Bicycles

Questions tagged [preventative-maintenance]

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Servicing things before they break, so they're less likely to fail at all.

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6
votes
6answers
2k views

Can a new chain significantly improve the riding experience? If yes - what else can?

I am a casual commuter (in average 2 days per week, 30 km per day), on a generic bike which I bought a few years ago. Yesterday I took the opportunity of having the bike reviewed and the chain and ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views

Servicing full suspension bike after long period of not being used

I bought a new bike about a couple of years ago, rode it about a dozen times and haven't been on it since. Should I perform a full service on the bike (replace seals, oil, bleed the brakes, etc.) ...
1
vote
1answer
48 views

Calculate suspension oil needed for a fork?

I've got a non-standard 20" air fork (Mekkem SASO) that could use some maintenance, but there's zero info I can find from either the manufacturer or OEM on oil viscosity, volume, or anything else. I'...
15
votes
7answers
4k views

How to patch glass cuts in a bicycle tire?

How do you deal with the small cuts in a bicycle tires main tread? Do folks fill these small cuts? I have continental gatorskins which I periodically check and pull out the street glass shards. ...
6
votes
2answers
216 views

How do I clean the inside of my frame? Is it even necessary?

I'm trying to fix up a bike that has been abandoned outside for a while. When I first turned it upside down, rust brown water started coming out of holes in frame around the rear stays. I've fixed it ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views

Should I cover my bicycle overnight while bikepacking?

I'm wondering if all the moisture from being out overnight will damage my bicycle. I'm thinking 30+ days of being in use, with maybe a couple of those days being light rain. If the water will damage ...
2
votes
3answers
4k views

Bottom bracket maintenance - is it a thing?

Previously when I've had annoying noises from my bottom bracket I've simply discarded it and bought a (cheap) new one. But the last time I replaced it I got a great offer and splashed out a little ...
1
vote
2answers
193 views

Home made bottom bracket plastic sleeve

I want to make a plastic sleeve from a water bottle, for a classic cup and cone bottom bracket, to protect against moisture and impurities that may run down the seat tube. How do I know the proper ...
2
votes
1answer
506 views

Coaster brake heat management and lubrication

I've heard that coaster brakes can reach high temperatures, so it desirable to use grease designed for high temperature applications. My questions are: Would a grease labeled max 220 °C be good ...
0
votes
1answer
80 views

Best places to put protective clear stickers

I want to protect the new paint of my bicycle, so I'm thinking of putting some transparent stickers to the most prone to scratch areas of the frame. But what are the most prone to scratch areas?
7
votes
3answers
9k views

How long do inner tubes last?

I recently started biking again after taking about 2.5 years off. My bike has been sitting in my garage since then. I did a 30 mile ride as my first one back and I didn't replace my tubes beforehand. ...
4
votes
2answers
219 views

How to tell when to change steel front fork?

I am riding a Dawes made sometime before 1974 and have read in a Swedish report (http://vti.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:694821/FULLTEXT01.pdf) that front fork failure is a not uncommon cause of ...
25
votes
12answers
9k views

Why does my bike constantly break/need servicing?

I only cycle about 4 miles per day, on roads and paths, which although a little bumpy in places, I'm not off roading. I'm finding something is breaking or coming loose on my bike after only a couple ...
4
votes
2answers
318 views

What things to check on road bike after a long trip on poor roads

Just bought a new aluminium frame road bike with 25mm tires. Due to very poor planning, I started a journey that turned out to be suited for mountain bikes: it involved country roads, unpaved gravel ...
0
votes
3answers
92 views

How do I tell what needs repaired/replaced/cared for? [closed]

What items on an older bike should I check for wear and damage and how do I differentiate wear/damage that can safely be ignored and wear/damage that I should repair/replace? At the start of this ...
9
votes
2answers
426 views

Which threaded fasteners on a bike should not be lubricated?

I have the habit of lubricating most screws on a bike with whatever grease I have laying around, except those which aren't meant to be tightened completely, there I use threadlocker (for example the ...
1
vote
1answer
577 views

How to dry out the inside of a bicycle frame?

