Just one maintenance tip

mh130

Having got the bike bug again this year, I bought a Spesh Allez Sport about 6 weeks ago and this weekend made the transition to clipless pedals. Two good rides so far and no falls.

However, i know next to nothing about maintenance. Yes I can go to my LBS where I bought the bike when things go wrong, but firmly believe in prevention rather than cure. I don't have a lot of space to strip a bike down (and with kids of six and three, don't have the time).

So my question is this: if experienced riders could give just one quick, no-brainer tip to help keep your bike ticking over nicely, what would it be?

thanks

matt

JustRidecp

Clean it and lube it regularly.

Gav2000

Oil the chain, keep it clean(ish) and tension the brake/gear cables occasionally.

You shouldn't need to take it apart for quite some time (unless you're doing a high mileage).

Gav.

shaun75

As above, clean and lube.

Maybe invest in a good book- 'Zinn and the art of road bike maintenance' is a good start.

Also keep an eye on the know how forum or try Park Tools website for tutorials.

Even the smallest repair done yourself will give you great satisfaction

piedwagtail91

take the pedals off and grease the threads and take the seat pin out and grease it .they may not have been done when the bike was assembled.

McBain_v1

Wherever you don't want things to move, slather them in TACX Assembly Compound - it's magic stuff and fixed my slipping seat post quick style

ricadus

piedwagtail91 wrote:

take the pedals off and grease the threads and take the seat pin out and grease it .they may not have been done when the bike was assembled.

But don't grease the seat post if it is carbon fibre, as some greases will cause the resin in the seat post to react and slightly expand resulting in it becoming firmly stuck in the frame.

Not a problem perhaps if you have already found the optimum height for your saddle, but fairly disasterous if you need to pack up the bike to go on holiday – and rather stressful if you have put off packing until the night before. Apparently.

oldwelshman

If you ride in rain, and after washing, make sure any water is drained from insde frame or your bottom bracket will not last a year!!!

oldwelshman

If you ride in rain, and after washing, make sure any water is drained from insde frame or your bottom bracket will not last a year!!!

oldwelshman

If you ride in rain, and after washing, make sure any water is drained from insde frame or your bottom bracket will not last a year!!!

redddraggon

oldwelshman wrote:

If you ride in rain, and after washing, make sure any water is drained from insde frame or your bottom bracket will not last a year!!!

How do you do that?

oldwelshman

redddraggon wrote:

oldwelshman wrote:

If you ride in rain, and after washing, make sure any water is drained from insde frame or your bottom bracket will not last a year!!!

How do you do that?

Either drill a hole in the underside of the bottom bracket so it drains out or you could remove seat post and lift bike.
My frame is a pain as water enters the frame through a gear cable entry in the frame.

mh130

Thanks for the tips - looks like I need to get serious about lube and oil this weekend

HungryCol

There's a little twisty thing on the rear derailleur where the cable meets the back of it. This moves the derailleur up or down just a fraction of a squidge. Handy for a quick tune up when the gears are not shifting sweeeet.

After a bucket load of miles check your wheels for some play. Off the bike giggle the wheel, on the bike, gently side to side. They should feel solid.

When lubing your chain, also lube your front derailleur and rear derailleur but try not to get any on the breaking surface of the rims... for obvious reasons.

Keep it clean, keep it lubed.

pieinthesky

All this cleaning is OK but DONT let any water or degreaser near any bearings. Clean these areas with a damp cloth only. Excessive cleaning with lots of water will ruin your bike qucker than not cleaning it at all.

nferrar

Buy a decent workstand, useful for not just for maintenance but also makes cleaning easier (get one that can clamp the seatpost rather than one that supports the bottom bracket).

fossyant

If your frame fills with water after a wet ride, buy a better bike........ hehe ...hehe......

Even a gas pipe steel bike should be water proof !

Smokin Joe

Use clear bath sealant round the top of the seat-tube and along the slot at the back to prevent water getting into the frame.