Mountain Bike Maintenance

Keeping your bike clean is the essential way that you can prolong it’s life and ensure your safety whilst out on trails. Like anything mechanical though mountain bike components will wear out over time and need replacing and/or upgrading. My following guide highlights those component issues that you may face over the life time of your bike.

  • Bike chains have got progressively narrower as more gears get added and this increases wear on the chain. As chain wear out so to do the rear cogs and front chainrings. In terms of expense the chains are cheaper than the cogs and chainrings so you should look to change your chains frequently. As a rough guide if you ride six hours a week look to replace your chain every four to six months. Pro-rata this to suit your own riding habits
  • Taking the six hours a week riding total you will probably need to change your inner/middle rings and rear cassette every twelve months.
  • Visually check your brake pads for wear each time you wash your bike and note that disc brake pads do last much longer than their rim counterparts
  • Learn how to lube the cable/housing system on your bike and do this whenever you wash your bike. These cables and housing systems should be changed every twelve months
  • Whenever you wash your bike (recommended after eight rides or so) check for any free play on all bearing systems and rear suspension pivots. Also check your rims and spoke tension
  • Every six months or so remove the bottom brackets to get rid of any water and grease prior to re-assembly
  • Every two years remember to bleed your hydraulic disc brakes
  • Check the torque of the bikes fixing bolts every six months. Keep in mind that carbon fibre and aluminium parts have a low torque limit
  • Check your suspension forks annually and remember to change the air canister seals on your rear air shocks changed every six months

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