How much should bike maintenance cost per year?

[smilingcat]

You are replacing far more frequently than necessary.

Even a semi-serious racer type who tend to stress the equipment will not be changing the chains that often. A skinny hyper-glide chain used on 10speed cogs (dura ace, ultegra) will need replacement maybe every 2000-3000 mile.

If you don't ride through mud, through sand on the beach, your chain should last you more than 3000 miles. A recreational rider could probably get away for 4000 miles or more.

No need to replace the chain ring!

brake pad should be replaced when they are worn or after two years or so. time limit is because the rubber compund on the pads gets physically old but I've regularly kept them for like 4 years at a time with many many more thousands of miles.

Your 2000-3000 miles per year is still considered recreational, so go to some other bike shop for a tune up. Have them check the "stretch" of the chain. It's probably fine. If it is fine, no need to replace the clusters or the chain ring.

sheesh!! taking advantage of you!
Smilingcat

[aicabsolut]

That is ridiculous. If you wipe down and relube your chain, um, ever, it should last you a pretty long time. If you're replacing this often, your cassette and rings should be pristine! Maybe your cassette could be worn if you're bad about doing your own maintenance, but your rings? Seriously?

I'm on my original chain and cassette, and it's been over 5000 miles. I had the shop check it in late October when it went in for its belated 1-year. Fine. Checked again at the end of March when I transferred components to a new frame. Fine. I even measured it last week because I was having some shifting issues, and I wanted to be sure that it wasn't the chain's fault. Fine. I do long rides. I race. I do, however, take ridiculously good care of my drivetrain, especially since I encounter a fair amount of sand and grit on my training rides. The chain is starting to look a bit worn in a few spots, so I will probably have it checked again next month.

Brake pads all depend on the wear. My shop usually just throws them in with the typical tuneup. So far, all of my tunes have been free. I got a year of service free with the first bike, and when I transferred components to the new bike, they checked everything, replaced pads, etc. as part of the build cost. I have only had to buy new cables and housing, which I do about once a year, unless they get damaged in a crash.

I've seen tuneups that are more expensive than your base $65 price, but they will at least include new brake pads.

I would find a new shop ASAP.

[OakLeaf]

What are you doing as far as chain maintenance? I suppose it's possible you could be wearing them out that quick if you're not regularly cleaning and lubing them, especially if your bike's stored in a damp garage? Have you measured the chains yourself before you got them replaced?

I just measured my chain at 2500 miles and it was showing some wear, but not quite ready for replacement. After this weekend (heavy rain, then 30 miles on a dry chain), I probably will ask the LBS to replace it when I bring it in for a tuneup in a couple of weeks.

Chainrings every fourth chain is probably about right, but it's the four chains in 2700 miles that doesn't sound right. Are the teeth of your chainrings worn?

How is it that a flat costs you $5? You're not replacing the tube every time you flat, are you? Get a patch kit!

Are your brake pads at the limit of their pad material?

You should learn to check for wear yourself. Not just so you don't get taken advantage of, but so you do know to replace things before they become a hazard or a bigger problem.

[Grog]

The others have covered a lot of the points, however I'd like to add this:

I love bike shops and I want them to remain open, thus they need to make some money. I understand why they offer "packaged" tune-ups to their clients, but I'll never take one.

Here is a chart, with my comments, from a local Vancouver bike shop that I usually find a bit expensive for their services and products:

Blessing: $15.00

Sometimes you just need someone to have a look at your bike and make sure it’s safe to ride, especially if it’s been sitting for a while!

* We inspect and inflate the tires to the proper pressure and lube your chain
* Do a complete safety inspection
* Make sure the brakes are in good working order; the wheels aren’t loose; the handlebars are straight; the gears are working; the handlebars and stem are tight; and that nothing is broken!

I can pump up my tires and lube my chain, thanks.

I can do a safety inspection, check my brakes, wheels, handlebars, gears, etc.

Basic Tune: $29.99

Everything in the Blessing plus:

* Check and adjust the headset
* Check and adjust all bearings
* Inspect all cables and housings
* Inspect and adjust gears
* Inspect and adjust brakes
* Inspect rims and spokes and true wheels on the bike
* Inspect and tighten all fasteners
* Clean and lube chain

If my headset is loose, I'll ask them to fix it if I am worried I am not doing it right.

