For those of us who put our bikes away for the winter, the time has come to dust them off and get ready to ride. A mini tune-up is necessary when bringing a bike out of storage. Pay special attention to the following four areas: chain, derailleur components, brakes, and wheels.
1. Chain
If you have been using an oil-based lubricant, consider switching to a wax-based product. The only advantage to an oil-based lubricant 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. A recommended wax-based lube is White Lightning.
If you’ve been using oil-based chain lube, whether you want to switch to wax or not, you should remove the chain and clean it with a solvent to degrease it before adding fresh lubricant. Depending on your typical riding conditions, using a solvent to degrease the chain needs to be done once a year at a minimum.
Derailleur Components
If you want to lubricate the pivot points, then use a good petroleum-based lube. Try using Tri-Flow. Lubricating and adjusting the derailleur cables, which might have stretched over the winter, is the next step. Adjust 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 . Adjust the cables, which might also have stretched over the winter.
Check the pads: is there plenty of rubber; do the pads hit the rims evenly? Check the brake fuel level in the reservoir if you are using fluid-actuated disk brakes.
Wheels
Try spinning the wheel slowly checking for true. It is essential that the wheel doesn’t wobble at all. In case that it does wobble a little bit and you have the tools and skills, then you can make minor adjustments using a spoke wrench. But if there is substantial wobbling, take the wheel to a shop and have a professional true the wheel.
You need to check the tire pressure which is bound to be low after a winter of storage. Inflate to the manufacturers recommendations that are stamped on the tire.
Giving the bike a once-over is what you need to do now. Is the seat adjustment still a good fit? Do you think there excess play or tightness in the bearings of the wheels, crank, pedals, and headset? Also, for full-suspension bikes, check the suspension joints.
You will be able to determine whether it is time for a major tune-up from this once-over. 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.
Repacking bearings and adjusting wheel axles, headset, crankset and pedals, replacing cables, truing the wheels, and making overall adjustments, such as to the derailleur and brakes are the following maintenance necessary for optimal performance and safety and you should do this every now and then whether you do the major tune-up yourself or take the bike to a reputable bicycle shop.
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