bike built, but now what do i need to keep it in good nick

andy83

after building my bike and spending loads of time and money on it i want to look after it properly.

what do i need specifically for cleaning it

ie, do i need a chain cleaner or can i do it manually

what materials / lubricants are recomended for brakes, cranks, bbs, headsets etc

i heard certain things musnt go on the discs etc

how often should i clean the bike, replace pads on discs?

what innertubes will i need for an emergency

what should i carry with me tool wise to help in emergencies

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2079035/ - thats a photo of bike

thanks in advance

taff_94

This may or may not be useful but it would be a good plan to get a chain slap protector, Stops your nice frame getting scratched nearthe chain. (you probaly known that anyway.

Nice bike you built there,

Regards taff

rhext

This might help...

http://www.purpleextreme.com/cleaning.html

andy83

cheers for that, but looking for how to clean discs etc, and that is more for racing bike

is it best to get a chain cleaner or just do it with brush etc

anyone recomend any items from wiggle as got some other bits to get from there and also looking for a decent grease to have for bb etc

anyone answer any of the other questions in first post

thanks in advance

mellex

I always believe that maintenance is dependant on the type of riding you do. If your constantly in the wet, mud or salt covered roads, I would suggest you clean the bike from top to bottom after every ride.

Personally I check my brakes, tyre pressure and cable tension before and after each ride. All simple jobs, done in 5 minutes or less.

As for innertubes, check which type your currently running (Presta or Schrader) and take at least one back up with you unless you fancy the walk home. Remember to take the puncture repair kit too. I would also advise you invest in a neat little multi tool just incase anything should rattle lose.

MuckOff is my bike cleaning fluid of choice. Use a couple of Park Tool brushes for those hard to reach areas and a Park Tool chain cleaning kit. Never let me down yet.

andy83

cheers got the muc off spray already

mainly just commute to work really but when i get two days off i go for a long bike ride as need a day to recover due to muscle illness

how would i check the tubes without casuing much damage to tyre etc

any grease recomendations and disc cleaners??

mellex

Unless your a bike weight freak, I personally think there is only two key issues to get right with regards to innertubes.

Firstly, make sure you buy the correct size. No good fitting a 1 - 1.5' tube if your running 2' + tyres.

Secondly, check the valve types. Schrader (car tyre valves) won't fit through the Presta valve eyelets in the wheel rims, as I found out early this week. DOH!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presta_valve


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schrader_valve

I use White Lightning grease.

rhext

I used the purpleextreme site as a starting point, and worked out a routine from there: the principles of cleaning are similar regardless of what sort of bike. And different people will work out different things which suit them anyway. From my point of view:

1) I use car shampoo made up according to bottle instructions for the paintwork.

2) I've used (and still use) muc-off or Fenwicks bike spray cleaner for bits which I can't easily get at with shampoo and a cloth, because I'm lazy. I have a feeling they can dull the paintwork, however, so if you want to keep the bike pristine (mine are not!) you're probably better off taking a bit more time and using something a bit gentler.

For the chain/sprockets

1) Brush with car shampoo. Keep the same brush and use only for this. Don't let it touch paintwork, 'cos it will get covered in sticky crud.

2) A chain cleaner filled with neat Fenwicks gets the worst of the road grime off from between the links. Leave to stand for a couple of minutes and then rinse with fresh water. You don't need a chain cleaner, a brush will do. I bought the chain cleaner because it seemed like a good idea at the time. I'm not sure I'd replace it if it broke.

3) Spray degreaser and an old toothbrush to finish off chain and sprockets. Leave to stand for a couple of minutes and then rinse. This is messy so protect paintwork and wheels from spillage. Degreaser's expensive, but a can lasts for ages: you don't need to use much.

Then re-lube (a thread in its own right). It sounds obsessive, but takes only about half-an-hour and is well worth it: you can't lube a bike properly if it's dirty. I 'clean' the disks simply by washing down like everything else and then spraying with muc-off and rinsing. There are sprays you can buy, but can't see the benefit - perhaps they help with smoother operation.

andy83

cheers for all help, will be ordering a load of stuff payday lol