All the years I worked at B&L in Kona, I was always blown away by the condition of a lot of the bikes that would come in right before Ironman. Couldn't believe some people qualified on something in such crappy condition and they at times were risking their lives training for Ironman on them. One mechanic who came over for Ironman one day snorted "yeah, that's the difference between cyclists and triathletes....cyclists take care of their bikes, triathletes don't." I was offended by this statement but unfortunately found out it was for the most part true. Even just wiping down the frame and around the working parts is good for your bike and gives you a chance to see if everything looks alright or needs to be addresses by your LBS.

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______________________________
Have you hugged Your Mom today?

Since I bought my bike as a box of components, I learned a lot building it, along with the Zinn book.

I have a much better appreciation of when things aren't quite right. I clean it weekly, more if it's been raining during a ride. For me, the biggest thing is cleaning the chain and relubing it. That more than anything seems to keep it running sweetly, and I always listen to the bike when I'm out and make a mental note of whether anything squeeks, grinds or doesn't shift quite right.

The important thing seems to be regularity, and not putting things off until later.

J.

Every ride I should do ______ check your brakes..everything else every ride out can make do...but just once you miss this point and it could very well be your last ride..never ever ever not check them..also a good idea to check tires for nicks/cuts/wear hate to blow out mid ride

Every week I should do ______ check that your headset it tight..only takes a minute to do..lock your front brakes and puch against the front wheel..you will feel movement if it is loose...same goes for seatpost and seat...check for brake pad wear. Those little metal bumps on you Shimano pads tell you when it is time to change them. Glazed or worn brake pads are about as effective as no brake pads in an emergency stop situation. Some times you can wear them faster than you think and even a week can make a difference if you ride over less than ideal road conditions. Might be a good idea to check some bolts too. Chainring, stem, ect.

Every month I should do ________ either do it yourself or take it to a LBS for drivetrain cleaning...when you get done/get it back take a dapm cloth (and maybe mild soap) to everything else. Get grit out of nooks and crannies in things like brakes and derailleurs (even a little bit of grit can slow down a shift..when you're trying to go up a hill is not a good time to find this out). Wipe off sweat, grime, Gatorade etc. If stuff builds up it will be harder to clean the longer you leave it. Try and really clean joining parts of different metals (and lube slightly when reinstalling). Had a friend with a steel fork tube and an aluminum stem that he left out in the damp a bit too long...had to torch the two to get them apart. Water+opposite (and even similar) metals+time=superglue Even worse when you add sweat.

Every off season I should do _______Overhaul. All of it. You might need new tires, cables, pads, chain/rings/cassette (if changing one for heavens sake change all three...if you only change one the wear from the other two will wear it out in half the time), bar tape...it might need to have new grease in the hubs, bottom bracket, headset (if applicable) and sometimes even pedals. If needed torque all bolts that require it to exact spec. Some manufacturers of stems will only warranty them if you follow the guidelines to the letter. And doing them up too loose..well you don't need to be a mechanic to see what's coming.

Every ______time I ride I should do ________whatever it takes to make sure my ride will be a safe one. Having the best training ride of your life interupted by a catostrophic failure means nothing when your season is abruptly ended. Unlike the complex intricacies of cars engines and computers it takes very little care to keep your bike in at least acceptable working condition. And in doing so she will reward you with bringing you home as safe and sound as the morons in their cars will allow all the time letting you do so maintenance worry free.

I feel exactly the same. I love riding and I feel that life too short for lubricating, cleaning and worrying about it. Once every 6 months I send it to the shop for a complete service. I never have any problems with the bike. I ride it everyday. In any condition. I can’t afford the time of cleaning it and looking after it. I don’t work in a bike shop but also in an office. When I am home I want to rest, not to clean a bike. I pay more so that I don’t need to look after it – it is well built and can cope with my demands.

In fact I think that those who touch it (the bike) all the time, rebuilding it and so on have more problems with their bikes. All this tightening nuts over and over. I know people who now and again rebuild the whole bike. I think that there is no need for that. I used the same bike for three years it rides like new despite rain, mud and whatever. When a bit goes it can be replaced. When the whole thing goes – great!! An opportunity to get a new bike.

I keep all my bikes IN the house. Not the garage. This is Florida. Garages here are 150 degrees and 100% humidity most of the time. I also go to my LBS and let THEM check out my race bike twice a year even though I've been doing it for eons. Why? Because bikes are like wives, we take them granted and start overlooking problems. Nothing like a fresh eye. Last time I did this my LBS showed me my chain line was slightly off because my crank had worked ever so slightly loose in 6 months (probably that pot hole I hit in Clermont going downhill at 50 mph). It's worth the $40.

-Robert

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"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ~Anne Frank

Tri-Newbies has a great list of things to do. As a newbie myself, I love it but don't know if anything is missing.

http://trinewbies.com/BikeClean/Welcome.asp

Tom I looked at your check list on your site

I f I may I would suggest adding

- check your cleats for wear...

as a critical maintenance check
Pulling out of your pedals is dangerous and avoidable with new cleats.

Tom,

You are going to hurt business if you tell people to maintain their bikes. The sooner they fall apart the sooner they can buy new ones.

Heck, the local shop just took $50 in labor out of me for a bottom bracket changeout. Problem is even Campy mirage lasts forever. After seven years I figured I should replace BB, even though I was having no problems. Only problem was it pretty much seized into the steel frame after seven years and numerous rides in the rain.. It took them a week to get it out including soaking the whole BB in the shell. They mechs were complaining about how hard it was, but for $50 I don't feel so bad.

Couldn't you use more work like this?

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"When I first had the opportunity to compete in triathlon, it was the chicks and their skimpy race clothing that drew me in. Everyone was so welcoming and the lifestyle so obviously narcissistic. I fed off of that vain energy. To me it is what the sport is all about."

Tom,

How often should I take my entire Reynold's Ouzo Pro Aero fork completely out of the headtube and inspect it? There is rarely a ride I don't hit something pretty hard, and I'm checking the bearing snugness each and every ride, as well as at any rest stops. Almost never have to adjust it. But, could I be missing a developing crack by not tearing it down periodically? I've never had a carbon fork/steerer break, but, I know it happens. I don't want it happening especially when screaming downhill at 45+...which I do almost every ride I go on...I have a very nice hill (Cemetary Hill...people are dying to get to the top of this hill ;)) to climb that I try and do at least twice almost every ride.

I've never even seen a crack or carbon fiber failure...would I need a magnifying lens?

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Quid quid latine dictum sit altum videtur
(That which is said in Latin sounds profound)

There really is no excuse for good bike maintenance. Let be honest (no offence to the mechanics out there) but bicycles are not rocket science. Everyone should be able to adjust a derailleur, remove cranks and bottom brackets, replace cables and adjust brakes. The only things I take my bike to the LBS for anymore is headset removal (and that rarely) because I dont have a headset press, or warranty issues.

"I know an ex pro triathlete who kept all his bikes outside. "

At the other end of the scale, I know an AG'er who keeps his bike in the bedroom and his wife tolerates it. He's got a garage and a basement at his place so go figure.