Hello friends.

It is no secret that a bicycle, like any mechanism, requires periodic maintenance for normal operation.

Once upon a time, its maintenance did not present great difficulties; any boy, even a little versed in technology, could handle this.

Yes, and there was nothing special to service: I lubricated the chain, stuffed lubricants into the rear and front axles, tightened the creaking bolts, that's, in general, that's all.

A modern bike is a completely different matter. So many new parts and assemblies appeared in it that, one might say, it was reinvented.

What in the current bike requires maintenance and how often should it be carried out?

We will talk about this in today's article.

To begin with, I will briefly talk about the frequency of maintenance.

It will be difficult to establish a strict framework for maintenance, because each of us operates the iron horse in different ways, however, it can be conditionally divided into a follow-up inspection, in-line maintenance and seasonal maintenance.

Control inspection implies a check (inspection) of the main mechanisms of the bike before leaving.

What we check:

Visually inspect the tires for damage, bumps, protruding cord. If there is a problem, we will replace it.

Check tire pressure and top up if necessary.

Having clamped the front brake, we shake the steering wheel back and forth, while play and beats should not be felt. We feel it - we tighten the upper rolling ring or the cover with the anchor.

holding front wheel between the legs, turn the steering wheel left and right, it should not turn. It turns - we tighten the tightening bolt or the bolts of the steering stem.

Brake system.

We take the wheels off the ground one by one and, turning them slightly, check if the brake pads touch the rim (disc, tire). They hurt - we adjust the tightening of the pads with bolts (after making sure that the wheel does not have the shape of a figure eight or the number 0).

When you press the brake lever (its slight play is allowed), the wheel must be securely blocked, when released, it must be unlocked (do not jam).

Brake pads should not be worn, and the wear itself should be uniform over the entire surface. The thickness of brake pads for disc brakes must not be less than 1 mm.

Chain.

We raise rear wheel and slightly rotate the pedals, the chain should not touch the cheeks of the front derailleur, frame, connecting rods, when switching, rattle and crunches are unacceptable.

If there are problems, we align (replace) the switch (front, rear), connecting rods, lubricate the chain, adjust the switching mechanism with screws.

Having installed the chain on a large front star, we pull it forward - the links should not expose the teeth by more than half. Otherwise, we tighten (shorten) it with an adjusting screw.

Stream service carried out in more detail, after approximately every 500-2000 km of run.

What we check:

Threaded connections.

Check and tighten all screw connections. While driving, extraneous noise is heard - most likely the connection has weakened somewhere and our task is to identify such a place.

Carriage.

Option "killed" carriage

We take the connecting rods and try to shake them left and right, there should be no play. There is a backlash: in a collapsible carriage - we tighten the cups, in a non-collapsible carriage - we replace the carriage.

In the case when the connecting rods themselves dangle on the carriage shaft, we tighten their attachments to the shaft, it does not help - we replace the connecting rods or the shaft (most likely, the splines are broken).

Wheel hubs.

We hold the bike vertically and try to shake the wheels left and right, there should be no play. There is a backlash - we tighten the flare nuts. It does not help - the bearings may have fallen apart and it is time to replace them.

Chain lubrication and cassette cleaning.

However, I note that you need to lubricate the chain wisely. Too much lubrication, in this case - worse than none at all.

The fact is that a large amount of it attracts more dust, dirt and sand, and they, in turn, wear out both the chain and the cassette, and other related mechanisms (brake discs, gear shifting system, etc.)

Therefore, we lubricate only the pivot joints of the chain. Those. those places that really rub against each other. Excess grease must be removed.

We remove the cassette and carefully, with a brush, we go through all the "evil" places, paying special attention to the spider (on which the stars are fixed). Then lubricate with a thin layer of grease and install back.

Wheels.

Wheels are probably the busiest parts of a bike.

From the factory conveyor, they come out perfectly even and centered, with evenly tensioned spokes.

