Triathlon - Bike overhauls: when / how often?

hi all.

i being an absolut idiot as far as the technical side of bikes is concerned, i tought i would start a thread. maybe you guys can shed some light on the issue.

how often is it necessary to change parts? which parts? do you change certain parts specifically before a big race? if so, how many weeks ahead of it?

i bought myself a cannondale ironman 800 last fall. it is my single training bike. it has an ultegra in the back, the 105 on the disc. and i have gipiemme tecno 716 wheels on them.
i do not have the budget to get myself zipps or any other wheel set any time soon. so my training setup is what i have. training or race it's all the same for me.
i don't intend to put any more money into the bike as far as upgrades are concerned, firstly because as i already mentioned i'm actually still paying for the bike and there's still plenty of room for improvement by training. it makes me feel better not going the "easy way" by blowing 1000s of $$ on a pair of zipps or any other brand and benefiting with an 1mph increase in average speed but rather making that same improvement by training.

so anyway: how often do you have change those small parts like breakpads, those coils leading from breaklevers and switches to breakpads and gears (no idea what they're called)? how often do you change tires? or tubes? what about bearings?

what would you specifically recommend me to do? as i have said, my biked really new (got it in september). we had a really long winter, so it hasn't got that much mileage on it yet either. i will be doing an IM on july 10th. should i do something in lieu of that race or is everything new enough? or is it likely that my tires explode 60 miles into the race?
i did have a crash already though: it tore up the tape on the handlebars on one side and shaved off the rubber shell on those coil things (as metioned above). so i will obviously replace that corktape - but should i also change that coil?

so many questions....like i said: i have no idea. so feel free to go anywhere you like with your replies. appreciate any feedback i can get...:)

cheers.

If you feel comfortable doing your own maintenance you can do it. What I normally do is use the components until they wear out. For tubes, I'll use them until they go flat and then I'll throw them away. I check the tires regularly to make sure they don't have any cracks or cuts. If one tire goes bad I'll replace both tires. I would recommend about a month or so before your big race that you take the bike into the shop and have them do an overhaul on it to make sure everything is adjusted and lubed properly, etc.

Good luck with your upcoming IM.

I check the tires regularly to make sure they don't have any cracks or cuts. If one tire goes bad I'll replace both tires.


Front tires should last through two or three rear ones. There's no need to replace both at once. Besides with some tires on deep rims, I dread mounting them so that saves my fingers one more time.

Front tires should last through two or three rear ones. There's no need to replace both at once. Besides with some tires on deep rims, I dread mounting them so that saves my fingers one more time.

I agree that there's no need, but that's my preference. Changing tires on Rolf Vector's does suck, that's for sure.

You should get a tune up once a year. More if high milage or riding in bad weather. They will make sure everything is lubed up and check you bearings and hubs (make sure). Fresh bearings/hubs/greese will keep you rolling.

what do you guys think about tubes?
should they be replaced before an ironman race? i would think so. or is there no reason to exchange tubes if they're not flat?