I tried searching but no luck...New Bike maintenance
 

I am looking to get a new road bike. I would argue that my current (old bike) is virtually maintenance free at least in what most here likely consider maintenance. By that I mean that I have done little beyond replacing broken parts and lubricate in 30+ years of riding the bike. It still has the original crank/cassette and chain and they have not been removed/cleaned/replaced. So its pretty clear that I don't do regular preventative maintenance :D.

While looking at new bikes one of the bike shops said that Shimano has better reliability than SRAM and I wondered if that is simply their opinion or their bias or if there is truly a difference better brands (either bike or component).

Not trolling and hopefully not trying to start a flame war just trying to get more educated as I try and narrow down a possible new bike

I have heard that before. But the failure rate for Sram is pretty low still and Sram is excellent about warranting parts. lots of stories about Sram going above and beyond to help out users. Either will work. I went with Sram because I like its shifting and ergonomics. It is also lighter than Shimano. But Shimano Is pretty good to. Depends on what you like. Try both and decide for yourself.

Thanks

Also how much is Carbon Fibre frames a real concern for relability over time? I'm going to start riding some bikes at LBS and since there are so many options and so little time I want to have a fairly focused list to work off of which is why I'm asking these kinds of questions. I likely will have to do this on the weekend which means less over all time from the LBS as well I suspect. I'm even considering taking a day off of work just to test ride since it could be an all day thing

Oy... here we go... :)

Can't speak to the long-term durability of a carbon frame. If you buy a major brand, just be sure to register it with the maker, and then you'll be fine no matter what.

As to maintenance, it's normal to do a 30-day tuneup on a new bike to compensate for cable stretch and bearings breaking in etc. That's usually included for free.

A further note on durability... bought my bike used, with a factory mix of Tiagra and 105. So, not a high-end groupset.

Near as I can tell the previous owner had ridden the bike enough to require a cassette replacement, or maybe he just did one when he replaced the rear wheel. At any rate- my bike had been ridden, and by a Clyde. Since buying it I have... uh... oiled it, put new brake pads on it, and replaced a chain. The chain wasn't even misbehaving; it just tested as stretched on the gauge at the LBS. I have put about 2000 miles on it this summer and I'm over 200 lbs and climb hard a lot. Not easy miles, for the bike. It shifts fine, brakes fine, and rolls fine.

A new higher-end bike will be very low-maintenance and the durability of the groupset (I WILL NOT say gruppo!) will astound you. As to the frame... ride that bee-atch hard and HOPE the frame asplodes... that way you get a new frame! :)

Good luck in whatever route you take.

http://slowtwitch.com/images/glinks/...aintenance.jpg

http://www.slowtwitch.com/Tech/Bike_...dule_3877.html

That seems really excessive to wipe down the chain and clean the bike weekly, maybe that's for a mountain bike? On my road bike my chain still looks pretty much the same as it did a year ago when it was new.

Wow...I've never done a quarter of that list...my 32 yr bike has original chain/brakes/seat/hubs/BB. Cables have been replaced...once or twice the bike has never been intentionally washed.

I suppose if you want to be perfect you'd do this or if you are OCD but I'm neither and hopefully this isn't something needed for new bikes (and old bikes don't)