Bicycle Maintenance
- Thread starter MrQuackers
- Start date
I don't ride a whole lot. Maybe 30 miles a week, two to three 10 to 15 mile rides or so. Often less, rarely more.
Visual brake inspection before every ride.
The chain gets wiped down after every ride and gets a fresh coat with Dummonde Tech every two weeks.
Tire pressure gets adjusted every two weeks.
I check the torque of all fasteners on my bike every 3 months. Axle nuts, rotor bolts, and stem bolts and some other fasteners see a torque wrench. I calibrate the shifter using the index marks. Some pivots get a drop of oil.
I wipe down the frame, wheels, and spokes as necessary to keep the bike reasonably clean
New batteries for the computer and sensor as needed
Bearings as needed
Visual brake inspection before every ride.
The chain gets wiped down after every ride and gets a fresh coat with Dummonde Tech every two weeks.
Tire pressure gets adjusted every two weeks.
I check the torque of all fasteners on my bike every 3 months. Axle nuts, rotor bolts, and stem bolts and some other fasteners see a torque wrench. I calibrate the shifter using the index marks. Some pivots get a drop of oil.
I wipe down the frame, wheels, and spokes as necessary to keep the bike reasonably clean
New batteries for the computer and sensor as needed
Bearings as needed
Last edited:
I'm generally o.k. as long as I keep my training wheels lubed.
This for sure!!
I've been riding Rist Canyon Road lately getting ready for the Copper Triangle in early August. Rist Canyon Road is a Cat 1 climb and it's a Cat 1 decent. The braking is so heavy approaching the corners that the front tire becomes completely black, because of the wear caused by friction with the road. If you don't have excellent brakes, you are toast.
If we're sharing our bike histories...
I always loved bikes, both riding them and working on them. I started working in a bike shop in the 1980s as a teenager. I've always been mechanically inclined and taught myself to build wheels so it was a great job for me. The job spanned everything from resurrecting cheap old abused neglected customer bikes to building custom bikes and wheelsets for local racers.
Around that time I got serious about cycling, mostly longer rides 50-100 miles. My first "real" bike was a Vitus 979 with Campy super record that I bought used just before college. I built new wheels for it (bladed spokes, Mavic G40 clinchers) and it served me well for several years riding with my university's cycling team.
After college I got into mountain biking. Super fun though I still enjoy road biking too.
Later I got a tandem to ride with my wife, and occasionally with friends. Tandems are more than twice as fun and we've put thousands of miles on that bike.
I bike about 100-200 miles per week across various bikes and enjoy doing ultra endurance rides like La Ruta, WRIAD, and the OTGG. Not for race or time, but just for the personal challenge of completing them.
I keep my bikes about like one would expect from a lifetime mechanic. Before each ride, my pre-ride inspection is simple: ensure wheels are secure, check tire pressures and brakes. I maintain everything else on a schedule based on miles & calendar. I clean the drivetrain once a month (road bike) or on condition (mountain bike). A clean drivetrain lasts longer and is more efficient. Brakes, bearings, etc. as needed.
I always loved bikes, both riding them and working on them. I started working in a bike shop in the 1980s as a teenager. I've always been mechanically inclined and taught myself to build wheels so it was a great job for me. The job spanned everything from resurrecting cheap old abused neglected customer bikes to building custom bikes and wheelsets for local racers.
Around that time I got serious about cycling, mostly longer rides 50-100 miles. My first "real" bike was a Vitus 979 with Campy super record that I bought used just before college. I built new wheels for it (bladed spokes, Mavic G40 clinchers) and it served me well for several years riding with my university's cycling team.
After college I got into mountain biking. Super fun though I still enjoy road biking too.
Later I got a tandem to ride with my wife, and occasionally with friends. Tandems are more than twice as fun and we've put thousands of miles on that bike.
I bike about 100-200 miles per week across various bikes and enjoy doing ultra endurance rides like La Ruta, WRIAD, and the OTGG. Not for race or time, but just for the personal challenge of completing them.
