Tools, parts, techniques, and procedures to keep your bike in working order. MAINTENANCE is not the same as REPAIR, a separate tag. Maintenance is what one does on a regular basis. Repair is what one does only when something is broken.
30
votes
3answers
1k views
Periodic Maintenance Task for Bike Commuters
What are the periodic maintenance tasks (weekly, monthly, annual, every X miles) that anyone who relies on a bike for transportation (typically in urban/semi-urban environments) should be performing? ...
29
votes
3answers
838 views
Can I use WD-40 on my bike?
Is WD-40 really bad to apply on bikes? I was told so but still see people doing that.
Also I saw WD-40 launching their new products of bike lubricant and degreaser. Did anybody try those?
25
votes
5answers
2k views
Perfectly setting up gears - how?
Every time I have my bike serviced, the bike shop sets up the gears on a stand in their workshop. The gears change perfectly on the stand, but when the bike is on the road, the rear derailleur doesn't ...
22
votes
2answers
2k views
What's stopping you from pedalling backwards?
On the BMX bike I have, pedalling backwards moves the chain but doesn't drive the wheels of the bike backwards like you would expect it to. Why is this?
20
votes
7answers
2k views
How long should a road tyre hold its pressure?
How long should a road tyre be able to maintain a pressure of around 100psi, and what factors are likely to reduce this time?
Background:
My tyre pressures are consistently dropping to around 60psi ...
20
votes
4answers
465 views
Basic toolkit for bicycle maintenance
What should be in the basic toolkit for someone that wants to maintain their own bicycle?
I'm looking for something for your average day to day maintenance and tools that I will get the most use out ...
20
votes
2answers
2k views
Does the chain direction make a difference?
Recently, I helped a friend install a new chain on her road bike, and for the first time read the instructions for installing one. It seems to claim that there's a forward direction, and that it ...
18
votes
2answers
438 views
How to wash a bike properly?
I use my bicycle in a typical urban commute setting. No extreme MTB, but it still accumulates some dust and grime.
How should I wash my bicycle?
17
votes
2answers
2k views
How to know when to change a chain?
A bike shop employee used a tool he said would check the wear on the chain, and said that it should be changed.
He said it took a measurement that meant the chain had expanded, but it is still hard ...
17
votes
2answers
914 views
Practical cleaning routine for a commuter bike
I regularly (almost daily) ride my bike, often in bad weather. I mostly ride on roads, but sometimes through parks, forest etc. on unpaved surfaces. My bike is usually rather dirty, at least the lower ...
16
votes
8answers
598 views
Where to find good bicycle maintenance info?
If there is a good book what would it be? I'm pretty sure I can find stuff on YouTube (any particular user?). Any blogs out there?
15
votes
5answers
2k views
Why do the front and rear brakes work independently?
Why do bicycles have two individual brake levers that work independently to brake each wheel? I've always used my right brake lever because it is more comfortable to do so and I haven't noticed any ...
15
votes
3answers
6k views
How do self-adjusting hydraulic disc brakes work?
I have Avid Elixir brakes on my mountain bike. They are the only part of the bike that's a total black box to me. I understand the principle behind disc brakes, and I understand the principle behind ...
14
votes
8answers
2k views
How much maintenance?
How much maintenance does a bike need?
Specifically, in this question (with this answer) I asked about a commuter bike, which is to be ridden 40 km every weekday, in the city. And apparently for this ...
14
votes
3answers
2k views
What's the rubber tube in my puncture repair kit for?
I've got an old school puncture repair kit, the type with glue and patches.
As well as the sandpaper, patches, 'vulcanizing fluid' and instructions, there is a 2.5cm long, 3mm wide, beige rubber ...
14
votes
4answers
4k views
Should I grease a carbon fiber seat post?
I was reading a recent question when I saw this answer:
You should absolutely grease your
seatpost (unless it is carbon fiber).
Why should I NOT grease a carbon fiber seat post?
14
votes
2answers
762 views
How do I lubricate my chain?
I know I should lubricate my chain regularly. I got some lube at my LBS; how should I apply it? Do I just drip some on one spot, and turn the pedals around a few times to spread it out? Drip it all ...
