Does your C&V bicycle need more maintenance?
04-03-13, 11:38 AM
#1
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Does your C&V bicycle need more maintenance?
Bikes develop quirks over time...no matter how well maintained, on older bikes there is always something that buzzes, rattles, comes loose, squeaks etc. On the plus side the technology is such that you can take it apart and put it back together in an evening without too many specialized tools.
I ask because as I was biking to work today a screw in my shifter started coming loose and there was a faint buzzing that I couldn't accurately pinpoint.
I ask because as I was biking to work today a screw in my shifter started coming loose and there was a faint buzzing that I couldn't accurately pinpoint.
04-03-13, 11:48 AM
#2
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Some are like Hotrods or boats. No matter how well you have them set up they always need tinkering.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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04-03-13, 11:57 AM
#3
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i really don't like my bikes making any noise that sounds like it's not maintained (i'm literally embarrassed when out on the street) so I tend to take care of stuff asap. though i've got a squeaky rear brake on one of my rides that i've been lazy about 
04-03-13, 12:06 PM
#4
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More than they should? Not really.
More than they're getting? Definitely not.
More than a modern bike? I have no idea.
On the whole I'd say mine need more riding and less maintenance.
More than they're getting? Definitely not.
More than a modern bike? I have no idea.
On the whole I'd say mine need more riding and less maintenance.
04-03-13, 12:28 PM
#5
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In my experience, less than a modern bike. Modern bikes have more technology that is subject to wear/failure: STI levers, and even cartridge bb.
Most of my wrenching on family bikes is not maintenance, its modification, I tend to tweak them, change out groupsets, wheels, tires, whatever, just to try something different.
Most of my wrenching on family bikes is not maintenance, its modification, I tend to tweak them, change out groupsets, wheels, tires, whatever, just to try something different.
04-03-13, 12:33 PM
#6
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I needs to grease the chain on my both steel roadies periodically, same on my MTB. Otherwise shifting gears and braking works great on all of my bikes. My next is to assemble and make myself a second MTB with the scapin top of the range steel frame I have. Question is does the classic XT (non shadow) rear derailleur is compatible with ten speed cassette sprokets and chain.
04-03-13, 01:27 PM
#7
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My bike has an annoying rattle from one of my SunTour bar cons. The little screw that holds the ratcheting part on the side is missing - and I can't find a replacement. It has been that way for 20+ years. Other than that, nary a problem with it.
04-03-13, 01:37 PM
#8
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According to the "Philosophy of Bruising" a silent bike is a happy bike. ANY new or used part or component properly cleaned, prepared, installed and adjusted will perform quietly and well.
J
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04-03-13, 01:51 PM
#9
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Mine do not need more maintenance. They are, as afilado says, quiet, which is good.
What they really need, sad to say, is more riding. I need more riding, as do they.
What they really need, sad to say, is more riding. I need more riding, as do they.
04-03-13, 01:55 PM
#10
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Not really, though some of the newer bicycles do have sealed bearings which is a nice feature.
04-03-13, 01:58 PM
#11
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Other than sealed versus loose/caged-ball bearings which have been mentioned, modern tires with flat protection reduce maintenance from flats considerably in specific conditions.
04-03-13, 02:00 PM
#12
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The work is easier. The interval with non sealed bearings is of course shorter, but they can easily be repacked.
There are no micro parts in Campagnolo friction shift levers.
All bikes consume parts from use.
Bright aluminum rims need more effort to keep pretty. But they are prettier.
There is more chrome to attend to. Unless you think that is a bad thing.
There are no micro parts in Campagnolo friction shift levers.
All bikes consume parts from use.
Bright aluminum rims need more effort to keep pretty. But they are prettier.
There is more chrome to attend to. Unless you think that is a bad thing.
04-03-13, 02:03 PM
#13
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
A good quality vintage bicycle will perform every bit as reliably as a modern bicycle of similar quality... when you get away from the middle and go up to high performance bicycles wear is accelerated because of the lightness of the bicycles and parts and when you go down to entry level bicycles and parts you have to deal with cheaper parts that tend to have a shorter service life.
04-03-13, 02:31 PM
#15
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More maintenance than a modern bike? I wouldn't know.
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'72 Cilo Pacer • '72 Peugeot PX10 • '73 Speedwell Ti • '74 Nishiki Competition • '74 Peugeot UE-8 • '86 Look Equipe 753 • '86 Look KG86 • '89 Parkpre Team Road • '90 Parkpre Team MTB • '90 Merlin Ti
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Avatar photo courtesy of jeffveloart.com, contact: contact: jeffnil8 (at) gmail.com.
04-03-13, 06:25 PM
#16
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I need to ride them to break them. This winter's been long, and the roads have been salty,
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04-03-13, 06:45 PM
#17
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I ride the crap out of my personal stable and they don't seem to require much more than a good cleaning every once in a while.
My rule of thumb is a properly assembled and adjusted bike should go maybe 2,000 miles without requiring much attention other than the occasional cable tweak with the adjuster. Or longer.
My rule of thumb is a properly assembled and adjusted bike should go maybe 2,000 miles without requiring much attention other than the occasional cable tweak with the adjuster. Or longer.
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04-03-13, 07:42 PM
#18
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mine are incredibly reliable, but all have their idiosyncrasies. one, i can't be too aggressive shifting from small ring up to the big one or the chain might come off. another needs more trimming of the rd when upshifting. another has a kind of faint 'hitch in its giddyup' (sp?), that's either in the bb or left pedal i'm currently too lazy to probe because it goes away when i pedal backwards two revolutions. another's front brake is not as smooth as i'd like. but only having five bikes, i know how to deal with each.
04-03-13, 09:05 PM
#19
Senior Member
Same. Bikes are stealthy quiet, enough to sneak up on peeps on the MUP with no problem. More riding....