I have a bicycle with a high carbon steel frame. For the most part, this frame is sealed off from the air, but there are some bolts, through which water can get through during rainy days or when ...
4
votes
5answers
7k views

What type of grease to prevent seat post sticking?

What type of grease should I buy specifically to prevent the seat post from getting stuck in the seat tube? I believe its aluminum. Is there all-purpose grease that I can use for other parts of the ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views

Would rotating or flipping disc brake rotors make any sense?

Front brakes take the brunt of braking forces - so the front rotor wears faster than the rear. With mechanical disc brakes, the rotor gets pushed in one direction only so wear is also uneven. For ...
7
votes
1answer
178 views

How to test bike after upgrades?

I've just finished my first 'big' bicycle related project in order to start and complete a small challenge of at least 100 days of riding a bike in 2017 :) This project consisted of completely ...
2
votes
1answer
180 views

How to store old hydraulic disc brakes?

Since I'm replacing my old Shimano M446 hydraulic disc brakes with new ones, I'm wondering is there a way to properly store disc brakes that are not in use (disassembled from bike frame)? At the ...
2
votes
1answer
621 views

Would using compressionless brake housing for derailleur be a problem?

... since derailleur cables are a smaller diameter? Would they be too loose in the bigger housing? The housing might also not fit the shifter hole. Any thoughts on this? The 'why' behind the ...
2
votes
1answer
664 views

Service/maintanace of Manitou fork and shock

I'm doing complete overhaul and service of my bike and it is time to service Manitou Minute fork and Manitou Radium shock. They both work fine but they have never been serviced (at least for two years ...
2
votes
1answer
271 views

What are the ESSENTIAL tools to do a basic strip and rebuild?

I can't currently afford to pay someone to give my bike a complete strip and rebuild (I need a wheel rebuild, which is essential, so I am paying for that this month!) So, given I have a hybrid, disc ...
2
votes
1answer
8k views

How can I prevent rubber handlebar grips from melting/disintegrating?

I bought a used mountain bike recently that came with some not so great handlebar grips. In humid weather they get really sticky (so much it hurts to pry my hands off them) and bits of rubber come ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views

When does a Marathon Plus tire (not) need replacing?

I have Marathon Plus tires: 5 years old 15000 km bike stored indoors I'm getting more punctures than I used to, but maybe that's caused by my riding now on worse road surfaces than I used to. The ...
3
votes
3answers
334 views

How do I know when it's time to pump up my tires?

I've been cycling for several months now. However, I have had the misfortune of having two bicycles stolen from me, so I've never had a single bicycle for more than a few months. With time passing, I'...
2
votes
1answer
144 views

Do the cups of headsets with cartridge bearings wear out?

On my bike I have an FSA headset Orbit X-CX which has cartridge bearrings. I re-grease the headset a few times each year and have recently replaced the lower bearing after ca 13,000 miles. The upper ...
2
votes
1answer
300 views

Can 'Zefal All in 1' really doall of those: cleaning, degreasing and oiling?

Can someone tell me if 'Zefal' All in 1 Spray is good for: degreasing, oiling and cleaning? Link It seems suspicious because it covers 4 very distinct functions in a single spray; eg: Degreasing, ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views

At what temperature do you say its too cold to ride a bike? [closed]

It's been a great winter here in DC, its mostly high 30's but the last few days it's low 20's and in at night a little windy?
2
votes
3answers
1k views

Should I change my chain? It broke once, but its condition seems rather good

Expanding a bit on the title, I ride a 27.5" KTM Peak XT with a 3x10 setup. The chain I'm currently using is of unknown provenience (it was already there when I bought the bike, and it wasn't new). It'...
9
votes
4answers
1k views

Do aluminium chainrings/cassettes contribute to chain wear?

In trying to achieve a long lasting, low maintenance drivetrain, I've read statements about aluminium oxide being the source of the black colour of chain dirt and also being highly abrasive: ...
4
votes
4answers
3k views

When to replace a tire?

I was repairing a flat on my rear tire today and noticed that the tire has started developing a flat area on the tread (see the photo below, it is the one on the right). The tire is a Continental ...
3
votes
2answers
685 views

How can I protect cables in inclement weather?

