Annual Service - what needs doing?

gattocattivo

I got a new road bike last December (for my first season of racing after an 18-year break). I've done about 3,000 miles on it and now that the season is over I'm thinking of taking it in for an annual service.

What would I normally expect to be done, and how much should it cost?

Which parts should be replaced by now? I've got new tyres to put on. I was wondering if the chain should be changed. I asked at a nearby bike shop (recommended by Shimano) and they said there's no point replacing the chain if the gears are still working OK (as a new chain wouldn't fit so well with the part-worn rings and sprockets) - they said to just keep going until I have trouble with the gears and then it's best to replace the chain, chainrings, and cassette all at the same time.

Also some of the paint has been scraped off expsoing the frame on the headtube a bit. Is that something that ought to be sorted? (This is a carbon dedacciai frame - that can't rust, can it?)

Slow Downcp

I;d change the chain - you can get a cheap chain wear indictor or measure the chain to see how far it's stretched (hopefully someone will come along and say how many links/length you should measure). If you've done 3k miles I'd change the chain though - your LBS is talking crap about waiting until you have gear change problems. If you change your chain before the wear gets too bad (say £15 for a chain), your cassette and chainrings will last a lot longer, and these cost a LOT more than a chain.

Other things - regrease BB (unless sealed unit), headset, wheel bearings, and replace cables.

Re the headtube - If it has gone through the lacquer to bare carbon I'd reseal it with clear nail varnish.

Monty Dog

Firstly, you can get some sticky frame patches to protect your paintwork from cable rub.
In terms of chain wear - a decent shop would use a simple gauge to measure chain wear - if it exceeds 1% then it probably needs replacing - just because the gears work is no indication of wear. Frankly, from what they say, you're better off elsewhere. For a full service, I'd expect a full breakdown, inspection, regrease and rebuild of all moving parts: headset, bottom bracket, wheel hubs, wheel true and then rebuild, applying grease/ anti-seize to all surfaces. Probably replace the inner cables, clean or replace chain; clean cassette and rebuild transmission. Probably looking at 3 hours workshop time plus parts.

gattocattivo

Cheers. How frequently would you normally expect to replace the cassette / chainrings?

Russell160

To be honest, I would disagree about changing the chain.Keep the one you've got for as long as possible. Get a quote for new chain and cassette and you will find out why. Better to clean the chain and keep on top of it (say weekly cleans) using something like the Park Tool chain scrubber. There is very little detriment to performance to having a slightly worn chain in my view.
Also , for future reference, I would also keep hubs serviced more frequently than annuallly. Typically, if they start sounding too grindy it's too late and you are into a new pair of wheels... whilst this can be a great excuse to indulge, it's an expensive habit.

Monty Dog

Changing chain? Depends on how often you clean and relube and the type of conditions you ride in - for all-year use, I'd expect to replace a chain annually, usually in spring whereas my race-bike chain is 3 years old. I work on a ratio of 3 chains per cassette.