Bike Maintenance

All bicycles need regular maintenance to perform at their best and help you avoid injury. While you can do some of the easier maintenance at home, other bike and mountain bike fix-it work is more complicated and time consuming and, as a result, should be left to a professional.

What you need to maintain on your bike and the frequency at which you need to repair or replace certain parts depends on the type of riding you do, as well as on how often you ride. Obviously, people who ride often should do more maintenance on their bikes than those who only ride occasionally.

Similarly, if you usually ride off-road or on rough tracks, your bike is going to suffer from more wear and tear than those who ride casually. Consequently, the former will need to have maintenance schedules that call for more frequent repair and upkeep.

In this section, we''ll outline and explain the maintenance requirements for any type of bike. Our articles will help you design a realistic maintenance schedule for your bike so that you can keep it in top shape.

General Upkeep

While different types of bikes have different maintenance schedules, in general, there are some basic rules of upkeep for any bike. Experts recommend that periodic maintenance is done for the following bike parts:

• bars and frame: Every time you ride, make sure the bars and frame do not have any cracks in them. About every third ride, wipe the frame down and do a more thorough inspection for cracks.
• brakes: Test the brakes and shifting for adjustment on approximately every third ride.
• saddle and seat post: Every third ride, check for cracks in the seat and saddle. Also make sure that the seat is securely attached.
• tires: Every time you ride, check that your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. Make sure tires dont have any major cuts.
• wheels: Every time you ride, make sure wheels are tightly secured to the frame by the forks.

Every 3,000 miles and once per season, you should have your bike inspected by a professional cycling repairman. Bikes need a complete tune-up, a chain replacement, a tire replacement and surface grease at this point. Any frayed cables should also be replaced. You will be safer and your bike will last longer if you are diligent with general upkeep.

Cleaning Your Bike

Along with making sure that all of the bikes parts are in good condition, maintaining your bike properly requires that you regularly wash it. In general, wash your bike about every 10th ride or any time the bike gets wet. When you wash your bike, you should also:

• apply chain lubricant to prevent rust and keep the chains working in proper order
• inspect the spokes and hubs
• wax the frame to prevent cracks and keep it shiny.

Every month, clean and lubricate the cassette and chain, and check the wheel bearing adjustment. You should also look for any loose nuts and bolts and check headset and bottom bracket adjustment when cleaning your bike.

Derailleur Gears

The derailleur is a bike part that switches your chains as you change gears. While those who ride leisurely arent likely to frequently change gears, mountain bikers who frequently shift gears will need to pay close attention to the condition of their derailleur. It is also important for riders to know how to adjust derailleur gears.

Resource

About (2006). Bike Maintenance. Retrieved January 14, 2008, from the About.com Web site.