rush_forth

what are some things you do to prolong the life of your bike? i never spent much time maintaining my mtb, besides cleaning the mud off and lubing the chain once in a while. now i have a road bike that is worth 3x my mtb and i want to take care of it! i'm assuming most of you do some sort of maintenance on your own to keep it running smoothly....

for instance, my uncle told me to keep the chain on the smallest sprocket when you come in from a ride so there's less tension on it.

i know there are a lot of fred/parody/troll posts up lately and seems like a fair amount of disdain for newbs, but it's an honest question - hoping for an honest answer. haha, i don't like having a disclaimer, but i'm wary of the backlash...

thanks for your tips

Nachoman

Clean and lube drive train and don't store outside.

enjoi07

not to be rude...but did you even consider google or BF search?
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...enance&spell=1

mechBgon

Word.

Also, if you hear your brake pads making nasty metal-on-metal noises when you apply the brakes, check the pads for embedded chunks of aluminum and remove them with something sharp.

I often check my tire tread for embedded bits of glass, too. It frequently pays off. If they're not removed, they may eventually work their way through the casing and cause a flat.

If your bike happens to be carbon, don't let it take hard hits to the frame tubes. Parking the bike and having it roll, fall, and smack something, for example.

rush_forth

that's a good place to start for sure. i read some - just thought i might get more here; but i'm probably over-thinking it. chalk it up to enthusiasm of a new first bike and i do have the tendency to research the **** out of stuff i do!

thanks for the posts guys

banerjek

Bikes don't require that much maintenance. Keep the chain clean and lubed. Measure it for stretch regularly and replace regularly. I think replacing cables and housings yearly is a good idea, particularly if you ride in the wet. Always grease bolts and use a torque wrench. Inspect wheels, brakes, and headset regularly.

Basically, just keep an eye on things and replace/adjust whatever needs it.

Homebrew01

+1 to the above posts .......... And ignore advice from your uncle from now on.

Kai Winters

Keep it clean, lubed and adjusted...it is only a bike and not a space shuttle though I hear they use the same system...

Daytrip

I may get flamed for this, but get yourself a removable chain link like a Wippermann, and remove your chain periodically for a thorough cleaning and lube. Some people think that's obsessive, but I'm not one of them. I like my drivetrain as clean as I can get it.

recneps345

Don't take my advice, but I will just say it to show that your bike will be fine with mimimal attention. I have had my bike 4 years. All I have done is a yearly tune up that also includes a new chain. I know it isn 't what is the absolute best, but the bike is still looking and riding great.

rollin

Ride the bike regularly.

Do not over lube, dirt likes excess lube.

Clean the bike periodically.

AngryScientist 

i would say the best advice is to keep the bike as clean as you can. dirt and grime wear things out, paint and moving parts included. keep the chain and cassette clean, along with any other moving parts.

as mentioned, dont overthink it. i have a few older road bikes that were completely neglected in the first decade or two of their lives that run perfectly fine with a little attention.

roccobike

+1 to this post, plus I like the post that said don't over lube, and the one that says ignore your uncle.
Occaisionally, I flip a few bikes to fund my cycling habit. I'm continually amazed at how little attention bikes recieve and how well they hold up despite the lack of attention.
There is one exception, a sure bike killer: storing it outside, unprotected.

silversx80

Make sure that you use winter air in the tires during winter, and summer air during summer.

banerjek

Overlubing is one of the most common newbie mistakes. After lubing lightly, rub the chain with a rag. To clean the chain, just rub it with a rag. I recommend against removing the chain and soaking it in solvent because that method works a bit too well and you'll wind up with a dry chain since it takes a while to work the lube in everywhere.

Lube/clean lightly and often. Use a lube appropriate for the type of riding you do (definitely not WD40)

When/if you wash your bike, do not blast it with a hose or powerwasher since you can also blast the lube out of yor hubs, BB, and headset which will significantly shorten their lifespan.

Nachoman

How many miles a month do you pedal? And do you lube your chain in between tune ups?

nayr497

Are you saying guys telling him to ignore his uncle saying it is unnecessary? Or that is is harmful?

I was actually told it isn't a bad idea when you first build up/re-cable a bike to take the tension off when not riding/storing it. However, the suggestion a good mechanic made to me was to put it in the 2nd or 3rd largest cog, then shift when the bike is stationary to release all the tension on the RD cable.

DaveSSS 

With the right chain lube, you can't apply too much. I use 3-4 parts naptha to 1 part synthetic motor oil or synthetic gear lube. I can apply it after every ride and not get any build-up, but I also wipe the chain after every ride, just before lubing. In practice, I tend to lube every other ride or about 100 miles and wipe the chain after every ride (that takes all of 30 seconds).

It is not possible to damage a chain by over-cleaning, as long as the chain is properly lubed after cleaning. Chains have no protection from the intrusion of dirt. It doesn't take longer before the lube inside the chain is a dirt and oil mix or grinding paste. The best thing you can do is get rid of as much as possible and replace it with clean lube. The clearance between the chain components is relatively large, so a thin lube will pentrate to the pin/bushing area in a matter of seconds. There is no reason for a chain to ever be dry and squeaking, except from neglect.