Bicycle maintenance checklist?
04-27-16, 08:54 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Bicycle maintenance checklist?
What are some of the things that I need to do to my mountain bike to keep it in the best riding shape possible? Are there things to do daily, weekly, monthly? Can you post a video showing these items being done? Thanks
04-27-16, 09:04 AM
#2
Senior Member
Wash your bike every now and then. But especially after it gets muddy.
Check the air pressure in your tires at least weekly. If you have a fork/shock with an air spring, check them and top them off every couple weeks, too, or at least when you feel performance suffering.
Lube your chain every couple of weeks and/or right after you wash your bike. Hit the pivot points of your derailluers with a drop of oil whenever you do this.
Tune your bike and check cables/housing, brake pad wear, chain/cassette/chainring wear, wheel true annually or when warranted.
On a new bike, after the first couple of months riding, I'll also go through and retorque most bolts, especially pedals, crank bolts, and headeset, but also saddle bolt(s), seatpost bolt, stem bolts, etc.
All kinds of vids of this stuff on YouTube or at parktools.com/blog/repair-help.
Check the air pressure in your tires at least weekly. If you have a fork/shock with an air spring, check them and top them off every couple weeks, too, or at least when you feel performance suffering.
Lube your chain every couple of weeks and/or right after you wash your bike. Hit the pivot points of your derailluers with a drop of oil whenever you do this.
Tune your bike and check cables/housing, brake pad wear, chain/cassette/chainring wear, wheel true annually or when warranted.
On a new bike, after the first couple of months riding, I'll also go through and retorque most bolts, especially pedals, crank bolts, and headeset, but also saddle bolt(s), seatpost bolt, stem bolts, etc.
All kinds of vids of this stuff on YouTube or at parktools.com/blog/repair-help.
04-27-16, 09:29 AM
#3
Banned
safety inspection before every ride if ever in doubt ... Like a General Aviation walk around before starting the Motor.
04-27-16, 09:55 AM
#4
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Really your question is extremely open ended. You'll likely get a lot of good advice but you'll not going to get all that you're riding situations and your bike's actual set up really might need. But mconlonx starts with the first step. Clean your bike more often then you think it needs to be done. Touch it, work the systems with the bike up in the air, look and learn the cause and results that make up your components. Read/view online service guides, the Park Big Blue Book is a great start here. Talk with your riding buddies and ask what they do and if they would show you how they do stuff, in person help is always far better then vids. Go into your local shop and talk with the wrenches there, have your bike be as clean as possible if you bring it along and do pay for their advice even if it's just a tray of cookies or a six pack. Andy.
04-27-16, 08:12 PM
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Check your quick releases or axle nuts for proper closure and tension before each ride. Braking function too. I like to give the bike a bounce on its tires to detect any loose or rattly parts before mounting and riding off.
04-28-16, 04:12 AM
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The basics, like for a car, checking/adding air to the tires......checking/adding oil and keeping it thoroughly clean in and out is kind of the standard basics. Just like changing a flat is kind of the minimal one should know.
on a bicycle, being able to field dress a flat tire and reroute a dropped chain is kind of the minimal amount of mechanics one should be able to perform on the ride.
mconlonx's first three paragraphs say alot.
dsbrantjr makes good points as well
depending on how much dirt/mud you ride in and get on the bike can determine how to wash the bike. Maybe you can just get a towel or paper towel wetted with car soap and spray wax and wipe down the bike. A water hose hardly seems necessary much of the time.
I really havent much to add, except to check for rust and correct it asap before it consumes the bike or precious components.
on a bicycle, being able to field dress a flat tire and reroute a dropped chain is kind of the minimal amount of mechanics one should be able to perform on the ride.
mconlonx's first three paragraphs say alot.
dsbrantjr makes good points as well
depending on how much dirt/mud you ride in and get on the bike can determine how to wash the bike. Maybe you can just get a towel or paper towel wetted with car soap and spray wax and wipe down the bike. A water hose hardly seems necessary much of the time.
I really havent much to add, except to check for rust and correct it asap before it consumes the bike or precious components.
