What maintenance do you do?
#1
What maintenance do you do?
After reading the thread about patching your own flats I started to wonder what things others do.
These are the ones I do.
I have tried to place them in increasing order of difficulty:
[x] Pump the tyres
[x] Fix a flat
[x] Change tyres
[x] Change brake pads
[x] Replace brake cables and cable housings
[x] Service front hub
[x] Replace gear cables and housings
[x] Replace rear cassette
[x] Replcace chain
[x] Service rear derailleur
[x] Service rear hubs
[-] Service front/rear suspension
[-] True wheels
As you can see, I dont true wheels, I get somebody who knows what they are doing to do this. I have never serviced my front suspension.
Please add others that I missed.
z
These are the ones I do.
I have tried to place them in increasing order of difficulty:
[x] Pump the tyres
[x] Fix a flat
[x] Change tyres
[x] Change brake pads
[x] Replace brake cables and cable housings
[x] Service front hub
[x] Replace gear cables and housings
[x] Replace rear cassette
[x] Replcace chain
[x] Service rear derailleur
[x] Service rear hubs
[-] Service front/rear suspension
[-] True wheels
As you can see, I dont true wheels, I get somebody who knows what they are doing to do this. I have never serviced my front suspension.
Please add others that I missed.
z
#2
On a Mission from God
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,009
Likes: 5
From: Thibodaux, LA
Bikes: '10 Surly LHT, Rat-rod Klunker, '82 Peugeot PH12 Centennial
I do all of those things, plus repacking pedal bearings occasionally, repacking headset bearings, straightening frames (if needed), and making sure everything works smoothly. Most internal gear hubs are sealed, but I've worked on a few before.
#3
Steel is real, baby!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,532
Likes: 8
From: Boise, ID
Bikes: 1984 Pinarello, 1986 Bianchi Portofino, 1988 Bianchi Trofeo, 1989 Specialized Allez, 1989 Specialized Hard Rock, 2001 Litespeed Tuscany
I do all of the above to my bikes, except that my bikes don't have "suspension", so I don't have to worry about that.
I also clean and repack my BB when necessary (on my old cup & cone styles); retape my bars; adjust brakes; adjust derailleurs & cables; clean and repack headsets...
I do pretty much all of my own servicing.
I also clean and repack my BB when necessary (on my old cup & cone styles); retape my bars; adjust brakes; adjust derailleurs & cables; clean and repack headsets...
I do pretty much all of my own servicing.
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,373
Likes: 8
From: Columbus, OH
Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc
I do everything except build my own frames and press my own headsets. I can't justify the price of a headset press for something I'd use so infrequently.
__________________
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,144
Likes: 3
From: Burnaby, BC
Everything but build the frames. I haven't built wheels yet, but I'm looking forward to my first set. I had never replaced cables until recently, but it proved simple enough.
I made a headset press out of a long bolt and some metal spacers/washers I turned up on the lathe. Works super.
I made a headset press out of a long bolt and some metal spacers/washers I turned up on the lathe. Works super.
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,373
Likes: 8
From: Columbus, OH
Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc
Building a proper, evenly tensioned wheel that doesn't go out of true the first time you ride it is a little more difficult. It's not as much of the dark art that so many people make it out to be, but there's equal parts art and science to doing it well.
__________________
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
#10
I tried servicing a rear hub once, but I think I just made it worse. Anything much more complicated than changing tires and cleaning/lubing chains, I take my bikes to someone who works on bikes for living.
#11
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
When something breaks, I fix it. Hopefully it doesn't keep me from riding. I pump up tires and stuff, but I have no checklist. I just do things when I think they might need doing. It's all rather organic.
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Adjusting brakes and derailleurs, servicing my hubs and bb's, replacing the freewheel and fixing flats, of course. Can't say I've successfully trued a wheel yet, but again, it was my son's department store bicycle and I've been quite unsatisfied with it. I didn't expect much, but he's gotten practically nothing from it.
#14
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 16
I true my wheels, but I haven't built one yet. I don't think it would be that hard, I just haven't had the need. I do everything else on your list though plus a few other things. Basically, I feel comfortable stripping my bike to its frame and building it back up again.
#15
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 158
From: Santa Fe, NM
Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa
Pretty much everything, though I've only built up a few wheels and would hardly consider myself skilled at it.
Framebuilding is next
Framebuilding is next
#16
Very, very Senior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 1
From: Chicago
Bikes: 2012 Surly Troll, 1999 Hardtail MTB
I do 1-4 and 9.
Not sure what "service rear derailleur" means, I had to adjust it sometimes if it didn't shift right.
I yet have to do anything to my brake cable, doesn't seem to hard, though. How do you know that it is time to service front/rear hub?
Not sure what "service rear derailleur" means, I had to adjust it sometimes if it didn't shift right.
I yet have to do anything to my brake cable, doesn't seem to hard, though. How do you know that it is time to service front/rear hub?
#18
xtrajack
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 0
From: Maine
Bikes: Kona fire mountain/xtracycle,Univega landrover fs,Nishiki custom sport Ross professional super gran tour Schwinn Mesa (future Xtracycle donor bike)
I feel comfortable stripping my bike to its frame painting it and building it back up again. I haven't built or trued wheels or made a frame. Just about everything else on a derailleur equipped bike. No experience with IGH though.
#19
Not a legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Everything.
The bike shop doesn't do repairs while I wait, and how would I get to work if I dropped off the bike? It's just less hassle to do it myself.
As far as headsets are concerned, I haven't used it but this looks useful: https://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/09...llation-tools/
The bike shop doesn't do repairs while I wait, and how would I get to work if I dropped off the bike? It's just less hassle to do it myself.
As far as headsets are concerned, I haven't used it but this looks useful: https://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/09...llation-tools/
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Everything.
The bike shop doesn't do repairs while I wait, and how would I get to work if I dropped off the bike? It's just less hassle to do it myself.
As far as headsets are concerned, I haven't used it but this looks useful: https://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/09...llation-tools/
The bike shop doesn't do repairs while I wait, and how would I get to work if I dropped off the bike? It's just less hassle to do it myself.
As far as headsets are concerned, I haven't used it but this looks useful: https://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/09...llation-tools/
#21







