Every X miles, you should...

[Pulse]

So, from all of my posts, you'll see I'm a total beginner to bikes. I'd really like advice on what I should be doing to keep my bike in tip-top shape.

For example, I've covered about 500 miles on it now, and have just realised the chain probably needs lubing!

Can anyone give a rundown of what I should be doing every X miles? Also, recommendations for products would be good (e.g. chain lube!).

[mikee boy]

This is what I do. Other will do things differently no doubt.....

Every week (or before every race): Pump up the tyres
Every 5th(ish) ride: Lube chain
Every 10-15th ride: Lube gear cable outers
Every couple of months: Check brake pads (remove any stones, are they worn?, still correctly aligned?)
Every 2000 miles: Change chain
If/when gears skip: re-index, and maybe change cable inner. If this doesn't solve it, change chain, if this doesn't solve it, change cassette.

[McFsC]

Every 2,000 miles change the chain?

Why? Some people would be changing the chain 6/7 times a year?

[RCBRG]

McFsC said:

Every 2,000 miles change the chain?

Why? Some people would be changing the chain 6/7 times a year?

depending on the rider and the chain, it could very easily be worn out in that mileage. ive seen chains worn out in ~800 miles quite often

[sjg]

Chain life varies a lot - depends on how well it's looked after, how much power the rider it putting through, etc. Most people leave it too late and the stretched chain starts ruining the rest of the drivetrain.

I just check every few rides with one of these:



Once the chain will drop into the .75% side, order a new chain. If it drops in the 1% side, it needs doing ASAP.

[guffhoover]

It would be interesting to know what lube people use for chain, cassette and forks (for us mtb boys)

I am currently using WD40 on the forks and a generic grease on the chain and gears, although the grease is too sticky IMO

[mikee boy]

McFsC said:

Every 2,000 miles change the chain?

Why? Some people would be changing the chain 6/7 times a year?

I'll normally change a chain 3 times a year. They're only £16 or so.

[E38Ross]

i'm now running 2 chains, and plan to remove one chain (i have a wippermann connex link on each) and swap every circa 100-150 miles, bung one in some degreaser and fit the other, and clean the other up and re-lube before it gets fitted again.

you should change the chain and cassette at the same time, but the chain wears out faster, so running 2 chains like that is a little cheaper in the long run.

this brings me to a question actually.....

once i've cleaned up and degreased, rinsed with water and dried (using kitchen paper/towel) how should i store the chain until it's next put on the bike? would it be necessary to lube the chain after being dried and before it's put on the bike? if so....what's the easiest way of doing this when it's not on the bike???

thanks

Edited by E38Ross on Friday 23 August 21:51

[joema]

Check tyre pressures every time and make sure chain is oiled.

If something breaks fix it. Bikes aren't complicated.

[Eddh]

Every 2000 miles - wash it.

[Disco You]

E38Ross said:

i'm now running 2 chains, and plan to remove one chain (i have a wippermann connex link on each) and swap every circa 100-150 miles, bung one in some degreaser and fit the other, and clean the other up and re-lube before it gets fitted again.

you should change the chain and cassette at the same time, but the chain wears out faster, so running 2 chains like that is a little cheaper in the long run.

this brings me to a question actually.....

once i've cleaned up and degreased, rinsed with water and dried (using kitchen paper/towel) how should i store the chain until it's next put on the bike? would it be necessary to lube the chain after being dried and before it's put on the bike? if so....what's the easiest way of doing this when it's not on the bike???

thanks

Edited by E38Ross on Friday 23 August 21:51

That's a little extreme, if you change your chain before it's too worn, then you can just use two chains in sequence before changing the cassette.

[gazza285]

After ten years working in a cycle shop and thirty years of riding derailleur gearsI have found that as long as you keep using all the available gears the chain and cassette will wear together for years. My current hack has 3000 miles on the same chain and block and I see no reason to change them yet. When I do change, I'll do the whole lot, chain, block and front sprockets,

[Vladimir]

I keep a spare chain and cassette in hand for when it's needed. I use TA Chinook rings that should last longer than the Shimanos I used to kill in no time.

Wipe chain after every ride, degrease and oil (Green oil for me) every 5th ride as above unless you get really mucky!

For the person above, wipe fork stanchions after every ride, pull the seal slightly open and add a drop of oil once in a while. Premature stanchion wear is incredibly annoying!

[BalhamBadger]

Vladimir said:

For the person above, wipe fork stanchions after every ride, pull the seal slightly open and add a drop of oil once in a while. Premature stanchion wear is incredibly annoying!

...and expensive! My Fox forks wore the stanchion coating away to the extent they need a new steerer unit at a cost of £250.

[Vladimir]

BalhamBadger said:

...and expensive! My Fox forks wore the stanchion coating away to the extent they need a new steerer unit at a cost of £250.

I binned mine (well sold them for next to nothing) when the stanchions went. They were on the bike and not worth the money to sort. Rather annoying! I'm now a stanchion cleaning nerd!

[Pulse]

So, how to clean the stanchions? I have RST Deuce forks on mine.

[fausTVR]

For the newbies amongst us, chain stretch is caused by grit wearing at each baring (about 112 of them IIRC) and creating play at each mating surface. This has the effect of increasing the pitch of the chain and hence in use, the loads at work are concentrated on one sprocket tooth (for sprocket and 'rings) at a time, this effect greatly accelerates wear so the whole shooting match becomes junk prematurely. Either keep that chain very clean or replace regularly. I don't ride many miles these days, just a short commute so I don't worry about it, but if you're doing thousands it matters.

[bakerstreet]

I check the tyre pressures before every ride.
I try and clan the wheels and brake blocks every week (I do about 90-100 miles a week when I'm commuting)
I clean the bike once a month, usually lubricate chain at the same time.

I haven't tried changing the brakes myself yet, but I'd like to give it a go. How long do other people's ,brake blocks last? I estimate that I get about 700-800 miles out of my pads.

[E38Ross]

bakerstreet said:

I check the tyre pressures before every ride.
I try and clan the wheels and brake blocks every week (I do about 90-100 miles a week when I'm commuting)
I clean the bike once a month, usually lubricate chain at the same time.

I haven't tried changing the brakes myself yet, but I'd like to give it a go. How long do other people's ,brake blocks last? I estimate that I get about 700-800 miles out of my pads.

Seriously, is that it? I got several thousand out of my rears, the fronts have done about 4k and still have loads left. I try to stick to quieter roads so less stop/start I guess and I only weigh 8stone 10 which helps!

[Vladimir]

Pulse said:

So, how to clean the stanchions? I have RST Deuce forks on mine.

Just wipe then and oil the rubber bases once in a while. Nothing more technical than that!