I haven't ridden my bike in a year, what do I have to do to maintain it now?

[beer]

I haven't ridden in a while. BUT, a search on 'bicycle maintenance' online doesn't yield a lot of useful results. Most of what gets returned is unintelligable. I don't need to do any repair, I just need to maintain it.

What do I need to do and what stuff do I have to have?

 

[DivideBYZero]

This should help.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
This should help.

The fact that I hate the berkeley dwelling, anti-car militants who (as recorded on video and by eyewitnesses) jammed their bikes under a van to appear as though they were in the the right doesn't mean that I don't like biking on the beautiful trails in north bay.

You fail.

 

[George P Burdell]

Grease!!!!!!

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
Grease!!!!!!

Grease as in grease-gun grease (which I have for my car) or WD40?

 

[keeleysam]

WD40.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: beer
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
This should help.</end quote></div>

The fact that I hate the berkeley dwelling, anti-car militants who (as recorded on video and by eyewitnesses) jammed their bikes under a van to appear as though they were in the the right doesn't mean that I don't like biking on the beautiful trails in north bay.

You fail.

Nice try, but that OP has nothing to do with Critical mass.

You just lost the game.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I use 3-in-1 oil.

Apply liberally to all moving parts

 

[Pepsi90919]

WD40 isn't really even oil.

 

[PottedMeat]

Park Tool - Bike Repair Guide

 

[tasmanian]

Take it into a bike shop and pay 30$ for them to maintaince it.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: tasmanian
Take it into a bike shop and pay 30$ for them to maintaince it.

Bingo.

They'll tighten the spokes (apparently it's important), adjust the brakes, oil the chain etc.

I have free yearly tune-ups on my bike and I take it in every spring. The guy there said that it's important to check the spokes as if you let it sit in one position all winter, it'll stretch/loosen some of the spokes and this will make the bike wobble as the hubs won't be in the exact center of the wheels. If they're really bad it can cause damage.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: silverpig
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: tasmanian
Take it into a bike shop and pay 30$ for them to maintaince it.</end quote></div>

Bingo.

They'll tighten the spokes (apparently it's important), adjust the brakes, oil the chain etc.

I have free yearly tune-ups on my bike and I take it in every spring. The guy there said that it's important to check the spokes as if you let it sit in one position all winter, it'll stretch/loosen some of the spokes and this will make the bike wobble as the hubs won't be in the exact center of the wheels. If they're really bad it can cause damage.

But these are skills I should have. The whole "give a man a fish, he'll eat once, teach a man a fish he'll eat forever" thing.

Plus I was quoted $100 for routine maintenance. I guess that's San Francisco cost of living for you.

 

[S Freud]

Do not use WD40, its a horrible lubricant. Its meant more for loosening bolts and such. OP, check the link in my sig for bike forums, you can find a lot of info there. I would recommend heading down to your local bike shop, asking what you would need. Chances are it will be some grease for the hubs, bearings, and some lube for the chain, cassette and derailleur.

I am not a bike mechanic though. So I would ask someone with more known knowledge then me. Good luck.

 

[tasmanian]

Originally posted by: beer
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: silverpig
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: tasmanian
Take it into a bike shop and pay 30$ for them to maintaince it.</end quote></div>

Bingo.

They'll tighten the spokes (apparently it's important), adjust the brakes, oil the chain etc.

I have free yearly tune-ups on my bike and I take it in every spring. The guy there said that it's important to check the spokes as if you let it sit in one position all winter, it'll stretch/loosen some of the spokes and this will make the bike wobble as the hubs won't be in the exact center of the wheels. If they're really bad it can cause damage.</end quote></div>

But these are skills I should have. The whole "give a man a fish, he'll eat once, teach a man a fish he'll eat forever" thing.

Plus I was quoted $100 for routine maintenance. I guess that's San Francisco cost of living for you.

You might want to get another quote. My bike tune-up was like $50 with a replaced part. Sometimes its better to pay someone else to do stuff you dont know. Like mechanics.

 

[Brutuskend]

MD 40 is NOT a good oil to use on a bicycle, 3 in 1 isn't either.

Tri flow is ok, but I prefer T9 Boeshield. It's a "dry" lube so it doesn't attract dirt so your drive line stays MUCH cleaner. The cleaner you keep everything the less wear you get and the longer your parts will last.