I cycle year round, in Maine. It is pretty much guaranteed my brakes and shifter cables will need replacement in the spring, even if I try to maintain and clean the bike after each ride. Does anyone ...
1
vote
3answers
390 views

Chain skip happening seemingly at random with a new chain

My bike's a 24-gear trail/road hybrid, and I've had it for about three years (although I've been riding it much more lately than in previous years). For a long while, I've had an issue with chain ...
0
votes
1answer
487 views

Suggested maintenance for rear shock between service intervals?

Typical rear shock has a suggested service interval around 150 hours or a year. What is a suggested maintenance between those service intervals? Just oil the stanchion from outside? Any technique to ...
4
votes
2answers
282 views

former weightlifter turned triathlete repeatedly breaking hanger

Every year, it seems I am on a training ride 5-10 miles from home and while torquing up, I snap the hanger throwing the rear derailleur into my spokes and locking up my rear wheel. I am 205lbs and 5'...
1
vote
1answer
146 views

How do I know I should replace the chain? [duplicate]

I have been riding a folding bike in the past. I have never replaced its chain. Recently, I have bought a second handed road bike for $500. I am afraid of the chain breaking suddenly. How do I know ...
3
votes
3answers
334 views

What are the good ways to maintain the bicycle while raining season?

I have a bicycle. I ride it everyday because it was my primary vehicle. When I was going to campus or another places, I used it. Currently, the raining season is on my country. I would like to keep ...
3
votes
2answers
283 views

Tips for winter maintenance?

A couple years ago I rode through the winter (took last winter off) and am looking to resume. My bike got hammered during the New England winter though, especially the hubs. Other than a regular ...
1
vote
2answers
428 views

How often should the headset be tightened?

I live in an area with a lot of potholes and commute daily (between 10-20 miles depending) on a modern road bike. Today while coming in hard (18+mph) to a stop, I went over a worn paving layer with ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views

Maintenance for a single speed bike

I love biking. And I also love maintaining my bikes. This is the first time I've gotten a single speed road bike, specifically this one. My question is, for maintenance purposes, what should I look ...
5
votes
1answer
361 views

Carbon fiber chip

See the white mid picture in the shape of a canine tooth. The sticker / veneer came off / separated. Is it something I should worry about? Is there something I can do? Niner Air Nine Carbon. I ...
8
votes
7answers
2k views

How do I keep a bike feeling “new”?

I think there is a subjective feeling of "newness" to a bike which is straight out of the box. What is it mechanically and aesthetically that creates that? What can I do to prolong, preserve or ...
6
votes
7answers
4k views

What can I use for a DIY cable end?

I am in a pinch and need something to crimp onto the end of my brake cable to stop it fraying. There aren't any hardware shop's nearby and its a long way to the nearest bike shop. Any household ...
2
votes
2answers
4k views

Bike left out in triple digit heat

I've recently relocated to Arizona. The place I am currently staying has no indoor storage for my bike, so I have to leave it outside, all day, every day, baking in this ridiculous 100+ degree ...
2
votes
2answers
224 views

Will riding cobblestones and rough streets kill my cup and cone hubs?

I live in pittsburgh, and we have some hills and streets which are belgian block, brick, poorly paved and pocked with potholes. It can be very jarring, but I still find myself flying down these ...
1
vote
3answers
6k views

Cycle tyre and tube burst

I pumped my cycle front tyre to 105 psi (700*23c) 5 days back and cycled some 60 km on the same day without any punctures. Afterwards I parked the cycle in my bedroom for the last 5 days (due to ...
2
votes
2answers
196 views

Cyclocross Rim Wearing with Rim Brakes and appropriate Solutions

For Reasons that are not to be discussed here i did choose a cyclocross frame without disc brakes mounts and i am going to train/compete with Canti Lever Brakes. Obviously, with all the mud and dirt ...
-1
votes
1answer
146 views

What is minimum period by which my cycles should be service? [duplicate]

I am using a Hercules MTB thriller,I drive a maximum of 75 km per week. When should I schedule periodic, quarterly full service for the bike?

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