damon_rinard wrote:
I'm going to go against the grain here and answer your question "what should I replace" and say: Nothing.
Just keep your bike in good shape all the time. Greg K put together a great bike maintenance schedule:
http://www.slowtwitch.com/...e_Schedule_3877.html Okay, if you're not on the schedule yet, then my answer is: ask the bike shop mechanic what needs replacing.
Cheers,
Gotta agree with Damon here.....especially if your bike is working well, overall. The ol' "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality goes a long way here, IMO.
Look at it this way....if the bike is working well and there are no visible / noticeable issues (frayed cable ends, poor shifting / braking, etc) then anything you do now introduces a degree of uncertainty into the mix. I have seen new chains fail just as often as old chains (which, BTW, is pretty rare). Likewise, I have seen new tires / tubes flat on their maiden ride.
If everything is running well, get a basic tune-up 2 weeks out from your event to dial it in. That gives it time to "set" and ensure everything is still running okey-dokey. Replace / repair any major issues (frayed cables, worn tires, etc), but just because your "A" race is coming up doesn't mean your bike needs an overhaul.
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