During operation, the tension of the spokes weakens, beats, figure eights, etc. appear. In addition, from strong blows the axles of the bushings can be deformed, which further complicates the situation.

Timely tightening of the spokes, regular inspection of rims and bushings will allow you to identify a possible problem in advance and eliminate it in a timely manner.

Frame.

The frame is the load-bearing part of the bike, so it regularly has to withstand heavy loads.

Carrying loads, bumping off-road driving, aggressive driving style - all this shortens the life of the frame, which can cause cracks on it.

Most often, these are the points of connection of the lower tube of the frame with the head tube and the attachment points of the suspension, although everything here depends on the design.

If, as a result of the inspection, we found a crack in the frame, then, regrettably, it is better to replace the frame.

If the frame is steel, you can try to weld the crack with a welding machine, but even in this case, you should already think about purchasing a new one.

Welding an aluminum or titanium frame will cost a decent amount, and the carbon one will only have to be changed.

Riding with a cracked frame is life threatening. At any moment, it can burst completely.

Saddle and seatpost.

"Killed" seat tube

In addition to inspecting the main parts of a bicycle, a scheduled inspection is also required by the place with which we are in contact with our own fifth point.

We inspect the saddle for the presence of gusts and delamination of the material. We glue problem areas, hem them, etc. If the problems with the saddle are more serious, we replace it.

We inspect the seatpost for kinks and cracks. If a creak is heard while driving, we remove it (the pin) from the seat tube, lubricate the part that will be in the tube and install it back.

gear shifters.

Checking the condition of the gear switches is reduced to their visual inspection for the absence of obvious damage and checking in motion for the absence of clanging and crunches when shifting gears, as well as their lubrication.

If there is a clanging - most likely, you need to tighten the switch cable, if there is a crunch - we are not switching correctly or the switch adjustment has gone astray.

I will share how to properly adjust the gear shifters in a separate article, so I recommend subscribing to blog updates.

Brake system.

Checking the brake systems, as we said above, should be carried out before each departure.

If there are no problems with the brakes, this is excellent, but despite this, from time to time you need to clean them, replace worn pads, tighten the cables and generally adjust the brakes.

Hydraulic brakes must be bled at least once a season to remove possible air leaks.

Shifters and cables.

Although these mechanisms generally bear little stress, they also require cleaning and lubrication.

We clean and lubricate the shifters, check the cables and shirts for gusts, lubricate with liquid lubricant, trying to get it (grease) under the shirt.

Seasonal maintenance is held twice a year: during the transition to summer and winter periods operation.

During seasonal maintenance, we carry out all the above checks, as well as some additional ones.

Saddle.

In order for it to last longer and not lose its shape after exposure to moisture, we wipe it well, remove dirt and dry it, after which we impregnate it with a special agent for protecting leather products.

We carry out drying without direct exposure to heat (for example, a hair dryer), otherwise the saddle will wrinkle.

Suspension.

Although the suspension elements are protected from external factors by anthers, in the autumn-winter period it becomes more difficult for them to do their job.

The reason for this is high humidity, dirt, salt which is sprinkled on roads and other external irritants.

The gradual penetration of these irritants into the lubrication of the suspension elements can cause (and causes) scuffing of the mirror surfaces, and this, in turn, has a bad effect on the operation of the suspension.

Seasonal oil changes in the front and rear shock absorbers will help our suspension last longer.

If you don’t have a bike yet, but really want to, I can recommend mountain bikes in St. Petersburg. In addition, on this resource you will find a lot of related bike accessories at reasonable prices.

Which "kind" are you? I propose to write in the comments under the article.

And that's all I have today.

Happy rides.

Sincerely, Sergey Drozdov

P. S. If you have any questions after reading the article, feel free to ask in the comments.

P. P. S. You can find the topics that will be revealed in the near future at.

Bicycle like any other technical means, requires regular maintenance. High-quality bike maintenance allows you to extend the life of parts and assemblies, as well as identify hidden faults and replace worn parts. In addition to maintenance, it is also necessary to configure some bike components. Unconfigured nodes cause inconvenience when driving and, more importantly, quickly fail.

