newbie bike maintenance questions

I have had my bike for 6 months now and still don't know exactly what I need to do in terms of general maintenance.

I had cleaned and lubed my chain once, not sure how often I need to do that. Usually I check the air pressure before the ride and wipe my bike down after riding and that's it. It got a warranty tune up in May so everything got tightened. Anything else I need to be aware of?

Any guidelines as to what I need to do before/after each ride and then more in depth maintenance for such-and-such time frame, this many miles, etc on the bike?

Thanks in advance.

ALWAYS pump your tires up before you go out for a ride. Since we don't know what kind of bike you have, it's hard to give advice as to how much air to put in. However, if you look on the side of your tires you will find the maximum pressure for which you can inflate the tire.

Cleaning your chain is probably the most important thing you can do to help keep your drive train running smoothly. I generally wipe my chain after long rides and lubricate it after 100 miles. If you are using oil, let it soak in and then wipe it (and the bike frame below) before you ride again.

Be sure your LBS checks your chain for wear every few months as well. You might ask them if they measured your chain when you took it in last month. Chains stretch over time and need to be replaced when they reach a certain point on the chain gauge.

When you wipe down the bike, be sure you get under the seat tube (the bottom bracket area) and get out any dirt or sports drink that might be in that area. I have my bikes on racks in the garage so it's easy to get under them. I use Bikewash as it will clean off any dirt and sticky stuff. Be sure you get the cables clean there as well. It only takes a minute, but you'll be glad you did! Nothing like a stuck cable when you are trying to shift (it's happened to me a couple of times which is why I mention it here!)

You can wash your bike on occasion- just don't jet wash it! If you have a way to put it up on a stand, it will be easier as you can get under the frame. When you clean your wheels just check each spoke as you wash it and make sure they are tight. After washing be sure to lube your chain. Some people run their chains through a chain wash. I do that occasionally but find it's not necessary every time I clean my bike.

Hope this helps. Every time you ride, even if you do just a bit of maintenance and keep your bike clean, you'll have many years of maintenance free riding.

I just posted this in the Bike Maintenance section the other day. (go to the thread and click the link.)

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=24138

Karen

Thank you for the information. That checklist is exactly what I needed.

To Bike Goddess, I have a 2007 Novara Carema Pro from REI. I need to invest in a bike stand instead of just flipping the bike over. :eek: I used Simple Green to clean the bike once. Forgot what the chain cleaner I got is called, I picked it up after someone at REI told me it's good stuff.

Yes, get thee some kind of stand so you have a way of getting your bike off the ground without having to turn it upside down. You don't want Simple Green getting into the bottom bracket and other places on your bike as it really is a de-greaser. It will strip every ounce of good grease off and then you'll be in serious trouble!!!

I have, on occasion, used Simple Green in my chain cleaner as it really gets the chain clean. However, you MUST oil your chain after you get it completely rinsed off. Let it sit awhile to soak in and then take off the excess.

I see by the specs that you have a ten speed. I have a ten speed bike as well and have found that the chain wears out much faster than my nine speed. (this may change as I have upgraded from an Ultegra chain to a Dura Ace chain). If I were you, I'd get it check for stretching every 1000 miles or so. The other component that I find needs adjusting is my front derailleur. It's a tricky adjustment so just listen for noises when you are shifting. Often you can adjust it yourself by a 1/2 click on your left lever (the one that moves the chain in the front).

Looks like you have a nice bike for your needs.

Thank you for the response.

I did some calculations and found that my bike has over 500 miles on it. I guess I need to do some work this weekend.

BG - the front derailleur has been noisy lately and my chain dropped, oops. My bike is definitely over due for some TLC.

Sounds like you don't have an odometer. I'd suggest you get one if only to help with maintenance issues. Do keep track of your mileage. You might be surprised at how much you are riding!

If your chain is dropping, it's either you or the chain needs adjustment. Look back at the time when it dropped and see if you can remember what you were doing at the time. This will help you figure out if it was "operator error".