Phatman

I now have about 400 miles on my Lemond (I know...I haven't been riding enough, track has gotten in the way.) and I have noticed the shifting getting sloppy, and I have noticed a slight wobble in the rear wheel. I also have noticed a bit of front wheel flex when I'm really hammering. So I was thinking that I would take the bike in for a tune-up, and possibly a front brake pad change. I'm supposed to get free service from my bike shop for a year.

what I'm wondering is if there is anything I'm forgetting. Is there anything else I should be getting in a tune up?

Also, the stock pads that I have on my bike stop well, but they make the most dust ever. It is this black film that gets everywhere; on the rims, brake arms, fork arms, even a bit on the headtube. Is there any pads that make little dust and stop well?

roadbuzz

The rubber in brake pads gets hard over time. Don't know why they would be that way on a new bike, but it seems like a common problem. Maybe yours got built up with some that had been sitting around for a while. In any case, standard Shimano are normally fine, as are most quality after-market brands. Feel a few, poke them with your thumbnail and what not to get a feel for the relative hardness. Even though brake pads should be fairly hard, they should still feel somewhat compliant and "rubbery."

Rev.Chuck

If you have a year of free adjustment, then when you take it in tell them your specific problems and ask them to check every thing. We do a "60 day" for new bikes and it is a tune up: wheels, brakes, gears, bearings.
Every brakepad I have used makes a mess, it is a combination of the pad wearing(That rubber goes somewhere) rim wear and road grit.

nikos

Rev, I have over 2000 on my Bianchi. I keep it very clean and it appears to have no wear. The local shop thought it needed nothing, just eye balling it. Doesnt that seem odd - in terms of tune up/adjustments for that mileage? What about lube in the critical areas that I cant address on my own, is there any concerns that come to mind?

Phatman

well, the brakes work fine, they just make a mess. Would the salmon koolstop make less of a mess. Do they even make them for road brakes?

roadbuzz

Don't know about the koolstop... never used 'em.

Maybe I need to get calibrated on what constitutes "a mess." Is your problem after riding in the rain, or on wet roads? My experience is w/Shimano road and Performance house brand. Shimano's are grey, Perf's are black, but the only time I've ever experienced what I'd call a mess is after riding in the rain (which, alas, I've been doing a fair amount of this year). In that case there seems to be considerable brake pad residue on the rim, tire, brakes, and brake calipers. And, I know of no cure.

Phatman

I ride mostly in the dry weather.

"A mess". Ever see the front wheels of BMWs? you know how they look sort of grey? that is from brake dust. the mess I am referring to is like a real fine dust that gets all over the front of my bike, fork, rims, brake, everything, and looks gross.

Rev.Chuck

Nikos, If they put it in the stand and actually checked everything, true, shifting, braking, chain wear, then test rode it, I would believe them. A bike can go a long time with minimal maintenance. With 2000 miles I would be inclined to disasemble any non cartridge bearings(hubs) and clean and regrease them, maybe changing the balls while you are in there. You don't need to, but it is cheap insurance.
Koolstop salmon pads are for wet weather, so they are probably more abrasive and will create more dust. I am just conjecturing. They do make them for road, in cartridge form at least.