Bicycle Mechanics - maintenance schedules

I have a Specialized Sirius. it is 10 years old, but only about 3K miles. I bought it, rode it quite a bit, my dad became ill and I quit. I have started again. I weigh about 215 lbs, and I ride on pavement that is the typical poorly maintained you find. No curbs or potholes to speak of.

Any way, about every 400 or 500 miles I regularly wipe and oil the chain with wax lube. I check spokes for tightness and wheels for cracks at that time, and for loose stuff. The only time I ride in the rain is when I make a mistake, maybe 3 or 4 times a year.

The bike feels great, and tight and smooth, never found an issue. I need it to last, until I save for a better one, given the economy that may be never.

My question is what kind of chain life can I expect. Are there other things that need attention on some mileage interval, like repack the wheel bearings, the bottom bracket bearings. What about the little plastic rollers on the derailleur, do they need repacking or replacement. The bike is aluminum with a Cr Mo fork, should I worry about cracking of the frame. how about the steering head bearings. I do not mind paying the LBS to do these things, I just want an unbiased opinion on when I should have this done.

Thanks in advance

Are you Trolling or being serious?

Other than keeping the chain oiled, and the tires pumped, I do an annual maintenance in March/April. That's roughly 4-6,000 miles. I do everything, grease all ball bearings, (many have grease fittings, so it's a quick job). Usually replace brake shoes that are about worn out anyway, and replace all 4 cables. At that time I do an inspection of everything, but rarely find anything.

My timing is in March because that's after the winter when the bike is exposed to salt. If you don't ride in the winter, you can do it anytime.

Given that it's been 10 years, I'd open the front hub or headset to get an idea of the grease's condition. Based on that you can decide about the other bearings. Also, you'll probably get better braking if you spring for new brake shoes.

I am serious, I did a search, and got nothing. Looked for stickies. I realize this must have been covered so a link is fine.

I maintain all my stuff with wheels very well, I have yet to get less than 200K out of a car or truck.

Rod

ALl cool man... if the bike is riden like an old lady and has like 2000 miles on it, then probably the chain needs nothing but oil.

As for the wheelies things in the RD, those never crack and probably are ok too, they need tiny oil thats it.

You will notice when something needs attention. Some guys overhaul their bikes each 2 months, other ones each year... I do it like anually just because i barely ride. Other ones just do what is needed, "if not broken dont fix it"

ALl cool man... if the bike is riden like an old lady and has like 2000 miles on it, then probably the chain needs nothing but oil.

As for the wheelies things in the RD, those never crack and probably are ok too, they need tiny oil thats it.

You will notice when something needs attention. Some guys overhaul their bikes each 2 months, other ones each year... I do it like anually just because i barely ride. Other ones just do what is needed, "if not broken dont fix it"
Jockey wheels do crack, but after MUCH more mileage than the OP is talking about. The only thing I'd work on that the OP hasn't is to measure the distance between 24 pins on the chain. If more than 12 and 1/16" long, replace. If more than 12 and 1/8" long, replace the chain AND cassette/freewheel.

Other than keeping the chain oiled, and the tires pumped, I do an annual maintenance in March/April. That's roughly 4-6,000 miles. I do everything, grease all ball bearings, (many have grease fittings, so it's a quick job). Usually replace brake shoes that are about worn out anyway, and replace all 4 cables. At that time I do an inspection of everything, but rarely find anything.

My timing is in March because that's after the winter when the bike is exposed to salt. If you don't ride in the winter, you can do it anytime.

Given that it's been 10 years, I'd open the front hub or headset to get an idea of the grease's condition. Based on that you can decide about the other bearings. Also, you'll probably get better braking if you spring for new brake shoes.

This is pretty similar to what I do although with winter coming up I will be pulling most parts off the frame and cleaning and greasing them well while they are off but I am mostly stripping things to make it easier to treat everything with framesaver because it has been a couple years since the last application.

ragtoplvr, Checking for chain stretch is something I'll do fairly often, maybe four times a year, and in two or three sections of the chain. Most other easy items like cleaning/lubing the chain, wheel trueness, tire damage and checking for loose fasteners are usually performed within a couple of days after a ride or nightly if the bike is to be used the next day. If a bike is to sit up for awhile (lately my crit bike) I'll run it through all of the gears if it has integrated shifters and keep the tires aired up.

My touring bike is my most used bike and I'll check the seals on the cartridge bearings (hubs and bottom bracket), lube the pivot points on the brakes, check pads for wear and check the headset bearings annually. The mountain bike, while fewer miles of use, recieves an annual simply because of all of the banging around it endures.

Brad

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help