14
votes
4answers
220 views
Pre ride checks
What checks should you perform before setting off to ensure that your bike is safe to ride?
I'm more interesting in mountain bikes rather ride road bikes but I guess that most checks are applicable ...
13
votes
7answers
3k views
Does the plastic cap on a Presta valve serve any purpose once fitted to a rim?
I can see the use of the valve cap on a Presta valve when the tube is still packaged (it obviously stops the valve puncturing the tube), but does it do anything except look pretty (or not) once you've ...
13
votes
3answers
480 views
Winter maintenance before putting bike in winter storage?
What kind of maintenance should I do before putting my bike into storage for the winter? Are there any special considerations for storing it? Does temperature matter? If it's hanging on the wall ...
12
votes
4answers
458 views
Optimal Maintenance Schedule
It is forecast to rain this weekend so I was thinking I would drop a tarp down over my living room floor and give my bikes a bit of a tune up.
Question
What maintenance needs to be done on your ...
12
votes
5answers
4k views
Real measurable benefit to ceramic bearings?
Is there a real difference between riding on ceramic bearings and riding on stainless steel?
How would you measure it? Does it require it to be every bearing in the drive train, or will each set of ...
12
votes
4answers
992 views
What kinds of brake designs exist, and what are their general pros and cons?
Here are the ones I'm aware of:
Center Pull Cantilever
Slightly better braking than side pull brakes.
No recentering problem.
Relatively rare
V-Brakes
Cheap to produce.
Similar in braking power ...
12
votes
5answers
9k views
How often should I grease and repack my hubs and bottom bracket?
I am commuting 7 miles a day (round trip) in all weather in New England (temperate, moderately wet climate, cold winters). Overall I am putting about 1000 miles per year on my commuter bike, a 2009 ...
12
votes
4answers
683 views
I've had a bike in storage for over 10 years. What maintenance does it need?
I've had a bike in indoor storage (my garage) for over 10 years. I'd like to get it back into good condition to use for my commute to/from work each day.
What things should I check/replace before I ...
12
votes
5answers
455 views
What are good sites/places to buy/sell bike parts for older bikes?
I've been wondering is there a marketplace to buy/sell/get original parts for bikes no longer made? I have a Bridgestone X0-1 Hybrid (the weird looking one with mustache handlebars) and I want to ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
Sequence for a complete road bike overhaul
I have a road bike that I plan to completely overhaul soon. Over the years, and with several bikes, I have overhauled most every component, but have never managed to do this for an entire bike, start ...
12
votes
3answers
3k views
How do I know when to replace my bottom bracket?
With out completely removing the cranks and bottom bracket, how can I tell when it's time to replace my bottom bracket?
The current symptom is a slightly 'rough' feeling when I pedal. It's not ...
12
votes
2answers
213 views
How to prevent my hub body from freezing?
In the winter, as soon as its gets a little bit below 0°C, after 10-15 minutes the body of my rear hub gets frozen. This means the pedals/chain do not have any grip anymore on the rear wheel, the ...
11
votes
6answers
1k views
Why would I need a torque wrench for a bicycle?
I was rather surprised to find a question about choosing a torque wrench on this site. I haven't cycled for years, but many years ago when I actually cycled I would do with a set of ordinary wrenches ...
11
votes
6answers
6k views
Does this chainring need to be replaced?
Here is a closeup of my triple:
All three rings are Shimano Ultegra and have never been changed. They probably have at least 12000+ km on them. I've been pretty good about changing the chain ...
11
votes
3answers
2k views
Should I oil my seat post?
In a previous question I asked how to remove rust from my seat tube/post. In the comments of one answer somebody said I should be oiling my seat post to prevent it from rusting into my seat tube, but ...
11
votes
3answers
574 views
Bike tires need air every ride…is this normal?
I ride my bike maybe once a week at most. I need to add air to the tires every time to bring it up to the right pressure. (I ride a mountain bike and I put about 45 - 50 PSI's into the tires.) Is ...
11
votes
5answers
3k views
What should I look for when buying a used bicycle?
