1,000 miles

skyblueamateur

I regularly clean and lube my bike and chain but having now done 1,000 miles is there anything more I need to be doing or checking? Is it worth taking to my LBS for a service?

cycleclinic

What do mean by a serivce though? What kind of hubs do you use? Do the axles spin freely? If they are decent quality cup and cone they should be good for a couple more thousand or more before stripping down and new grease.

Does the BB axle spoin freely with no play (check with the chain of) if it does it does not need changing. Are the tyres good, no crack bulges e.t.c. If so leave alone.

Is shifting smooth especially down shift, if so the gear cables are good. When the brakes are applied are they smooth or is there any kind of resistance in the cable, you should feel it if there is. Are the pads making proper contact on the rim, not above or below? Are the calipers centred? Is there excessive lever travel when applying the brakes.
You can check the chain with a 12" rule. You don't even need tools.

Many shops will charge for this checking tweek a couple of things and bill you for the pleasure. I think this is wrong as the rider should be doing these kind of checks anyway. In fact I show people how to do these checks free if you are near by, that how much I believe people should check there themselves. On modern bikes with cartridge bearing hubs, headsets and BB there is little to strip down and pack with grease anymore. Most servicing involves replacing worn parts and put grease on a alloy seatpost and pedal threads. I am all for using your LBS, I run one but alot of this checking should be done by the owner so you are aware of problems before you ride rather than having one when you ride.

Just my 2p worth.

wishitwasallflat

thecycleclinic wrote:

What do mean by a serivce though? What kind of hubs do you use? Do the axles spin freely? If they are decent quality cup and cone they should be good for a couple more thousand or more before stripping down and new grease.

Does the BB axle spoin freely with no play (check with the chain of) if it does it does not need changing. Are the tyres good, no crack bulges e.t.c. If so leave alone.

Is shifting smooth especially down shift, if so the gear cables are good. When the brakes are applied are they smooth or is there any kind of resistance in the cable, you should feel it if there is. Are the pads making proper contact on the rim, not above or below? Are the calipers centred? Is there excessive lever travel when applying the brakes.
You can check the chain with a 12" rule. You don't even need tools.

Many shops will charge for this checking tweek a couple of things and bill you for the pleasure. I think this is wrong as the rider should be doing these kind of checks anyway. In fact I show people how to do these checks free if you are near by, that how much I believe people should check there themselves. On modern bikes with cartridge bearing hubs, headsets and BB there is little to strip down and pack with grease anymore. Most servicing involves replacing worn parts and put grease on a alloy seatpost and pedal threads. I am all for using your LBS, I run one but alot of this checking should be done by the owner so you are aware of problems before you ride rather than having one when you ride.

Just my 2p worth.

Worth more than 2p my friend and please keep posting this (and your other) invaluable free advice on the forum