Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

What maintenance do you do?

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

What maintenance do you do?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-26-10 | 03:13 PM
  #1  
azesty's Avatar
Thread Starter
Hot in China
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 961
Likes: 0
From: China

Bikes: Giant Lava

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
azesty is offline  
Reply
Old 06-26-10 | 03:34 PM
  #2  
FunkyStickman's Avatar
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.
FunkyStickman is offline  
Reply
Old 06-26-10 | 03:38 PM
  #3  
frpax's Avatar
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.
frpax is offline  
Reply
Old 06-26-10 | 04:58 PM
  #4  
thompsonpost
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Everything but straighten and true wheels. The MAVIC Crossmax wheels are really hard to thrash.
 
Reply
Old 06-26-10 | 05:53 PM
  #5  
CliftonGK1's Avatar
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.
CliftonGK1 is offline  
Reply
Old 06-26-10 | 07:27 PM
  #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.
Commodus is offline  
Reply
Old 06-26-10 | 08:16 PM
  #7  
CCrew's Avatar
Older than dirt
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,342
Likes: 2
From: Winchester, VA

Bikes: Too darn many.. latest count is 11

Everything except replace headsets.
CCrew is offline  
Reply
Old 06-26-10 | 09:14 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,162
Likes: 647
From: Brooklyn NY

Bikes: Kuota Kredo/Chorus, Trek 7000 commuter, Trek 8000 MTB and a few others

Wheels aren't so hard. Just give it a try. I don't know why there is such an aura about this being difficult.
zacster is offline  
Reply
Old 06-26-10 | 09:40 PM
  #9  
CliftonGK1's Avatar
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

Originally Posted by zacster
Wheels aren't so hard. Just give it a try. I don't know why there is such an aura about this being difficult.
Building bad wheels is easy.
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.
CliftonGK1 is offline  
Reply
Old 06-26-10 | 10:51 PM
  #10  
groovestew's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 82
From: Edmonton, AB
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.
groovestew is offline  
Reply
Old 06-26-10 | 11:00 PM
  #11  
Doohickie's Avatar
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.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.


Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
Doohickie is offline  
Reply
Old 06-26-10 | 11:05 PM
  #12  
Lot's Knife's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
I wouldn't know a headset press from my own anus.

I changed brake pads once!
Lot's Knife is offline  
Reply
Old 06-26-10 | 11:32 PM
  #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.
elihu23 is offline  
Reply
Old 06-26-10 | 11:52 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
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.
jeffpoulin is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-10 | 01:39 PM
  #15  
canyoneagle's Avatar
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
canyoneagle is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-10 | 01:46 PM
  #16  
JPprivate's Avatar
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?
JPprivate is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-10 | 01:52 PM
  #17  
BassNotBass's Avatar
master of bottom licks
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,210
Likes: 2
From: Lou-evil, Canned-Yucky USA
It' easier to list what I can't do:

[X] Nothing

BassNotBass is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-10 | 01:53 PM
  #18  
xtrajack's Avatar
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.
xtrajack is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-10 | 02:30 PM
  #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/
Praxis is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-10 | 02:41 PM
  #20  
billyymc
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by Praxis
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/
That's more complex than what I've used, but I've only pressed in a couple sets of cups. I just use a threaded rod, two big washers and a nut on top and bottom. Works great, cheap as dirt.
 
Reply
Old 06-28-10 | 05:08 PM
  #21  
groovestew's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 82
From: Edmonton, AB
Originally Posted by groovestew
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.
I know it's stupid to respond to one's own posts, but I have an addendum to what I wrote above. I was just at Sixty Fiver's shop this afternoon to pick up a rebuilt wheel and get a derailleur swapped on my MTB, and he gave me $#!% for having a grungy chain and for using a crummy lubricant. So apparently, I even suck at lubing my chains.
groovestew is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
hhk25
Bicycle Mechanics
24
07-16-19 08:57 PM
zeeman
Classic & Vintage
8
01-30-18 12:39 AM
pedalnmetal
Classic & Vintage
30
12-23-13 02:00 PM
Orbit.SF
Bicycle Mechanics
45
09-22-11 05:44 AM
barefootdan
General Cycling Discussion
7
05-04-10 06:55 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.