Bike maintenance

If you rarely use your bike and do not ride it far from home, then it can be serviced and repaired as problems are identified. But if you take part in long bike trips, cycle touring and simply do not part with your bike, then regular maintenance is a must.

Periodically, it is necessary to carry out partial and full service bike. Partial maintenance involves cleaning and lubricating easily accessible parts that get dirty the fastest (brakes, shifters, chain). Cleaning and lubricating such elements is quite simple and it is not necessary to disassemble anything. Partial maintenance is performed as open elements and assemblies are contaminated. Full maintenance must be carried out at least once per season. With full maintenance, a complete disassembly of the bike, lubrication and adjustment of all elements is required. A complete disassembly is needed in order to get to the closed parts, such as - steering column, bottom bracket and bushings.

Bike setup and adjustment

It is worth noting that maintenance alone is not enough for the bike to work properly, it is also necessary to adjust its individual parts - brakes, switches, etc. The operation of an unadjusted bicycle contributes to the rapid failure of its components. In addition, a poorly tuned bicycle poses a great danger to the health and life of its owner. For example, poorly adjusted brakes may not work in an emergency.

It should be borne in mind that in order to manipulate a bicycle, it is not enough to have ordinary tools. There are many specialized bicycle tools and maintenance tools available. You can familiarize yourself with the list in our article - tools for self-repair of a bicycle.

On our site you will find a lot of information on do-it-yourself maintenance, tuning and adjustment of all types of bicycles, including high-speed mountain and sports road bikes, regardless of installed equipment be it Shimano, Sram or cheap body kits. The section of the site you are currently on is dedicated to this topic. You can navigate through the sections using the left menu.

The main task of every cyclist is to ensure their own safety when leaving the road. Sometimes a seemingly fully serviceable vehicle may require repair of its individual parts, lubrication of parts, inflating wheels or replacing tires. A professional bike cleaning service before the start of the Veloremont season will allow you to ride without thinking about your safety.

Professional bike repair

Many owners try to repair the bicycle wheel, chain, brakes, etc. on their own. Often this causes great difficulties, because for the correct assembly and troubleshooting of specific problems, certain experience, appropriate equipment and a set of tools are required. In addition, not knowing the features of the production of domestic and foreign models, in addition to one problem, you can create another new one. That is why it is better to leave such a mission to specialists who will do everything to the highest standard.

The personal comfort of the cyclist depends on how his main parts are configured. When adjusting the saddle and pedals, it is important to consider the height of the owner. Surprised that such a detail can also affect the quality of the ride? Masters will help you create the most comfortable conditions for movement and tell you the secrets of bike care.

Do you still doubt whether it is worth contacting a workshop or repairing a bicycle hub, chain, brake system or other things yourself? Then here are a few reasons why it is better to give preference to specialists:

When an unscheduled departure occurred, it turned out that the two-wheeled vehicle needed repair, and the right tools for repairs, no - it doesn’t matter, the workshop will help to urgently put the bike in order, without the need to postpone important matters for later.
The steering wheel does not obey and a strange sound is heard - what to do? Turn to specialists with extensive experience, they will quickly find the cause and repair the highway of a bicycle or other part in a short time.
Do you think professional services are expensive? Then we will please you: sometimes they cost several times cheaper than fixing mistakes made during self-repair.
Did something go wrong again? Qualified support, maintenance of bicycles in the workshop will not give you any reason to worry and will help to extend the life of your bike vehicle.
Repairing a bike tube may seem like the easiest task that anyone can do. However, it is not. You need to be able to properly remove the tire and tire, diagnose the cause of the malfunction, repair and assemble. This may require special equipment and tools. People who do this kind of work on a daily basis will not make mistakes. Can this be guaranteed? high quality performing repair work the person that first took up this? Most likely not.

