Summer bike service now or in Spring?

AllezAllezAllez

My bike is due a service but as the weather has changed for the winter I'm tucking it away until the sun comes out again.

I was wondering if it makes a difference if I do it now and then it doesn't move for four months or so?

I was planning the following:

New chain and cassette
Wheels trued and hubs serviced
BB service
Headset service
New cables

Any thoughts?

kajjal

If you are doing it yourself, i would do it now and then check it over next time you plan to ride it. This is what i do with my mountain bike until the trails dry out next year. It is then good to go.

bbrap

I think it depends a lot on where you will tuck it away. If it is sitting in a dry garage nothing will happen to the grease and lube in 3 months or so. If (like someone I know) you take it indoors and lean it against a radiator then things may well dry up too much and need doing again (along with a new saddle that stuck fast to said radiator and ripped when moved).

keef66

Unless it will be spending the winter tucked up inside a nice warm, dry house I'd do it now. If any moisture has made it into the various bearings, leaving it there over winter could mean they are more badly corroded when you come to strip them next year. I made that very mistake last year, and the rear hub bearings on the drive side had suffered come the spring.

The wet weather bike bike gets done once in the autumn to prepare it for the winter and again in the spring to see what damage it's suffered.

Summer bike now just once in the autumn.

veronese68

Do it now, as has been said then you know all is right when it goes into hibernation.

cycleclinic

You can change those things now or in the spring if any of those bits get a bit ropey while the bike is stored you are changing them anyway. So if the bike needs those parts do it when you have time.

andyeb

I'd say do it now for three reasons:

i) get any gunk and moisture out of any bearings before corrosion sets in

ii) Give the whole bike a really thorough going-over, so you can order any replacement parts you need, and check the frame thoroughly - if you find any cracks (as I have before during maintenance), you want to be getting a warranty swap out of the way while you are not trying to ride the bike and missing out on good riding weather.

iii) have your bike ready to go so you can take advantage of any early nice weather in the spring

CiB

Personally I'd do the service now but leave the chain & cassette on over the winter, replacing them in Spring. May as well wear the old ones out further on winter roads and have the benefit of the new ones when the weather picks up. Why put new stuff on just as the salt & grit starts to reach a peak?

Cassette + chain swap is a half hour job so it's not as if it's a major upheaval, and it'll be a good time to give the bike another once-over then anyway.

veronese68

I should add if I tell myself to do it now, I might have it done by the time spring gets here.

keef66

[quote= Why put new stuff on just as the salt & grit starts to reach a peak?
Cassette + chain swap is a half hour job so it's not as if it's a major upheaval, and it'll be a good time to give the bike another once-over then anyway.[/quote]

I refer you to the OP: " I'm tucking it away until the sun comes out again"

and "I was wondering if it makes a difference if I do it now and then it doesn't move for four months or so?"

CiB

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19745129#p19745129]keef66[/url] wrote:

I refer you to the OP: " I'm tucking it away until the sun comes out again"

and "I was wondering if it makes a difference if I do it now and then it doesn't move for four months or so?"

Good spot; I read it last night then saw it again today. My mistake.

I'd give it a good clean, put it away and do it next Spring.