Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Maintenance?

So I've had my (second) fixed gear, a 2003 Bianchi Pista for over a year. Great bike, yadda yadda. I've never really done anything to it other than lube the chain and change the tires because it's never really seemed like it needed anything. I've done a century on it and a bunch of long rides as well as the daily screwing around.

So I'm wondering if there is some maintenance stuff that needs to be done every so often. Replacing the chain, overhauling the hubs etc. Everything seems good and I'm content with the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" approach but is there stuff that should be done? What and how often?

Check headset, brakes (if you have em) and basically anything that can come loose. Otherwise, the regular lube and cleaning of the frame is fine. Replace the chain once a year or so depending. Overhaul the hubs and repack the bearings if that's what they have and especially after a season of winter or bad weather.

Sometimes the flux capacitor needs minor adjustment...but be sure not to torque the self adjusting screw too tight on the autoindexing rear cog sprocket.

my fixie commuter (150 - 200 miles a week in all weathers, year-round) gets the following:

weekly: chain cleaning and lube, general wipedown.
monthly: full cleaning and once-over for worn bits
every spring: new drivetrain (chainring, chain, cog) and total overhaul.
when necessary: new rubber, handlebar tape, brake pads.

i also run three sets of wheels: everyday set, backup set, and winter set. when i do the overhaul in the spring, i overhaul all the hubs and generally check them over.

<edit> and by spring...i mean may. after all the wet, gritty weather is over.</edit>

i find (and perhaps it's just me) that it helps to have a maintenance schedule. parts last a lot longer if you don't wait until they're really dirty to clean them. besides, it takes so little time to clean a fixie that it's worth doing more frequently -- especially because you're not distributing the wear amongs 2-3 chainrings and 7-10 cogs.

A little off topic, but what is your winter set of wheels? Bigger tires? A little tread?

A little off topic, but what is your winter set of wheels? Bigger tires? A little tread?

my winter set of wheels are surly hubs laced to mavic MA3s with nokian hakkapeliitta (studded) 35c tires

in fact, they're all surly hubs laced to MA3s. the daily riders have 32c schwalbe marathons and the backups have 35c marathons (in the summer) or 35c 'cross tires of various brands (in the winter).

i only switch to the "winter" set of wheels when it's really icy and snowy. otherwise i tend to ride the backup set. studded tires don't ride all that well on bare pavement and they're too expensive to wear out quickly.

You guys only change your chain like once a year? I usually pop a new on one every like 500-1000 miles depending on when I get around to it. I even change my road bike chains every like 1,000 to 1,500 miles. And I usually only get about 1,200 miles out of a Dura Ace cog before I change it.

my fixie commuter (150 - 200 miles a week in all weathers, year-round) gets the following:

weekly: chain cleaning and lube, general wipedown.
monthly: full cleaning and once-over for worn bits
every spring: new drivetrain (chainring, chain, cog) and total overhaul.
when necessary: new rubber, handlebar tape, brake pads.






holy crap man.

part of what got me into fixed gears was the simplicity, efficiency, low economic demand, and low maintenance. it seems that you have blown my philosophy out of the water.



anyhow. nightfly, i'm with you on the "if it ain't broke don't fix it." leave your pista alone.

i change my chain when it's too rusty/noisy or if it breaks. and i patch my tubes when they get flat. that's about as good as it gets.

she's gets almost no maintenence. dirty, but is still going strong. ;)

http://img254.echo.cx/img254/9886/dscn22013zw.jpg

ive never changed my chain... just lube it when it starts making noises... everything else is inspect and fix when necessary

I hate cleaning and maintaining my road bike, so I don't. I haven't ridden it in almost a year, so this isn't a problem. But I clean and tinker with my track bikes obsessively. They're so much fun to work on, and absolutely charming in their simplicity.

i change my chain when it's too rusty/noisy or if it breaks.
If you wait till it breaks, than you waited too long. You either have brakes on or you have a deathwish. Chains are cheap....replace em regularly.

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