Only an experienced specialist, who can be found in the Veloremont service, will allow you to free yourself from unnecessary worries about your safety after performing such manipulations.

Bicycle service

Did you know that a bicycle requires maintenance and diagnostics in the same way as a car? The quality of the ride and the readiness to overcome different routes depend on this.

The bike workshop has a wide range of services and allows you to comprehensively put the vehicle in order. High-level specialists are ready to perform:

checking all parts of the bike for faults and fixing them;
installation of the desired additional equipment, replacement and improvement with accessories, complete modernization of the appearance;
reconstruct old model and make a modern bicycle out of it;
prepare for seasonal trips in a short period of time;
adjust the gearbox, adjust the brake system, check the pressure in the wheels, eliminate the causes of play and uncharacteristic sounds;
repair the carriage of a bicycle;
correct wheel irregularities, replace failed parts with new original spare parts;
clean and, if necessary, repair the bicycle chain;
lubricate moving parts and connections.

Our advantages

Veloremont has been providing professional service and troubleshooting for over eight years. We are ready to take on the work of bicycles of a wide variety of brands and manufacturers. The pricing policy of the company is very loyal, which does not make customers think for a long time where to get their two-wheeled “friend” if they need repair of bicycle shock absorbers or have problems with control. Turning to us, each visitor has the opportunity to take advantage of a number of advantages, including:

diagnostics of all nodes is completely free, while disassembling the vehicle does not have to be done at all;
inexpensive service and low prices to carry out all types of work with a guarantee of quality;
prompt execution of orders, spending a minimum amount of time to put the vehicle in order;
the ability to choose the most convenient service location from five points in Moscow;
delivery of the vehicle to the workshop and back if the client cannot bring it on his own;
departure of a specialist to the house to repair the bicycle pedal, tires, steering wheel and other simple breakdowns.
In addition, we will perform high-quality painting of bicycles in Moscow, the price of which will be more than loyal. Veloremont service will provide everyone with a warranty period for the work performed.

Gift your bike new life and make sure you are comfortable and safe movement in any direction. We will take care of satisfying every wish of our client and turn his transport into a modern bike.

Our bike workshop provides bicycle repair and maintenance services at any time convenient for you.

Any transport needs preventive measures to prevent trouble in the future. We provide bicycle repair services in Moscow for any type of damage and breakdown.

Bicycle service in the MegaVelo store will allow you to get next set services:

• We offer you a free diagnosis of your bike's faults. Masters of Megavelo will make a thorough initial inspection and announce a set of measures that need to be carried out for the flawless operation of all nodes;
• Bicycle repair service of any category of complexity of all brands (Stels (Stealth), Merida (Merida), Format, Forward) and designs (from mountain models to walking, tandems and children's models);
• Our masters will repair and tune bikes, both new Merida and Stels bikes, and those models that already have a "mileage";
• Here you can get any advice on the choice of models, their maintenance and operating modes. We will also advise you on the need and possibility of upgrading the bike and its repair;
• If necessary, in our bike service you can order assembly, modernization and repair. Also available is a service such as changing a tire on a bicycle;
• Our bike workshop provides a bicycle conservation service for the off-season.

Bicycle repair

The Megavelo workshop has been repairing bicycles for more than 5 years. During this period of time, we have been able to repair thousands of bikes of various models and types: mountain bikes, hardtails, full suspension, road bikes, children's bikes, road bikes, hybrid models and tandems.

Repair is carried out in accordance with all requirements and compliance with technical specifications.

The most common requests from customers of our bike workshop related to the deterioration or termination of the operation of bicycles are such types of malfunctions as:

• Eight on the wheel;
• Broken spokes;
• Tire wear and chamber puncture;
• Brake system malfunctions;
• Pedal block failure.