All of my bearings are sealed.

I can inspect my own cables and housings. Generally if it's not braking or shifting properly I'll look into that.

If my gears or brakes are out of wack, I'll ask them to do that. It's $6 for gears and $4 for brakes.

I inspect my wheels quickly before every ride, and in detail when I clean my bike. I pay attention when I ride. If it's untrue I'll ask them to true it (variable cost but seldom more than $15 if I've noticed it early enough - and it doesn't happen more than once every other year - but I'm a very light rider). Sometimes I'll be in for gears or something like that and the shop guy will say "I think your front wheel needs to be trued," and I'll say "go ahead!"

I can inspect and tighten my fasterners.

Geez, I can clean and lube my bike, too!!!

Comprehensive: $49.99

Everything in the Blessing and Basic Tune plus:

* Inspect and adjust bottom bracket
* Inspect and adjust front and rear hubs
* Wipe your entire bike clean
* True wheels on the truing stand

More things I can do myself, except the wheel truing, which I covered above.

I've taken a couple of days of bike mechanics classes and I can either do things myself or know what I need done, so I NEVER get a packaged tune-up. I understand why it exists, but I think cyclists that ride the kind of miles you do should get things piecemeal instead, as they need them.

This being said, the mechanics class was really helpful in educating me about those things... and reading dear Team Estrogen members' insights, too!! Also: patronizing a good bike shop regularly, learning from the shop people, and discussing with them will teach you a lot... and teach them that you're taking this seriously and are not to be abused with over-pricing.

[Crankin]

It does seem excessive. I replace my chain once a season and I ride between 2500 and 3000 miles a year, at least for the past 3 years. On the other hand, I am not really good about cleaning my bike (I know). However, I don't ride in the rain or seem to be in an area where there's lots of crap on the road. I look at the tires and pump them every time I ride and I have had one flat in eight years (not counting the one where I ran over a nail on a century and decimated the tire, not just the tube). My husband does all the maintenance and I keep a look out for anything that seems weird with my bike.
I would not use a patched tube. Just my opinion. We keep a supply at home and buy them a bunch at a time, from the evil internet source. I always have 2 in my bag.

[OakLeaf]

I would not use a patched tube.

Why not???

I can see not racing on one, as it might throw off the balance of the wheel a little bit. I never noticed any difference in cornering, but that wasn't one of my strong points either. On my old race bike, generally a tube on my "training" wheels got four patches before being replaced (never had a flat on my race wheels). It's the least I can do to not put something totally repairable on the landfill (and buy another thing made of petroleum).

Right now my commuter bike has two patches on the rear tube. The older one is about three years old and maybe 2000 miles. That bike sees daily use in season, but not a lot of mileage.

I wouldn't even know how to count the mileage, but I've been riding on patched tubes my entire lifetime. I probably have more than 30,000 miles on patched tubes on skinny tires, and at least that many again on 25c and wider, and I've never, ever had a patch fail. Back in the day, we never even carried spare tubes, just a patch kit, and repaired the tube on the road. (For comparison, I've had TWO mechanic-installed plugs fail on car tires, and people drive on those all the time.)

[indysteel]

Another bit of information I'd add. I've heard several rules of thumb when it comes to when to replacing the cassette. Some shops will tell you that you should replace the cassette every time you replace the chain. Others will admit that, with proper cleaning, a cassette will generally last through 2 to 3 chains. The best advice I've read is to change the chain first. If it doesn't skip on any of the cogs when under load, then don't replace the cassette. If it does skip, then it's time to replace it. In other words, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. That sounds like good advice to me, although I'd appreciate any other words of wisdom....

[Blueberry]

In light of what others have said....You don't have to replace the chain rings every time you replace the cassette. They're usually much slower to wear, and may not need replacement for many, many miles. (Edited to add - looks like you already covered this - posted at the same time).

I'm heavy as well, and still don't have to replace chains that often. Strange.

CA

[lauraelmore1033]

In light of what others have said....You don't have to replace the chain rings every time you replace the cassette. They're usually much slower to wear, and may not need replacement for many, many miles. (Edited to add - looks like you already covered this - posted at the same time).

I'm heavy as well, and still don't have to replace chains that often. Strange.

CA

Yes, very strange. And you do a lot of climbing too! This winter WAS pretty bad as far as wet, nasty, grit on the roads went, though.