Bike service: What do they do?

jeepie

Hi there,

A bike should be regularly serviced - which may or may not entail taking it to the LBS for a "full service".....

So if you were to take your typical £500 road bike in for a full service - what would the LBS do? And how often would they need to do it?

I'd like to learn how to give my bike a "full service"....

Cheers

J

spen666

I think it varies from LBS to LBS as t owhat they will do in a service- ask the shop what is included

Big Red S

Check the gears and brakes work, the wheels are true and nothing's damaged, in short.

The bit that costs is when they dont and things are worn out.

jeepie

Thanks spen - I was hoping to save money by not going in to the LBS hence posting here. I appreciate it varies.....

If you were running the full service in an LBS what would you include?

spen666

jeepie wrote:

Thanks spen - I was hoping to save money by not going in to the LBS hence posting here. I appreciate it varies.....

If you were running the full service in an LBS what would you include?

I've never asked a bike shop for a full service!

i only get them to repair what I can't do. I try to check my bike on an almost daily basis and try to repair/ replace things as I go along.


So i'm not a good person to answer your question.

Could I suggest looking online at Evans, bike Surgery etc's websites and other bike shops and see what they include in their services - should hopefully give you some ideas there.

I am not recommending Evans or bike Surgery- they were just the first two names that came to mind of companies with websites

Big Red S

jeepie wrote:

Thanks spen - I was hoping to save money by not going in to the LBS hence posting here. I appreciate it varies.....

If you were running the full service in an LBS what would you include?

From what I recall, when I was doing them, I did approximately the following:

Pop the bike in the stand, check the gear indexing and brake performance.
Inspect the wheels for damage and trueness, tyre for wear.
Check the brake pads, chain, cassette, rings for wear
Check the hubs for play, spokes for odd tension.
Check the headset and BB for play and smoothness.
Pop the wheels out, wipe down the frame, look for cracks or bad paint. Check with frame jig if neccesary.
Remove cranks, derailleurs, chain, cassette.
Put bits from the above that are to be kept to soak in degreaser. Find replacements for the rest.
Remove anything else that might want a soak in a degreaser (brake arms etc.) and soak.
Check all fittings (racks, lights, brake levers) are tight and the bolts are undamaged.
Check the cables for damage/rust/dragging. Replace as neccesary.
Clean the wheels, check for damaged rims, nipples, tyres, spokes.
Check the spoke tension in a truing stand.
Clean, regrease and replace any drivetrain bits that need replacing.
Pop the wheels back in.
Fit new cables if neccesary, and index the gears.
Replace brakes, new pads if neccesary, and set up.
Stretch all cables.
Reset anything cable-based.
Take for a quick ride round the block to check everything's as it should be.
Return bike to customer.

jeepie

Awesome. Cheers Big Red S. Looks like I've got some learning to do!!!!

always_tyred

Big Red S wrote:

jeepie wrote:

Thanks spen - I was hoping to save money by not going in to the LBS hence posting here. I appreciate it varies.....

If you were running the full service in an LBS what would you include?

From what I recall, when I was doing them, I did approximately the following:

Pop the bike in the stand, check the gear indexing and brake performance.
Inspect the wheels for damage and trueness, tyre for wear.
Check the brake pads, chain, cassette, rings for wear
Check the hubs for play, spokes for odd tension.
Check the headset and BB for play and smoothness.
Pop the wheels out, wipe down the frame, look for cracks or bad paint. Check with frame jig if neccesary.
Remove cranks, derailleurs, chain, cassette.
Put bits from the above that are to be kept to soak in degreaser. Find replacements for the rest.
Remove anything else that might want a soak in a degreaser (brake arms etc.) and soak.
Check all fittings (racks, lights, brake levers) are tight and the bolts are undamaged.
Check the cables for damage/rust/dragging. Replace as neccesary.
Clean the wheels, check for damaged rims, nipples, tyres, spokes.
Check the spoke tension in a truing stand.
Clean, regrease and replace any drivetrain bits that need replacing.
Pop the wheels back in.
Fit new cables if neccesary, and index the gears.
Replace brakes, new pads if neccesary, and set up.
Stretch all cables.
Reset anything cable-based.
Take for a quick ride round the block to check everything's as it should be.
Return bike to customer.

You must have been working for a very good shop. I've never seen a bike come out of a bike shop after a service with a clean drive train.

always_tyred

spen666 wrote:

So i'm not a good person to answer your question.

So... why did you?

biondino

Big Red S, if you want to earn some pocket money you'll have some keen customers on here I reckon...

Big Red S

It was Cycle Surgery.

I know it's gone downhill a bit since (I left about a year ago, they announced the Snow and Rock buyout while I was working my notice), but I was far from the best or most thorough mechanic there.

robbarker

I service friends and neighbours bikes here in the valley from time to time, being proprieter of the valley workshop and all, and they have usually been neglected and need a good going over.

They generally get:

Thorough clean
New gear cables
New chain, casette, front chainring(s) as required
True wheels and check and adjust spoke tension
Strip, clean and grease wheel bearings and fit new balls
Strip, clean and grease headset
Remove and refit bottom bracket with antiseize, replace if required
Remove and refit pedals with antiseize, strip and flush through with grease if SPD, which most are.
New bar tape if applicable
Check brakes, new pads / blocks if needed. Lube cables - they last longer than gear cables and only get replaced if rusty.
Check tyres and tubes - replace if worn or iffily repaired.
Bolt check - stem, seatpin, mudguards, rack etc.