I keep my bikes about like one would expect from a lifetime mechanic. Before each ride, my pre-ride inspection is simple: ensure wheels are secure, check tire pressures and brakes. I maintain everything else on a schedule based on miles & calendar. I clean the drivetrain once a month (road bike) or on condition (mountain bike). A clean drivetrain lasts longer and is more efficient. Brakes, bearings, etc. as needed.
MrQuackers
Site Donor 2025
There is no sub forum as there is in automotive
Why do we need a sub forum? This forum is fine for bicycle questions.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Been riding my whole life, had a small shop for a while. Built wheels etc won't bore ya'll with details. All mountain bike now on real trails around prescott az. Today's drive train stuff and components are so good I've gotten slack on routine preventative maintenance.. haven't had a headset, bottom bracket or pivots need adjusted or replaced in a decade at least. Tires, brake pads, and drive train replace when needed. Bleed brakes just to feel good about them. Made 1 rear mech adjustment on each of 3 bikes with 1x drive trains. Had shifting get sloppy on current bike discovered loose hanger bolt. Duh it hasn't been checked since day one full bike check because nothing ever comes loose and I ride 2000-2500 miles a year offroad on rocky dusty steep trails. Amazing.
Can recommend Rock n Roll Gold chain lube for dry conditions.
Can recommend Rock n Roll Gold chain lube for dry conditions.
MrQuackers
Site Donor 2025
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I enjoy the automotive maintenance sub-forum, a sort of show and tell.
Today I installed a Shimano Altus rear derailleur. I recently installed a 12-32 Tourney cassette replacing the factory 11-28 cassette and I needed a derailleur speced for 32+
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
That Altus will be looked down on by some but it's solid. I put one on a bike for someone and was impressed..
I've found that Shimano's limitations are just a bit conservative. The rear derailleurs work with cassettes 2 teeth bigger than max, and the front chainrings can differ by 2 teeth more than spec. For example the 11-speed Ultegra & Dura Ace say front either 34-50 or 36-52, but 34-52 works perfectly.
You made a 4-tooth change, so it was prudent to get a longer cage derailleur.
https://nsmb.com/articles/best-lubes-vs-rest-lubes/
I happened to be reading this article when I came across this thread.
I happened to be reading this article when I came across this thread.
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2022
- Messages
- 1,545
Beats my seized rear derailleur. Yes, my bike hasn't had any maintenance in the last 15 years.
I'd go out on a limb and say I had the most well oiled bicycle in the neighborhood as a kid. It had to be in some of those pedal races
WD40 was the recipe of the day lol
WD40 was the recipe of the day lol
Have the Acera rear and Altus front on my Nishiki, over 13k on it. Once you learn to properly adjust ‘em they work good with no issues. Well except the Tourney on my other bike, haven’t figured that one out yet.
After 13k.. daily commuting in all weather, riding across 3 states I’ve decided the Nishiki Manitoba is ready for retirement. Pretty much everything is shot. Needs both front and rear wheels, headset bearings, brake pads, freewheel… Wheel bearings cups are still pretty good after all those miles.
After 13k.. daily commuting in all weather, riding across 3 states I’ve decided the Nishiki Manitoba is ready for retirement. Pretty much everything is shot. Needs both front and rear wheels, headset bearings, brake pads, freewheel… Wheel bearings cups are still pretty good after all those miles.
Yep, I have had one for years on my 8spd bike I had no complaints, even now I am fine with the shimano 10spd stuff on my Growler.
To paraphrase D. L. Moody:
"I prefer a cheap Altus derailleur that works to an expensive derailleur that doesn't."
JHZR2
Staff member
I’ve never heard of a chain wipe down. Mine gets gritty but then it kind of stays. Mostly sandy where I bike though…
Wouldn’t wiping it down force dirt into the gaps and interfacing surfaces?
I hold a rag in the curled palm of my hand and run the chain through, applying very little pressure to both sides of the chain. The cloth picks up some dirt. I'm certainly not working dirt into the rollers. The lube I use is not a wet lube. It leaves a resinous coating that isn't sticky. I ride in mostly sandy and dusty conditions. I don't think sand sticks to the chain. My friend uses a wet lube and his chain picks up hair from the dogs on the trail, sand, and pollen.
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