Originally Posted by
lymansmtt
I am about to purchase my first road bike and I was just wondering what kind of maintenance can I expect as I begin riding and continue to ride? Is there anything I should be prepared to do after each ride, after 100 miles, after 250 miles, etc?
1. Pump up tires to your specified pressure before every ride. This is not a total must but really helps prevent stuff like pinch flats and also helps for a more consistent ride (duh).
2. Lube chain every few hundred miles or more frequently if you use a wax-based lube or ride in harsh conditions.
3. Wipe off excess lube with rag.
The necessary importance of 1-3 depends on how much you ride and how much you care about your bike.
4. Make sure brakes work before every ride (check cables for obvious snags, etc.)
5. If new bike, after a few hundred miles, you might have to tighten the RD cable. You can either take it to the shop or turn the barrel adjuster counter clockwise 1-2 clicks.
Everything else, you'll figure out on your own as stuff wears or breaks down.