I'm moving to a city where I can ride a bicycle to the grocery store, coffee shop etc. I want to purchase a decent used bicycle. I'm leaning towards a bike that's in between a "10-speed" or road-bike ...
11
votes
3answers
340 views
Finding a rattle in my bike
I recently installed a rear luggage rack and washed my bike, and now I get a buzzing rattle when I ride over bumps in the road, independent of whether I happen to be pedaling at the time. It sounds ...
10
votes
3answers
460 views
Truing stands, go big or stay home?
I'm looking to buy a truing stand. Is the Park TS-8 Home good enough? Or should I pay double the price and get the Park TS-2.2 Pro. I have some experience truing wheels, but never on a nice stand. I ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Dealing with rust on a steel frame
I have a small spot of rust on the bottom side of my steel frame's top tube (Columbus Niobium tubing). It's from abrasion during transport that I didn't notice until it was too late. The spot is ...
10
votes
2answers
4k views
What are the benefits of external bottom brackets?
Pretty soon, I plan to replace the bottom bracket on my early 90's Sakae Litage road bike. It takes a standard, English-threaded bottom bracket. Right now I think it contains loose bearings--I was ...
10
votes
3answers
3k views
do DT Swiss 240 hubs need proprietary tools to maintain them?
the bearings in my DT Swiss 240 hub appear to be shot, I have the toolkit for and am used to maintaining Chris King hubs but I wonder if I have to get special proprietary tools for the DT hubs as ...
10
votes
1answer
689 views
Disc Brakes: Resurface your Pads?
Is resurfacing the brake pads in disc brakes (hydraulic or mechanical) necessary? If so, what would you use to do this - medium sandpaper?
I spoke to one mechanic while shopping for a bike, who ...
10
votes
1answer
883 views
Preventing frozen brake cables
This response to another question provides a wealth of info on winter riding preparation, but doesn't mention any techniques for preventing cables, especially brake cables, from freezing.
Is there a ...
9
votes
6answers
1k views
How do I bring an old bike up to speed?
I'm an adult that is new to biking due to a triple whammy of a childhood aversion to effort, my family moving to a town on the side of a mountain with steep roads, and my bike getting run over by a ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
How to avoid wearing out gears?
I have a Specialized Tricross which I bought new last year.
In that time (approximately 1K miles), I wore out my chain and gears. At least two of my gears are still slipping, even with a new chain.
...
9
votes
4answers
450 views
Minimal effort chain cleaning
One of the main reasons I eventually give up my bicycle commute in winter is that keeping my bike -mainly the drivetrain- clean despite all the rain/dirt/salt/hail/snow becomes too much of a time ...
9
votes
5answers
1k views
Post Rain Ride Wipedown
I've tried avoiding riding during the rain for years because I didn't want to hurt my bike. But, tomorrow I really want to ride, rain (most likely) or shine. What should I do after the ride to ...
9
votes
3answers
595 views
Life expectancy of a rim?
I've erroneously bought a rim (hoping my technical English is right: the part of the wheel between the spokes and the tire). While I have no immediate use for it, shipping it back to the seller for ...
9
votes
4answers
902 views
How many miles and/or commuting seasons will a modern internal geared hub last?
I've been considering drive trains on a utility / commuter bike. What are expected or actual lifetime / maintenance needs of modern internal hubs?
The Shimano Alfine internal 8-speed hub is on ...
9
votes
1answer
224 views
Setting light to a derailleur
At 3:30ish in this video, they set light to a front derailleur. Why? Degreasing it? Waxy lube that needs melting in? I can't think of a good reason. Any ideas?
9
votes
2answers
328 views
How should I clean salt out during Winters?
Pretty simple question but I think some recommendations would make my chains a bit long-lasting. So when should you do something to your salted chains? When the chains already look rusty, can you use ...
9
votes
2answers
1k views
How do I maintain a Brooks leather saddle?
I've got a Brooks leather saddle and i like it a lot, but i am entirely clueless on how to care for it. I know i am supposed to rub some sort of fat on it, but i have no idea what kind of fat, or how ...
