DeafLamb

Ok.. a little background.

March 1st I am leaving to thru-hike the appalachian trail. This means I won't be using my bike for about five to six months. My bike is a trek 520 year 2005. I use it everyday, in all types of weather for commuting, going to class, and getting everywhere I need to go. I get it tuned every thousand miles or so and I think I take pretty good care of it.

Before the last tune up I replaced the chain myself, installed new brake pads, and installed a new brake cable that was giving me a problem. When I brought the bike in for the tune up the mechanic said he recomends replacing the cassette with the chain. I never heard of that.

Anyway once I finish hiking I am bringing my bike to ashland oregon where it will again be my only means of transportation. Was wondering what, if anything, I should have done to the bike over my hike.

I was thinking of a major overhall, new chain, cassette, brake pads, take everything off and have it re-greased lubed and assembled. Is this overkill? Would a basic tune-up safice?

The bike has in the neighborhood of 6-7 thousand mile on it in the past year and a half. And once I do make it to oregon I won't have much money, so should I spend it now?

Any special considerations in storing the bike for that long?

Thanks

All your help is appreciated.

Ray

cuda2k

The cassette w/ chain thing comes from the fact that if the chains are not changed regularly that they will cause the cassette to wear with the chain, causing shark-fin looking shapes in the teeth. Problem comes when you put on the new chain that's not stretched and the worn cassette teeth don't mesh with your shiny new chain well. Chain skipping unhappiness ensues.

Hanging the bike up for 6mo shouldn't be bad for it, I would probably suggest putting it somewhere that pressure is off of the tires. They well of course go flat, but without the weight of the bike on top of the deflated tires you'll likely come back to them in better condition.

If the bike is in need of a serious major overhaul then get it done, if the bike is going to be your only form of transpertation you need it to be reliable. Otherwise, ensuring that the parts meant to be worn out and replaced are in good shape and worthy of a thousand or more miles of use before attention then hold off a bit. If the headset and hubs have never been serviced though - those may be worth having done immediately after your extended trip away.

Bobby Lex

Store it inside, away from moisture, and that's all.

Bob

TallRider

Just don't store it under the special decorative salt-water waterfall in your living room, etc. If bike needs an overhaul, letting it sit without riding isn't going to hurt it any.

Matt Gaunt

Make sure that the tires are fully inflated and try to hang them up, or the walls could perish so that when you do inflate them after the break they will just split open. Over winter, I take my wheels off, leave the bike upside down on carpet and keep the wheels with no weight on them and I have no problems.

Az B

I wouldn't worry too much about 4-5 months. A lot of bikes sit on the showroom floor for a year or more.

If it's inside and climate controlled, there won't be any problem with corrosion. I might put some lube on the chain to make sure it doesn't rust...

Have fun on the hike. I through-hiked the AT back in '78. It's one of my most cherished memories.

Az

HillRider

Changing the cassette along with a worn chain is almost a necessity to avoid "skipping" in the most used cogs. The cogs wear along with the chain so the shape and pitch still match. A new chain will no longer mate with the worn cogs and the bike skips under load.

There are two ways to approach this: 1) change the chain often to avoid wearing the cogs or 2) wear out the chain and change the cassette along with it.

A very expensive cassette, say Record Ti or Dura Ace, may justify spending a lot on new chains. Most common cassettes don't cost more than about two chains so buying four or five chains to protect them is poor economics.

Jed19

The only problem I see with your option #2 above is the fact that the chainrings can get worn out too. Then, of course, you are out a chain, cassette and chainrings. A very expensive proposition, if you ask me.

I always try to religiously monitor my chains for wear, and as a result, never had to change an entire drive-train at any one time. In my view, this is the cheaper and more effective option.

Of course, I could be wrong. However, I stand to be corrected.

Regards,

DeafLamb

No problem with skipping yet...

So I guess I'll just get a tune up so the bike is ready to go when I get back and I'll store it inside with the tires off, hung up.

Thanks for all your replies.

Ray

HillRider

Well, it would be expensive if that's what happened but it doesn't. Chainrings will tolerate way more wear and chain pitch mismatch than cogs.

First, the chain is applied to the chainrings under tension so it is in effect forced to fit. Second, chainrings are typically much larger than cogs so the "wrap" is much greater and the load is shared by many more teeth.

In real-world experience I've had chainrings last well over 30,000 miles while only changing the chain at 6000 - 7000 mile intervals. There was no skipping or any other sign of distress and the rings ran and shifted well throughout. The one time I put a new chain on an old cassette after both were 5000 miles old, three cogs (15, 17 and 19) were unusable and I changed the cassette immediately. The chainrings, with three times the miles, performed flawlessly with the new chain.

Bobby Lex

What would be the point of removing the tires? Unless you plan to put them in a humidor, you have to store them anyway, on or off the bike. You might as well just leave them on.

Bob

DeafLamb

I was just going to take the tires off so there is no pressure on them. I guess I could just store the bike upside down, I didn't really think of that right away.

Maybe I'll just lay the bike down in my bed while I am gone. It can use my blanket and have a good sleep and be fully rested for when i return

oboeguy

Congratulations on your decision to hike the AT! It's a dream of mine to do it someday. I've done a big, fat 1% of it as a section-hiker (the area around Bear Mountain in NY state). When you get back, you're going to be on heck of a climber (because you'll lose a ton of weight, even if you're already skinny ).

I wouldn't worry too much about the bike storage. Like someone mentioned, bikes sit in shops waiting to be sold for quite a while.

DeafLamb

Haha... Hopefully

I am no where even close to resembling skinny now. The tagline under my username used to be, "lookout! fat kid on bike." Since beginning cycling I find that I have kept the weight on, I just eat a lot more and have more energy.

As for the AT, you gotta make time for it man. A five to six month window isn't going to all of the sudden just open in front of you. I hope you get the chance...

Ray

HillRider

You could hang the bike from it's top tube too. Don't agonize too much about storage conditions for six months unless you are going to leave it out in the rain.

Bob S.

Ray; My compliments on your decision to hike the trail. It is something that I always thought that I would enjoy doing, but never got around to it. Perhaps I can talk my teenagers boys into doing it with me before they are out of school. Enjoy the hike, follow the basic advice above, lube the bike up with a quality lube & enjoy the hike. If you happen to get the opertunity to log on, please post & let us know how the trip is going. Bob

DeafLamb

Sure will....

If anyone is interested you can follow my hike at:

www.trailjournals.com/sunshine06

there are also lots of other journals on there, some prettty good one too

It's a great place to lurk

Ray