Bike Maintenance....

[Dino Brown]

What is it with everyone and mechanicals lately?
Derailler hangers snapping, single speeds tensioner's, crank bolts loosening, spokes snapping, the set-screw holding my front brake lever falling off... Aosty losing his front brake altogether....

Speaking of mechanicals....
Twice in one week, my jaw dropped when told (by Newbs) they had NEVER changed a tire!
Didn't know how to repair a busted chain... No clue how to do a minor derailler adjustment... Etc. Etc. Etc.


What will happen to these family members if "the group" is not there to help them?
What happens when they go on their next 15 mile solo ride- and no one is within a 20 minutes of them? What if...

My opinion: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The Bible of Bike Repair:
Zinn & The Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance



Zinn Instructional Video (4 Hours)



Park Tools Repair Center- http://parktool.com/repair/
(Drag cursor over bike diagram)

Tubeless Instructional Video- http://www.notubes.com/support_movies.php

Note: When in doubt.... Take your bike in for service!



This Public Service Announcement brought to you by the Iron Horse Bicycle Company!

[Rob]

Nominate for Workshop Forum Sticky.



Some other good links too...


http://www.sram.com/en/service/
http://www.foxracingshox.com/fox_tech_center/index.htm
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/home.html

[Dino Brown]

Thanks for the links Woobie!

If anyone has advice, opinions, tips, or videos they believe could be useful:
Your PARTICIPATION would be most appreciated!

[Sharky]

http://www.wonderhowto.com/outdoor-r...in-bike-video/

Several videos here.

Also, Jenson puts on a clinic I've attended in the past.

[mtnbikerfred]

I'm surprised how many people carry multi-tools, but have never used them (things like the chain-breaker). I'd suggest everyone ask their LBS for a piece of old chain to practice taking apart (without losing the pin) and putting it back together so that it doesn't bind.

[mfoga]

I have one question, since I have no idea saying the shop I got it at as unhelpful would be an understatement.

What needs to be done shocks and forks as far as preventative maintenance?

[onegymrat]

Hey Dino, I totally agree. I know of two avid riders, whom I ride with on occasion, that know very little on how to maintain their bikes. Both of whom do not carry any tools with them. I'd be thrilled if they had a tube with them. They both will either tolerate the bike being out of whack or take it to the shop, even if it's just to tighten the brake cable! If they were newbies, I can understand, but they're veterans of the trail.

I often wonder what would happen if something on their bikes would go really wrong on the trail. Am I expected to fix it if I'm riding with them?! I don't think we all need to know how to repack our headset bearings or own all the entire Park Tool set, but I would expect avid riders to try and understand how their bike works and how to keep in running smoothly. Especially when they've spent $3000+ on their bikes. I told one of those friends that, unlike his car, after you take it for a "tune-up", on a mountain bike, it WILL go out of whack a bit after a ride or two (shifting).

[el_d00der1n0]

Originally Posted by mfoga

I have one question, since I have no idea saying the shop I got it at as unhelpful would be an understatement.

What needs to be done shocks and forks as far as preventative maintenance?

clean the dirt off.

every now and then, you're supposed to change the oil.

i'm doing fork work this weekend. anyone interested in a thread about the work?

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by Rob

Nominate for Workshop Forum Sticky.



Some other good links too...


http://www.sram.com/en/service/
http://www.foxracingshox.com/fox_tech_center/index.htm
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/home.html

I moved it to the workshop and made it a t sticky there.

[Dino Brown]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

I moved it to the workshop

Sorry Gene!
Lately, you guys have been spending more time MOVING threads than reading them!

[mtnbikerfred]

Keep them clean. DO NOT spray high pressure water near them.

Every month check/tighten bolts on shocks and suspension pivots. Check air pressure in main/preload chambers and boost/negative chambers every month. Write down your pressures so you'll know what they're supposed to be!!

Every six months, Pull shock bolts and spacers to clean and lightly grease them. Clean under the wipers/seals on forks.

Every year to 18 months, change your fork oil. Have rear shocked serviced (change seals/bushings, new oil, re-purge with nitrogen).

It's nice having that "new bike" feel forever.

Originally Posted by mfoga

What needs to be done shocks and forks as far as preventative maintenance?

[COLEKO]

The one simple thing to do before you ride is a bolt check. Basically just check to see if your bolts are tight in all the main areas like brakes, Handlebars,ETC.

[GregMiester]

maintenence or ride, maintenence or ride....I need to learn to do both at the same time!

[Dino Brown]

Three things I do before EVERY RIDE:
1) Bolt Check
2) Take a toothbrush to the chain (helps to remove 90% of dust/dirt)
3) Apply chain lube

[DeeZee]

Twice in one week, my jaw dropped when told (by Newbs) they had NEVER changed a tire!
Didn't know how to repair a busted chain... No clue how to do a minor derailler adjustment... Etc. Etc. Etc.

Ride a SS with tubeless tires.

glad I could help

[ohyeah89]

Okay so I've read the instructions, I've watched the youtube videos and I just don't learn well that way! I taught myself how to change a tire by reading the parktools website but it took 45 minutes!!! (Ha, and I still didn't do it completely correctly, didn't fill the tube up with enough air.) I just learn better in person when I can interact and ask questions! and just havn't had the opportunity to learn this way yet. I'm sure there's other newbs who are the same way...

I totally agree that bike maintaince is super important, thanks for all the links and suggested reading material, however, my suggestion:

Any veterans want to set aside like an hour before/after a ride to show newbies some simple stuff (like how to repair a broken chain/bolt check) And then maybe the newbs can buy the knowledgeble ones a beer to show their appreciation? Just an idea...

and THANKS for the PSA =)

[Dino Brown]

If we set-up a clinic... Would you attend?

How 'bout before/after a Newbie Ride?
EDIT: Weekend clinic it is!

[ohyeah89]

Originally Posted by Dino Brown

How 'bout a "BIKE MAINTENANCE CLINIC"

EXACTLY what I had in mind, one during the weekend though since many of the shops have theirs during the week... or a casual small gathering of STR