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| *Vultures Knob>>>Road Bike |
I just purchased my first road bike today...? |
How do I know when my bike needs a tune up? How many miles? I'd take it in after the first month to make sure the adjustments, etc are okay. Then I'd take it in at the 6 mo mark and again after another 6 mo. This is barring any accidents, etc which can dramatically change things. Make sure you clean and lube your bike regularly. Check the chain and cables to ensure they have not stretched or worn down too much. After about 1000-1500 you may want to have your drivetrain looked at and consider replacing some key components such as chainring, cassette, etc. General rule is once a summer on tune ups and every 3000 miles on oil changes. Also if the bike is chain driven you need to check the tightness of the chain every 2000 miles. Brand new bike, then take it in at 50 miles and at 100 miles. You have to do this in order to get your money's worth for your warranty. There are lots of fine adjustments that need to be made, especially the cables! Normally, a bike without the latest sealed bearings will need to go in every 700 miles to get the bearings overhauled. If your bottom bracket doesn't have sealed bearings then after a serious ride in the rain and wet you need to get it worked on again. Experience When it starts making noise. (but it might just need a bath and lube. learn to do that yourself, its easy) When it fails to operate properly. Figure out why. Usually its just cables stretching or something dirty. The tires and chain will be the "wear-out" things to keep an eye on. Learn how to measure chain stretch so you don't have to buy a whole cassette too. Have fun! Road bikes like to go fast... Most new bikes come with a free tune-up from the shop. It really depends on how much you ride your bike to determine when you should get this free tune-up. Even moderate use (20 miles/ week) will require a tune-up in about 3 weeks., so 60 miles! Why? Within the first few weeks, new bike cables will stretch and change how your bike shifts and brakes. The stretching can be enough to make the shifting quite poor (grinding gears, the chain skipping from gear to gear, and reduced braking). When it gets to this point it's time for a tune-up. The LBS (local bike shop) will get your new bike back to tip-top condition for free... initially. After this, there is a charge. They do a great job, but, if you are a serious rider (with money and time), you will benefit from working on your own rig. Road/mountain racer and home mechanic |
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