theden

Hey guys.

Anyone have any recommendations for bike maintenance prior to a tour? I have a Trek 520 that I use for commuting mostly, with about 6,000 miles on it. It has needed minimal maintenance, only a couple broken spokes and a little truing, new chain around 4,500 miles, new tires around then too. The rear derailler has never had to be touched! Everything seems to roll right, no squeaks, no side to side play in the cranks. I do get some chain slippage every now and then coming off of red lights; how long does a rear cassette last? Other than that, all I can think of is checking the torque on the spokes and doing a little minimal truing. Is there anyway to torque check the spokes at home? All bearings appear to operating normally, but I realize with this many miles an overhaul would be good, just trying to avoid shelling out the bucks to a bike shop if I really don't need it yet.

Thanks!

MsMittens

I'd get a thorough check. Trust me. I did a tour last year without such a check and ended up doing about 750KM on two gears (rolling hills). Wasn't fun. I then had to shell out on the road for immediate replacement of cassette and rear derailleur. It's better to have this done in advance of the tour (with a week or so before you do the tour so you can get out whatever kinks you need to get out).

It's worthwhile to pay a few extra up front than shell during. Trust me.

LV2TNDM

If a good shop performs a complete overhaul (all bearings done, new cables & housing), your bike will be in better shape than new. Especially if you specify they replace the old ball bearings with grade 25 or better. (Most production hubs, BB's & headsets come with lower grade bearings that don't run as smooth or last as long. Plus, the new grease they use will probably be better too.)
There are other things your shop may recommend. It depends how many possible failures you want to pay to reduce the likelyhood of experiencing.
However, that being said.... Be sure to have any service done WELL BEFORE you embark. I used to admonish my cycling teammates for doing some extensive service on their bikes the night before a big race. Nothing like going off the front feeling invincible when your chainrings loosen up! Better to do it before a training ride to work out any bugs. Get miles on your refurbished bike to be sure nothing was left loose, or "breaks in" a few miles after service. Then you'll be good to go.

LV2TNDM

Oops... you mentioned broken spokes. Once one or two spokes fail on a wheel, it usually means you're at the end of the life of the wheel. Have that wheel rebuilt with high-quality butted (1.8/2.0) spokes. Butted spokes are more elastic, which build a stronger wheel*. Choose a wider rim if you're really loading the bike down. Otherwise you'll continue to break spokes, and with higher frequency on your tour.
*"The Bicycle Wheel" by Jobst Brandt is a great read for someone who may need to do wheel repair on the road in the "middle of nowhere."

Magictofu

As for chain and cassette... If you don't take care of them, they can get bad really fast (I had to change my cassette twice over 5000 km probably because I did not keep my chain and gears clean + plus I am heavy and used to climb hills standing on the pedals... not sure it did something bad but someone once told me it didn't help).

2manybikes

Your wheel bearings are past due now.Be sure to get them done.

acantor

I always get my bike overhauled a couple of weeks before a big trip, which is probably why I have never had a major mechanical screw-up during a trip.

Minor problems crop up while touring: tire punctures, mystery squeaks, components that loosen up, brakes that need adjusting... these kinds of things are inevitable. Having an overhaul helps you avoid biggies like blow-outs, dried out bearings, components that drop off, and brakes that fail at the start of a long descent!

Rogerinchrist

Above advise is very good!
If you work regularly with a LBS, have them "check over" everything before they overhaul. My early '90s 520 still runs on all original bearings, and original cassette (now has somewhere near 10,000 miles). Keeping it well maintained & checked regularly helps alot.

amaferanga

Chain slippage means that your chain and/or cassette needs replaced. It will only get worse.

JoeLonghair

Yeah I thought the same and replaced both, I still get slipage, any more suggestions I could look at...?

Magictofu

I can see only a few problems there:

- your new chain has a stiff link (often the case with new chains)
- your derailleur needs to be adjusted (easy to verify)
- something is broken/twisted in your wheel (happen to me once: the axe was bent)
- your derailleur is broken or the part on which it is fixed is twisted (I've heard this sometimes happen)

My best advice however would be to ask someone at your LBS.

theden

Thanks for the advice guys. I am going to check over everything myself this weekend, and then maybe have a shop repack the bearings. It's due for a nice cleaning anyway. I have an old (but never used) spare cassette at home on a mountain bike wheel, I may see what the gearing is on that one if my current one is getting a little worn. If the bike was just used around town I wouldn't care as much, but I don't want a huge failure 100 miles from a bike shop...

LV2TNDM

One more thing to check....
A worn chainring will cause "slippage" under load. It's usually the middle one, since it gets most of the use. Have a trained eye look at your rings as well.

Guest

I bring my bike in and have them check it over as thoroughly as possible. I mean, I'm old and all, plus they know more than me.

Like Mittens said, it's so worth the money to have a pro check things out first. You won't regret it.

Koffee