It is now time for us to dust our bikes and get ready to ride if we have put them away for the winter. When bringing a bike out of storage, a mini tune-up is necessary. Pay special attention to the following four areas: chain, derailleur components, brakes, and wheels.
1. Chain Consider switching to a wax-based lubricant if you have been using an oil-based product. There is one advantage to an oil-based lubricant and that is that it needs to be applied less frequently, but in every other way, wax-based is superior. For instance, oil collects trail dust and other things abrasive to the chain, whereas wax sheds abrasives. For a wax-based lube, it is recommended that you use White Lightning.
If oil-based chain lube is what you have been using, then you should remove the chain and clean it with a solvent to degrease it before adding fresh lubricant whether you want to switch to wax or not. Depending on your typical riding conditions, using a solvent to degrease the chain needs to be done once a year at a minimum.
2. Derailleur Components If you want to lubricate the pivot points, then use a good petroleum-based lube. Try using Tri-Flow. Next, lubricate and adjust the derailleur cables, which might have stretched over the winter. Adjustments are necessary so that shifting is crisp.
c) Brakes The cables should be once again lubricated. You can either use petroleum or wax-based lube and it would depend on how dusty the expected typical riding conditions will be . Adjusting the cables, which might have also stretched over the winter, is a must as well.
You need to determine if the pads hit the rims evenly and if there is plenty of rubber so don't forget to check them. If fluid-actuated disc brakes are what you are using, then check the brake fluid level in the reservoir.
d) Brakes Spin the wheel slowly checking for true. It is essential that the wheel doesn't wobble at all. You can make minor adjustments using a spoke wrench if it wobbles a little bit and you have the tools and skills. But you should take the wheel to a shop and have a professional true the wheel if there is substantial wobbling.
Checking the tire pressure is a must since it is bound to be low after a winter of storage. Try inflating to the manufacturers recommendations that are stamped on the tire.
It's now time to give the bike a once-over. Determine if the seat adjustment is still a good fit. Do you think there excess play or tightness in the bearings of the wheels, crank, pedals, and headset? You should also check the suspension joints for full-suspension bikes.
This once-over will help you determine whether it is time for a major tune-up. Ranging from a few adjustments to cleaning and/or replacement of some parts is what can happen here. As for opinions, they differ on how often a major tune-up is needed. It depends on how much you ride, and how much maintenance you perform yourself.
Every now and then, whether you do the major tune-up yourself or take the bike to a reputable bicycle shop, the following maintenance is necessary for optimal performance and safety: truing the wheels, making overall adjustments, such as to the derailleur and brakes, repacking bearings and adjusting wheel axles, headset, crankset and pedals, and replacing cables.
1. Chain Consider switching to a wax-based lubricant if you have been using an oil-based product. There is one advantage to an oil-based lubricant and that is that it needs to be applied less frequently, but in every other way, wax-based is superior. For instance, oil collects trail dust and other things abrasive to the chain, whereas wax sheds abrasives. For a wax-based lube, it is recommended that you use White Lightning.
If oil-based chain lube is what you have been using, then you should remove the chain and clean it with a solvent to degrease it before adding fresh lubricant whether you want to switch to wax or not. Depending on your typical riding conditions, using a solvent to degrease the chain needs to be done once a year at a minimum.
2. Derailleur Components If you want to lubricate the pivot points, then use a good petroleum-based lube. Try using Tri-Flow. Next, lubricate and adjust the derailleur cables, which might have stretched over the winter. Adjustments are necessary so that shifting is crisp.
c) Brakes The cables should be once again lubricated. You can either use petroleum or wax-based lube and it would depend on how dusty the expected typical riding conditions will be . Adjusting the cables, which might have also stretched over the winter, is a must as well.
You need to determine if the pads hit the rims evenly and if there is plenty of rubber so don't forget to check them. If fluid-actuated disc brakes are what you are using, then check the brake fluid level in the reservoir.
d) Brakes Spin the wheel slowly checking for true. It is essential that the wheel doesn't wobble at all. You can make minor adjustments using a spoke wrench if it wobbles a little bit and you have the tools and skills. But you should take the wheel to a shop and have a professional true the wheel if there is substantial wobbling.
Checking the tire pressure is a must since it is bound to be low after a winter of storage. Try inflating to the manufacturers recommendations that are stamped on the tire.
It's now time to give the bike a once-over. Determine if the seat adjustment is still a good fit. Do you think there excess play or tightness in the bearings of the wheels, crank, pedals, and headset? You should also check the suspension joints for full-suspension bikes.
This once-over will help you determine whether it is time for a major tune-up. Ranging from a few adjustments to cleaning and/or replacement of some parts is what can happen here. As for opinions, they differ on how often a major tune-up is needed. It depends on how much you ride, and how much maintenance you perform yourself.
Every now and then, whether you do the major tune-up yourself or take the bike to a reputable bicycle shop, the following maintenance is necessary for optimal performance and safety: truing the wheels, making overall adjustments, such as to the derailleur and brakes, repacking bearings and adjusting wheel axles, headset, crankset and pedals, and replacing cables.
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