain, pump the tyres up.
I also give the cables the occasional squirt of gt85/wd 40 into the outers and generally listen/feel for anything untoward and keep on top of minor niggles as they appear as you can normally feel if something is wrong.
Check chain wear with a chain tool and replace when its worn, the cassette can last 2-3 chains if your lucky but eventually the teeth will become hooked and will not mesh with the chain correctly ( were talking 3000 miles mebbe )
brake pads are easy enough as there is a little barrel adjuster on the claiper you can turn to keep the brakes close to the rims , replace them when they get to worn and ensure you clean the muck out of the pad grooves regulary.
Check tyres for debris stuck in the rubber as it can be pushed into the tyre and eventually cause a puncture.
Most repairs on your bike are covered here..
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help
Aldi had a basic tool kit the other week that will do the job , i use a very similar halfords branded kit
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_522915_langId_-1_categoryId_242558

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

CK's post above has covered some good bits.
When it comes to the stage of tuning brakes & gears you can do a lot worth than this tutorial. Explains things very clearly.

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLqrhFzW8s0

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Check chain wear with a chain tool and replace when its worn, the cassette can last 2-3 chains if your lucky but eventually the teeth will become hooked and will not mesh with the chain correctly ( were talking 3000 miles mebbe )

Thats me after a new casstte than, my HG50 has done 4200+ since May. The previous HG42 did 4800+, that did wear out (mainly winter use), the HG50 still seems in fine fettle.

 

[themosquitoking]

I bought a t5 last week and when i tried to wipe the chain today i found the lube to be very heavy and sticky. Tomorrow i will degrease it and relube with something less like diesel grade treacle.
I'll clean it in white spirit, then soap and water then dry it thoroughly before applying new lube.

 

[fossyant]

I bought a t5 last week and when i tried to wipe the chain today i found the lube to be very heavy and sticky. Tomorrow i will degrease it and relube with something less like diesel grade treacle.
I'll clean it in white spirit, then soap and water then dry it thoroughly before applying new lube.

Don't degrease it. Just relube with a wet lube and wipe the excess off. You'll have to do it again, but don't degrease a chain. The factory oil is great and you need that on the inner rollers of the chain. I wouldn't recommend degreasing any chain. Just oil it and wipe clean with a rag. Do this regular and you will be running a clean chain that doesn't clog.

MTB rides are different, but I still don't degrease. I'll hose the chain off, let it dry then oil and wipe.

 

[themosquitoking]

Don't degrease it. Just relube with a wet lube and wipe the excess off. You'll have to do it again, but don't degrease a chain. The factory oil is great and you need that on the inner rollers of the chain. I wouldn't recommend degreasing any chain. Just oil it and wipe clean with a rag. Do this regular and you will be running a clean chain that doesn't clog.

MTB rides are different, but I still don't degrease. I'll hose the chain off, let it dry then oil and wipe.

Ok, i'll give it a go.

 

[cyberknight]

Thats me after a new casstte than, my HG50 has done 4200+ since May. The previous HG42 did 4800+, that did wear out (mainly winter use), the HG50 still seems in fine fettle.

That was a geusstimate , if your cassette look fine then carry on, tbh i tend just to run a cassette and chain on my 8 speed for a year and change both together which is a bit naughty, on my second front chain ring after about 15-20 000 miles.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

That was a geusstimate , if your cassette look fine then carry on, tbh i tend just to run a cassette and chain on my 8 speed for a year and change both together which is a bit naughty, on my second front chain ring after about 15-20 000 miles.

I agree, for the cost of an 8sp chain and a HG50 cassette its hardly worth worrying about it and the HG50 seems much harder wearing than the HG41 I had, though I do use the 28th from it and a 13th from a 7sp HG50, The next cassette I get will have a 13th 8sp. these two are used the least, so should last, the 28th I hope otherwise I would need to get two new cassettes to get the ratios I want at the moment.

 

[derrick]

You tube is your friend if you need to know about bike maintenance.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Also check out the Sheldon Brown / Harris Cyclery site. Heaps of information there.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/