Our masters carry out work on all types of malfunctions that are encountered today in equipment, depending on the season and the complexity of the breakdown, for 2-5 days. In addition, you can get valuable advice on preventing breakdowns, replacing parts and small camping bike repairs that will allow you to get to the bike service on your “horse”.

Bicycle service, store "MegaVelo"

Produced full bike maintenance, which consists in planned preventive maintenance, installation of new and replacement or repair of obsolete, out-of-service equipment:

• We make adjustment of bicycle brakes, gear shifter;
• Pedal assembly is serviced in our workshop
• We also service the elements that make up the steering column, bushing, connecting rod carriage and others. important elements your bicycle, ensuring traffic safety;
• Our technicians excel at repairing and tuning the equipment of the most famous aftermarket manufacturers: SRAM and Shimano.

Maintenance is the set of measures that any bike needs, regardless of its age and proper riding. Equipment can break down at any, even the most inopportune moment. There are several bike maintenance strategies that bike owners use and it's up to you to decide which one is best:

• First, it is the time to failure. This type of bike service is suitable for those who ride close to home and in the event of a critical breakdown, they will not be far from the workshop or garage. In this case, the parts and assemblies of the bicycle are operated until the moment when a breakdown occurs. This option is suitable for saddle, counters, fenders and handlebars;
• Second maintenance option consists of scheduled preventive maintenance. In order for the bike to function as long as possible and without breakdowns, its condition must be perfect. This requires a full maintenance before long trips - you need to disassemble the transport, lubricate it, change worn parts (tires, for example). While this is the most expensive, it is also the surest way to keep your bike in good shape and make sure it never fails on the road.
• The third bike maintenance option is to predict breakdowns. In this case, you can periodically inspect the parts for any faults. At the same time, the equipment most often does not completely disassemble, which is wrong, because many components (brakes, connecting rods) cannot be checked without external access. But for chains, shocks, pedals and tires, this strategy can be quite productive.

Our bike service at the Moscow store offers you a bike maintenance option that includes all three strategies, but refers to different parts and assemblies of the unit. In this case, you can achieve the optimal ratio of price and quality of service and bicycle repair.

In order for bicycle repair to be a less frequent procedure, we recommend taking preventive measures:

• In any weather (especially in summer and after dusty roads), clean the parts, as small particles can get into the lubricant, having a devastating effect on many components;
• Periodically lubricate the chain (most suitable different variants lubrication), and every year it is necessary to lubricate the entire bicycle in the workshop;
• Particular attention must be paid to the brake system of your bicycle, if malfunctions occur here, then operation must be postponed until it is fully restored in a workshop;
• Also, do not forget about the timely replacement of tires on your two-wheeled friend.

You should also pay attention to tires. There is a high probability of a puncture, if the camera is not inflated enough, it is too soft, which means that there is a possibility of “catching glass or a nail”. If you find that the wheel is starting to deflate, then the first thing you need to pay attention to is the valve. The valve can be tested in water, if in the screwed position it lets air bubbles through, then it needs to be changed. If the valve is working, you need to change the chamber itself - a puncture in it.

The wheels themselves during rotation should not “walk” and touch the parts of the bicycle, make extraneous noise. In order not to lose spokes on the road, the rim must have the same tension on all parts of the wheel.

As you can see, the repair of Stels and Merida brands is a complex and complex type of work, which includes both direct troubleshooting and preventive actions, and proper operation by the owner. Therefore, in order for your bike to last as long as possible with a minimum of trouble, you need to contact the services of professionals who will carry out the entire amount of necessary maintenance and repair of your “iron horse” in Moscow. And the owner himself should monitor changes in the technical condition of the bike and perform elementary manipulations to maintain cleanliness and all nodes, as well as regularly lubricate his chain in order to conduct training and trips in the fresh air throughout the season.

Any bike not only brings pleasure and benefits from riding, but also requires appropriate care (necessary not only before the start of the cycling season, but also in between active / long trips, as well as before sending your two-wheeled companion to winter parking).

