Tuning - how often?
08-27-04, 07:38 AM
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Tuning - how often?
I have almost a season old Giant OCR1 with ~ 2000 miles on it. That means: Ultegra shifters and rear derailleur, 105 front derailleur, TuaVita (or so) crank. I maintain my bike very well, clean and oil and polish it after every ~ 100 km, or almost after every ride I do, no matter how good or bed the weather was. And I had the bike tuned two times so far by the LBS. Ones when brand new and ones after ~ 1000 miles.
Yesterday, I went for a ride after a 3 weeks long brake (vacation) and I could notice how the shifting has become suboptimal. It is not precise, often I had to add a bit on the lever or shift back and for to be able to find the right gear. It probably was so last time as well, but due to the gradual deterioration, it was difficult to perceive.
My questions now are:
§ Is this what I should expect and just visit my LBS every several weeks?
§ If I had better components, Ultegra all around, or DA, would this be needed as well?
I am still a bit reluctant to try to tune the drive train myself. I know that it is relatively easy, but it is also easy to screw up.
Thanks.
Yesterday, I went for a ride after a 3 weeks long brake (vacation) and I could notice how the shifting has become suboptimal. It is not precise, often I had to add a bit on the lever or shift back and for to be able to find the right gear. It probably was so last time as well, but due to the gradual deterioration, it was difficult to perceive.
My questions now are:
§ Is this what I should expect and just visit my LBS every several weeks?
§ If I had better components, Ultegra all around, or DA, would this be needed as well?
I am still a bit reluctant to try to tune the drive train myself. I know that it is relatively easy, but it is also easy to screw up.
Thanks.
08-27-04, 07:53 AM
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Originally Posted by DJ1960
I have almost a season old Giant OCR1 with ~ 2000 miles on it. That means: Ultegra shifters and rear derailleur, 105 front derailleur, TuaVita (or so) crank. I maintain my bike very well, clean and oil and polish it after every ~ 100 km, or almost after every ride I do, no matter how good or bed the weather was. And I had the bike tuned two times so far by the LBS. Ones when brand new and ones after ~ 1000 miles.
Yesterday, I went for a ride after a 3 weeks long brake (vacation) and I could notice how the shifting has become suboptimal. It is not precise, often I had to add a bit on the lever or shift back and for to be able to find the right gear. It probably was so last time as well, but due to the gradual deterioration, it was difficult to perceive.
My questions now are:
§ Is this what I should expect and just visit my LBS every several weeks?
§ If I had better components, Ultegra all around, or DA, would this be needed as well?
I am still a bit reluctant to try to tune the drive train myself. I know that it is relatively easy, but it is also easy to screw up.
Thanks.
Yesterday, I went for a ride after a 3 weeks long brake (vacation) and I could notice how the shifting has become suboptimal. It is not precise, often I had to add a bit on the lever or shift back and for to be able to find the right gear. It probably was so last time as well, but due to the gradual deterioration, it was difficult to perceive.
My questions now are:
§ Is this what I should expect and just visit my LBS every several weeks?
§ If I had better components, Ultegra all around, or DA, would this be needed as well?
I am still a bit reluctant to try to tune the drive train myself. I know that it is relatively easy, but it is also easy to screw up.
Thanks.
08-27-04, 07:55 AM
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Originally Posted by DJ1960
My questions now are:
§ Is this what I should expect and just visit my LBS every several weeks?
§ If I had better components, Ultegra all around, or DA, would this be needed as well?
I am still a bit reluctant to try to tune the drive train myself. I know that it is relatively easy, but it is also easy to screw up.
§ Is this what I should expect and just visit my LBS every several weeks?
§ If I had better components, Ultegra all around, or DA, would this be needed as well?
I am still a bit reluctant to try to tune the drive train myself. I know that it is relatively easy, but it is also easy to screw up.
-No, better components wouldn't necessarily help. The “tuning” is required if your shift cables stretch.
Finally, you need to learn to do this yourself!! It’s not hard and it’s NOT easy to screw up. All you’re doing is turning a barrel adjuster. If that makes it worse, turn it the other way. There’s usually an adjuster on the down tube so you can do it while you’re riding. Besides, worst case, if you do somehow “screw it up” you end up taking it to the LBS which you were going to do anyway!
Nobody, especially the LBS, knows your bike as well as you do. You can’t put a bike on a repair stand and subject it to the same loads as you do on the road. Learning to make these adjustments on the road will make your bike run better than any LBS could.
Get some books, read the manuals (check online if you don’t have them) and check out this site:
https://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQrindx.shtml
Scroll down to Index Setting and it will tell you everything you need to know.
-murray
08-27-04, 09:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Murrays
Nobody, especially the LBS, knows your bike as well as you do. You can’t put a bike on a repair stand and subject it to the same loads as you do on the road. Learning to make these adjustments on the road will make your bike run better than any LBS could.
-murray
-murray
08-27-04, 01:10 PM
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Ditto all that Murrays said.
Might also add that better components would extend the life/shifting quality of your drivetrain because they would not wear as quickly depending on how hard you're pushing it. Also, you actually may need some cable replacement depending on how bad the weather you're riding is actually is (street sludge? heavy rain?), although it would be really unusual to have to do so after only one season.
Learning how to tune your own is really the best thing you could do for yourself. It'll make your rides that much more enjoyable and connect you to your bike (too zen?) in a way that dependence on others for something so simple would never allow.
Good luck...
Might also add that better components would extend the life/shifting quality of your drivetrain because they would not wear as quickly depending on how hard you're pushing it. Also, you actually may need some cable replacement depending on how bad the weather you're riding is actually is (street sludge? heavy rain?), although it would be really unusual to have to do so after only one season.
Learning how to tune your own is really the best thing you could do for yourself. It'll make your rides that much more enjoyable and connect you to your bike (too zen?) in a way that dependence on others for something so simple would never allow.
Good luck...
