Servicing

From Katrina :
 As we approach our big ride my mind turns to servicing - should I take my bike to be serviced ?  What about Bruce - should he go in for a service too ?  They could go in together -two for the price of one - or should we do it ourselves ?  I dutifully google "bicycle service" ....   and I discover that many items in a bike service could apply to Bruce as well, as follows  - (where you see the word "Bike" substitute "Bruce" ....)
.. the italics are my notes !

Cleaning -- It is important to start with a clean bike (or Bruce). Keeping your bike clean will extend the life of your components. As you clean the bike take the time to inspect everything (their words not mine). Look for cracks or other signs of wear that could cause future breakdowns or part failures (we definitely don't want that).  Clean the chain, chainrings, cassette, derailleurs, etc. with a biodegradable cleaner.  Use an old tooth brush and clean everything (Would you like a soft, medium or hard brush, Bruce ?). Use as little water as possible (Bruce will approve of that ). Clean the pedals, the brakes, tires, rims, and the frame. Remove the seatpost from the frame and wipe off any dirt. (this could be a bit uncomfortable, be brave Bruce). Wipe the inside of the frame where the seatpost slides into (ouch).  Apply a very small amount of good grease (only the best of course) to the post and reinstall.

Brake System -(Bruce has brakes on most of the time - except when on the way to Woori Yallock - so brakes do need checking) Check the brake pads. Unfasten the brake cable and look at the brake pads closely. The pads should be wearing evenly. If you have a ridge in the pads then your brakes may need to be adjusted. If the pads are worn or not smooth then get some new pads. Old brake pads tend to harden and If the pads are ok then reconnect the straddle cable and squeeze the brakes.(just take deep breaths, Bruce). Do the pads strike the rim at the same time? You can adjust the brake arm tension screw that is usually on one of the brake arms so the brakes are even (awake now Bruce?).

Wheels - Clean the rims with a cloth and rubbing alcohol, beer won't work (sorry about that )! Check the rim for pits or grooves in the sidewall of the rim. Spin the wheels. Do they go around straight or do they wobble -? You can make minor adjustments to the wheel with a spoke wrench (wrench , not wench Bruce). For major tweaking take it to a shop or use a truing stand and get it back in true (that means tell the truth about W. Yallock, or you will be put onto a truing stand and given a major tweak).

 Drive train -- Elevate the rear wheel and spin the pedals. This is where a stand comes in handy. Shift through all the rear gears. Shifting from gear to gear should be smooth. If it skips try adjusting your rear derailleur(skipping unlikely - has anyone seen Bruce skipping lately ?) If this fails to correct the problem your chain, cogset, and chainrings may be worn. The chain is the first to go. Chains last from 6 months to a year. A good chain only costs $15-40 and is well worth the investment. Examine your chain closely for side slop (see photo) and stretch which are signs that your chain is wearing out. If your chain is worn it can prematurely wear on your cogs and rings. In the front try shifting the derailleur. Adjust your front derailleur if needed. Check the front chainrings for excessive wear or missing teeth (yes, some are).  Small chainrings wear out much faster your larger ones. If all is well your bike will now shift perfect (  Bruce will shift perfect-ly, for sure ....but he would never shift perfect).   Apply some fresh lube of your preference (we'll lash out and get some Vaseline).




cold this be early side slop?



Tires -- If the brake pads were out of alignment they may have damaged the tires. Check tires for splits, cracks, or tears in the sidewall. Check the tread of the tire for worn knobs (no danger of that !) , uneven tread wear, or excessive wear. Replace the tires if needed. There is nothing worse than having a tire blow out because it needed to be replaced ( I think  Bruce has learned that lesson - see last year's blog!)

Lube -- Apply lubrication to the chain. It should be applied so there is an even coat on the inside and outside of each link and between the pins and rollers. Leave it one for a few minutes, then wipe off the excess lube with a rag. A few drops should be added to the cables at the nipple end (we'll let Bruce do that bit himself).. Gore-Tex and other Teflon cables should never be lubricated. All the pivot points on the front and rear derailleur should be oiled. (derailleur Bruce, whch is different from derriere - both words may be from the same language,  but they have quite different meanings).  Apply a few drops to the brake lever pivots and to the exposed brake cable.

Is everything tight? Check all nuts and bolts on the bike. Do not over-tighten any of the quick releases or bolts. For Shimano torque specifications click here. Congratulations if you made it through and completed your spring tune-up (are you still there Bruce ?  oops he's gone !  ....Back to Woori Yallock I suspect)