Majority modern models has good resistance to adverse conditions, however, it is still necessary to ensure that the requirements for proper operation are observed. If this is not done, then the dirt, soil and sand that inevitably get on the chassis will sooner or later lead to a breakdown and, as a result, to costly repairs.

For example, ordinary road dust, when mixed with chain lubricant, turns into a dangerous abrasive that impedes movement and significantly damages chain links. Sand that gets into the bush wears out the bearings much faster and more than the most careless off-road driving or a couple of hundred kilometers on extreme tracks ... In addition, since over time any static part in the structure gradually becomes loose - all threaded bolts, bushings, forks, connecting rods needs to be tightened...

Bicycle care products

If the arsenal of all your products for washing, cleaning and lubricating a bicycle is limited to a bottle of kerosene, a handful of old rags and a jar of ordinary grease, you are a “bad owner” of your two-wheeled vehicle. In order for a device with such a simple (at first glance) design to serve reliably and do without repairs for as long as possible, it is necessary to provide it with decent care "no worse than for a car."

Here are some ways to help you become a “good host”:

• Special bike shampoos- a range of liquid detergents, which often contain a small percentage of weak solvents, effective enough to remove oily dirt. For example, the Daytona or Hanseline “bicycle” lines are the best option for cleaning carbon fiber and / or painted metal parts ... however, almost any car shampoo (with a non-aggressive composition) can easily cope with ordinary road dirt.
• Cleansing sprays- tools indispensable for laundering old dirt and areas with strong oily contamination. For example, Birzman (distinguished by its versatility) will not only wash areas with accumulated dirt well, but will also remove rust and at the same time lubricate rubbing pairs. Usually, sprays are applied for several minutes (the time depends on the brand of product and its composition), after which they are washed off with warm water and a soft sponge (but you can use a long-haired brush with thick bristles to clean hard-to-reach places).
• Degreasers- special cleaning agents for processing (cleaning, washing) the chain and almost all moving parts of the transmission, the trouble-free operation of which largely depends on their cleanliness. For example, the Force or BikeLab brand lines are able to remove even bituminous stains, not to mention getting rid of old grease on bushings, forks, steering column and other “hard-to-reach places”.
• Lubricants- when trying to navigate the widest choice of lubricants, one must certainly take into account an important nuance about the content of grease in them (which “attracts” a variety of dirt and is very poorly washed) and lithium (which corrodes aluminum parts). But in general and in general, several types of lubricants are traditionally presented to the choice of a cyclist, the most versatile of which are aerosol lubricants suitable for all weather conditions and for all types of bicycles (simple and easy to use, they are usually produced in ergonomic containers and equipped with a special nozzle - simplifying the processing of the chain and other moving parts). Wherein:
  • liquid lubricants - suitable only for chains,
  • calcium - more expensive, but have a long service life, good resistance to temperature extremes and a fairly high degree of protection against corrosion,
  • silicone lubricants (regarded as a cross between "budget" and "elite" options) - reliable, durable and very economical (they perfectly protect components from moisture and have good dust-repellent properties),
  • and yet, according to experienced cyclists, Teflon lubricants are considered the best (due to their high penetrating ability and unprecedented wear resistance) - they perfectly withstand high pressure and remain on the nodes for a long time, and thanks to the antistatic present in the composition, dust practically does not stick to lubricated parts.

Such a selection of “soap-ryol” products for a bicycle should not seem like overkill to you - because with each “care procedure” a product must be used that is intended for this. A little lower we will talk about the intricacies of bike maintenance (both regular and planned), but for now, let's recall the importance of properly selected tools.

Basic set of tools

If you're hungry, you can fill up even without a spoon/fork, but a cyclist trying to troubleshoot " with bare hands” – is as useless as a dentist for a patient when he tries to help him without having the appropriate equipment at hand. To be truly able to take care of your two-wheeled friend, equip yourself with at least the most necessary tools.

