How To Service A Mountain Bike

After a long season of riding your mountain wheel through the grime and mud of wintertime, it's a good idea to give information technology some TLC in the course of a thorough check-over and clean. That way, it'll exist running better than ever this bound, and you'll also reduce the amount of maintenance in the long run.

There are a number of areas of the wheel that you should pay close attention, not least the break, brakes and bearings. Nosotros spoke to experienced mechanic and writer Pete Ballin to hear some of his experience of keeping bikes running smoothly.

Drivetrain

The area that probably takes the most abuse from muddy conditions is the drivetrain – the concatenation, cassette and derailleur are constantly turning, and any grit and h2o in the system volition clothing things out quickly. And permit's confront it, concluding time you rode your wheel in the mud y'all threw information technology in the shed and forgot about it… now information technology'due south time to make clean up.

Information technology's a practiced thought to give the cassette, chain and chainring a good scrub with an old toothbrush and some degreaser to thoroughly remove all the grime. You can remove the parts to do this, or carefully clean them on the bike. Once rinsed and dry, utilise a good quality chain lube, making sure each link of the chain is coated.

Make sure derailleur is lined up with chain line — Brand sure derailleur is lined upwards with chain line

© Bartek Woliński

Now, check the gears are running and irresolute smoothly. Beginning, check everything is straight – that the derailleur lines upward perfectly with the chain line. (If something's bent or severely out of line, your outset port of phone call will be your local wheel shop.) In the height- and bottom-near gears, the jockey wheel of the derailleur should line up with the cog on the cassette – if not, this should exist fixable using the limit adjuster screws. Next, put the bike in a stand (professional or makeshift) then the rear cycle tin spin freely, then modify through the gears, upwards and down the block, to meet if everything is smooth and precise. A scrap of lag might be stock-still by adding or removing tension from the cablevision.

If you've neglected your bicycle during the darker months, you might need to invest a minor amount in a new gear cable:

"Some other sure-fire way to make to improve shifting performance is replace the inner and outer gear cable – bent, twisted or rusty cables cause a lot of shifting problems." – Pete Ballin

Brakes

H2o, grit and mud means reduced lifespan of your brake pads, and this can lead to more wear all-round. Drib out your wheels and accept a look at the amount of material left on each restriction pad. Unequal wear means brakes that aren't correctly aligned. If there's picayune or no material, you'll be wanting to check the discs for damage as well.

"If y'all detect the disk has whatever excessive scoring, information technology should be replaced." – Pete Ballin

Give your brake levers a pull to check pads

© Nathan Hughes

With the wheels back in the wheel, check the feel when pulling the restriction lever. Spongy? It shouldn't exist – at that place should always be a definite, firm bite point. Haemorrhage your brakes (changing the hydraulic fluid) gets rid of any air bubbling and muddied, former restriction fluid, so y'all might want to drop into your local bike shop for a bleed.

Bearings

Tape on Sam Hills bike at Leogang DH World Cup 2016 — Tape and foam for protecting pivots and bearings

© Nathan Hughes

There are many bearings on a mount wheel, each of them playing its own important role as function of a greater motorcar. All bearings should run free and smoothly, only after regular moisture rides they tin can begin to vesture and sometimes seize altogether. This often goes unnoticed, but yous'll know the difference when everything's running smoothly again.

Pause pivot bearings tin can exist checked by removing the rear shock and cycling the frame through its travel – this should be almost effortless. Headset bearings take a lot of abuse and tin can really affect the feel of a bike, so check those by lifting the front wheel off the ground and turning the handlebars side to side – over again, this should be effortless and smooth throughout its range. Wheel bearings should plough with footling stiction, and at that place shouldn't exist any lateral motion (play) in the wheel. If there is, information technology's time to replace those bearings.

Headset hero — Test headset bearings by turning handlebars side-to-side

© Ric McLaughlin

It's a adept idea to check shock bushings and bearings for any rattles – bearings should only movement in a circular motion, never up and downwards or sideways!

"If yous notice any play in the dorsum finish of your bike, information technology can ofttimes be worn frame bearings or bushings. Earlier checking them over, ensure all the pivot and shock bolts are tight. Then, put a hand on 1 bearing or bushing at a fourth dimension and pull the frame firmly up and downwardly with the other, so the wheel makes contact with the ground. If you discover whatsoever play in even just one bearing, information technology's a good thought to replace the others at the same time. It can be easy to cause damage without the correct tools and knowhow, so it's all-time to get a pro involved." – Pete Ballin

Intermission

RFX 36 Trail fork and DH fork at the Ohlins factory. — Time for a full pause make clean

© Oskar Sahlin

Cleaning the external, visible areas of your break fork and rear shock isn't going to be plenty to get them working perfectly subsequently a winter that has almost probably damaged the seals and afflicted the internals. Now is a good fourth dimension to send interruption units off to a professional person service centre similar TF Tuned. The ride feeling of a newly serviced and tuned fork and shock is e'er noticeable. Yous'll exist set for leap and likely summer likewise.

"Dropper seatposts have the same kind of abuse equally your suspension during winter. If the seat doesn't want to go upwards or downwards, the organization probably needs a bleed if it'due south hydraulic, or otherwise a replaced cable. If the seatpost itself sticks or is notchy in its motility, it'southward a good idea to get a full service." – Pete Ballin

Full general checks

There are some general checks that you should practice regularly.

The tension on the spoke is tested

© Ewald Sadie

- Wheel spoke tension should be regular – any loose spokes means you lot should go your wheel tensioned and trued (straightened). Whatsoever significant side-to-side or upwardly-down movement when you spin the wheel is a sure sign it needs truing.

- Cheque rims and tyres for any damage that might have been hidden past that winter-long coating of mud. Likewise, give a glance to your frame, handlebars and stalk to bank check for whatsoever damage.

- Supplant tubeless tyre sealant – it's a good idea to do this every few months.

- Become over the whole bike checking every commodities is tight and, if you want to exercise things to the text book, check manufacturer torque setting recommendations on each commodities also.