The required minimum includes:

• two hammers- one of them should weigh no more than 200 g, and the approximate weight of the second should be 500-600 g. Sometimes they are used alternately, sometimes simultaneously, but in general they are needed to straighten deformed parts, drive in / knock out blades, washers, bolts, etc. d.
• Vise- choose a model with mobile fixation both to a workbench and a regular table. They are necessary in most types of work, since they allow you to securely fix any part in the most convenient position for processing and at the optimal position for better view distance.
• Pliers– the working surfaces of this tool must be equipped with serrated recesses to facilitate the gripping of round and/or slippery (due to lubrication) parts.
• Two screwdrivers- one should be with a slot (blade length about 5-7 mm), and the second - with a cross head (about the same size).
• beard with a tip thickness of not more than 2 mm. You will not cut or punch anything with it, but when riveting the chain (when you need to carefully knock out the pin), it will be very useful.
• Two files- one should be semicircular, and the second - the usual trihedral. Choose the so-called personal models (that is, with a medium notch, usually it is No. 2 or No. 3). They are useful for processing, for example, a saddle lock (when the “native” notches are erased and new ones need to be cut), and you can’t do without such a tool after pulling up the knitting needles (when you have to process their protruding ends) ... and in many other situations.
• Spanners - one large adjustable type and a set of hexagons.

One more item could be added to this list - not quite a tool in the literal sense, but rather a “device”, - this is an ergonomic chain / cassette brush, especially recommended by experienced cyclists. Such gadgets are made of wear-resistant and tough nylon bristles of various thicknesses and very effectively cope with their purpose - if not turning the washing of the chain and cassette into a “solid pleasure”, then at least making this procedure not so tiring.

"Situational" bike care

There are usually no problems with cleaning the bike after riding in dry weather - a soft brush is enough, which you need to walk through “hard-to-reach places”, and a couple of dry rags to brush off dust and soil particles. But if during the trip you got caught in the rain or you had to overcome swampy areas, your two-wheeled companion will need much more attention.

Let's look at what should be included in the so-called situational care and how to properly implement it:

• the washing up- If the frame and running components are always clean, then you can be sure that your bike is protected not only from corrosion, but also from the malfunction of important components, especially the shifting system.
  You only need to wash the bike by special means. Otherwise, you can remove the grease where its presence is extremely important, and at the same time damage the seals on the bushings.
  Do not use a hose, let alone car washes (where water is supplied under high pressure) - because some components (for example, in the steering column and carriage) should not get moisture at all.
  Just lightly rinse the rims and frame with warm water and let it “soak” for a few minutes. Then gently wash away dirt build-ups and sand particles with a soft brush, sponge or fluffy cloth, wipe as far as possible and leave the machine to dry naturally. This point is important, because the bike should only be lubricated clean and completely dry.
• Lubricant- if, when riding under normal conditions and at a calm pace, it is enough to lubricate the bike once for every 100-150 km, then after contact with water or mud, this should be done immediately after the trip. All friction and rotation units (especially the chain and carriage) must first be washed and cleaned of old grease, dried thoroughly, and only then re-lubricated.
• Setting- activities for checking and adjusting the main components should be carried out on a regular basis (at least once a decade). But after an “unscheduled” caring procedure (with washing and lubrication), the bike will need a thorough inspection and adjustment of at least the transmission and brakes (more on this below).

These care requirements are almost universal. At least they are relevant for the most common types of bikes - city, road, touring and mountain bikes. The events themselves are not at all complicated - so there will be no need to contact the bike masters.

Scheduled bike maintenance

In any model of a bicycle, even the “coolest”, there are components and parts that wear out quickly and often need repair / maintenance. Constant monitoring of the technical condition, combined with appropriate maintenance, will significantly improve the “health” of your “iron horse” and, at the same time, provide you with proper safety during active skiing.

A global bicycle health check should be carried out twice a year: in spring (before the start of the cycling season) and in autumn (when you prepare the bike for conservation for the winter). Such a procedure should not be limited only to visual inspection - the “machine” must be disassembled, the components and moving parts cleaned, all threaded connections lubricated, worn parts repaired or replaced.

Important! The main components (transmission and brakes) are controlled by strong steel braided cables, but even these stretch a little over time and need to be adjusted, so you need to check their tension at least once a month.

And now - about the work, feasible even for non-professionals, and ways to solve the most common problems with the main mechanisms and parts of any bicycle:

• BUT suspension fork . This unit most often fails due to dirty oil or its production (naturally leading to a deterioration in performance). Another "popular problem" is premature wear of the cuffs (oil seals) and other parts of the fork, provoked by incorrect or too long work without maintenance.
  • You need to clean and lubricate the “legs” every 150 ~ 200 km of driving on normal surfaces and every 100 km on bad ones.
  • It is necessary to inspect the "trousers" of the fork (in order to detect cracks) after rolling no more than 350~400 km, and lubricate the oil seals with a bulkhead - every 500~800 km.
  • If the fork is oil, you need to change the oil at least once a year.
• Bushings. It is these parts, which ensure the static fastening of the axle on the brackets (dropouts), that determine the uniformity, smoothness and ease of rotation of the wheel. If there is not enough lubrication or it is heavily contaminated, this inevitably leads to increased bearing friction and difficult rotation. The wheel begins to dangle, there is a noticeable backlash, sometimes a rattle and even a crunch. To eliminate these problems, you need to remove the bushing, remove the bearings, blow out dirt from the empty housing, wipe thoroughly with kerosene inner walls, let it dry, and then apply a thin layer of a new lubricant with a cotton swab or a narrow brush. Then assemble the assembly by returning the axle, cones, bearings (washed and lubricated in the same way) to their places. Tighten the fixing nut and check the bushing travel. If everything is in order - return the wheel to the dropouts - it should rotate completely silently and easily.
• Transmission. The wear of this important not even a node, but the whole system, is very difficult to predict - since it represents a rather wide variability of different metals: starting with hard chain steel (distributing continuous load) and ending with soft alloys of drive sprockets (where the teeth wear out into sharp waves, and the cyclist may not notice this until the chain begins to slip and significantly damage the shifting systems).
  1. First you need to thoroughly clean and wash the chain, sprockets and everything else.
  2. Then go over the entire transmission with a cleaner and degreaser and let it dry.
  3. After measuring the wear of the chain, decide whether it needs to be replaced or only tightened (the optimal frequency for replacing the chain is every 1000 km or, with careful operation, 1500~1800 km).
  4. After inspecting the drive sprockets and making sure that there are no bends or deformed teeth on them, clean the spider and sprockets, treat them with anti-seize lubricant.
  5. Then inspect the cassette cluster for wear, flush and lubricate the entire assembly.
• brakes. Reliable and trouble-free brakes are a guarantee of the safety of the cyclist.
  • If you notice that the handle has begun to touch the steering wheel, tighten the brake cable tension by slightly tightening the curly bolts.
  • If your device has V-Brake system brakes (that is, just rim brakes), you need to check them and adjust them quarterly (for prevention) and “situational” (every time after driving in the rain and / or on poor coverage and after a long downtime). You can adjust the position of the pads on the rim in an elementary way - with a bolt and several washers, after loosening the brake cable and setting the desired position of the pads.
  • In the case of disc and hydraulic brakes, everything is simpler: you need to adjust them in the same way, but only “situational” (for example, when extraneous sounds or other signs of incorrect operation appear).

Instead of a conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the recommendations presented above are general in nature, since each type of bike needs a special approach. The main thing is not to postpone inspection and maintenance “for tomorrow”, and also not to neglect the elementary requirements of proper operation.