What are the best maintenance practices to keep your mountain bike in top condition?

[Flowrider]

I 90% ride on trails.

Is it okay to hose down the mud and dirt after a muddy ride with a high-power spray?

Or should I clean and lube my chain and cassette every time?

And how do you know when to service your bike so you don't leave it too late?

Any thought, ideas will be appreciated

[Hornet1]

(12-05-2024, 02:04 AM)Flowrider Wrote:  I 90% ride on trails.

Is it okay to hose down the mud and dirt after a muddy ride with a high-power spray?

Or should I clean and lube my chain and cassette every time?

And how do you know when to service your bike so you don't leave it too late?

Any thought, ideas will be appreciated

View this Parktool video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2sKhSDrugE

[enkei]

It depends on your definition of "high-power". You definitely don't want to risk forcing water into bearings, etc, which is a risk with a lot of pressure washers if you don't use them carefully.

Most bike cleaning shouldn't need anything more powerful than a decent water hose.

[GirishH]

Great discussion topic, @Flowrider.

As someone who rides long-distances in all kinds of weather and terrain, I should have started this discussion. Or paid more attention to this topic..:-(

After my long rides from point A to B, I am usually very tired to even hose-down or simply clean my chain or use the lube that I carry with me all the time.

So, sadly after just 2000 or so miles I am forced to change my chain. The poor brake pads met a similar fate..

Ideally, I should take better care of MotaaCycle, my fatbike. But, I always have excuses.

Let's see what basic maintenance tips folks add here..

[ReapThaWhirlwind]

If there's mud, you probably want to get that off. Simple dirt you can ride through a bit to spare your sanity.

I like to clean my bike a lot, but will dirt ride if necessary because it's almost the end of the season. Best practice is the full overhaul service. Take everything apart, clean it, put it back together. This mostly includes removing the crank especially and re-greasing it. To clean the cassette, I like to remove it also and scrub the cogs with a wire brush. You can get a long bristle brush, and a wash bottle with a spout for more surgical water application, rather than using a hose.

[GirishH]

Just curious if you do this kind of full overhaul at the end of each season? And, how complex or time-consuming is it?

I ride a lot but still afraid of even simple things like flats or simple maintenance. So, when you say, remove crank I know that would require some special tools that mostly a shop would have. I have cleaned cassette bit while it's still on the rear wheel. Do you take it off the wheel during the overhaul?

Thanks.

(12-24-2024, 09:07 PM)ReapThaWhirlwind Wrote:  If there's mud, you probably want to get that off. Simple dirt you can ride through a bit to spare your sanity.

I like to clean my bike a lot, but will dirt ride if necessary because it's almost the end of the season. Best practice is the full overhaul service. Take everything apart, clean it, put it back together. This mostly includes removing the crank especially and re-greasing it. To clean the cassette, I like to remove it also and scrub the cogs with a wire brush. You can get a long bristle brush, and a wash bottle with a spout for more surgical water application, rather than using a hose.

[enkei]

(12-26-2024, 01:32 PM)GirishH Wrote:  Just curious if you do this kind of full overhaul at the end of each season? And, how complex or time-consuming is it?

I ride a lot but still afraid of even simple things like flats or simple maintenance. So, when you say, remove crank I know that would require some special tools that mostly a shop would have. I have cleaned cassette bit while it's still on the rear wheel. Do you take it off the wheel during the overhaul?

Off the top of my head, I can't think of anything on a bicycle that counts as truly difficult, though some things, such as building wheels, servicing cone & cup bearings, and servicing some suspension components, do take above-average knowledge, experience, and, often, specialized tools.

The vast majority of things on bicycles remain fundamentally simple and once you know how to do them, you should be fine. A basic bicycle tool kit is sufficient for most servicing. Higher-quality tools reduce the risk of damage to bike or self. Specialized tools make many jobs easier, but often, there are ways to get things done without using expensive specialized tools.

The easiest way to learn is to get a cheap or free bike that needs a complete overhaul. That way, you're not risking time or money on a bike that cost a lot of money or that you depend on.

Be wary of a lot of YouTube bicycle mechanic videos. I see a lot of poor practices and often, they 'conveniently' skip over crucial details.

Park Tool teach almost everything you need to know in the Education section of their website. They also have an excellent Youtube channel.

[GirishH]

...:-) @enkei I know most of these things are not difficult especially when compared to the situations I face on a daily basis during my bikepacking trip. it's the mental block that I need to overcome.:-(

I have had fair share of flats which I fixed myself. I have had an instance where the wheel almost came off or the brake cable snapped and came loose. Fortunately, I had the tools and I carry the minimum that's required. So, I have always been able to rescue myself..

But, I still dread the unknown. I guess, I should familiarise myself even more so I can enjoy my journey.

The easiest but worst was when I neglected to check brake pads. This being my first disc bicycle, I dreaded it and never took a look. By the time I was forced to change the pads, they were WAY beyond their life and now I am told that even the disc brake rotor plate is damaged..

Interestingly, the way I learnt to change brake and gear cables was when I overhauled a free Trek I found during Cambridge 's trash day. Great way to ger hands greasy.

Thanks again for Parktool video recommendation..

And a happy new year..

(12-29-2024, 04:07 PM)enkei Wrote:  

(12-26-2024, 01:32 PM)GirishH Wrote:  Just curious if you do this kind of full overhaul at the end of each season? And, how complex or time-consuming is it?

I ride a lot but still afraid of even simple things like flats or simple maintenance. So, when you say, remove crank I know that would require some special tools that mostly a shop would have. I have cleaned cassette bit while it's still on the rear wheel. Do you take it off the wheel during the overhaul?

Off the top of my head, I can't think of anything on a bicycle that counts as truly difficult, though some things, such as building wheels, servicing cone & cup bearings, and servicing some suspension components, do take above-average knowledge, experience, and, often, specialized tools.

The vast majority of things on bicycles remain fundamentally simple and once you know how to do them, you should be fine. A basic bicycle tool kit is sufficient for most servicing. Higher-quality tools reduce the risk of damage to bike or self. Specialized tools make many jobs easier, but often, there are ways to get things done without using expensive specialized tools.

The easiest way to learn is to get a cheap or free bike that needs a complete overhaul. That way, you're not risking time or money on a bike that cost a lot of money or that you depend on.

Be wary of a lot of YouTube bicycle mechanic videos. I see a lot of poor practices and often, they 'conveniently' skip over crucial details.

Park Tool teach almost everything you need to know in the Education section of their website. They also have an excellent Youtube channel.

[ReapThaWhirlwind]

(12-26-2024, 01:32 PM)GirishH Wrote:  Just curious if you do this kind of full overhaul at the end of each season? And, how complex or time-consuming is it?

I ride a lot but still afraid of even simple things like flats or simple maintenance. So, when you say, remove crank I know that would require some special tools that mostly a shop would have. I have cleaned cassette bit while it's still on the rear wheel. Do you take it off the wheel during the overhaul?

Thanks.

(12-24-2024, 09:07 PM)ReapThaWhirlwind Wrote:  If there's mud, you probably want to get that off. Simple dirt you can ride through a bit to spare your sanity.

I like to clean my bike a lot, but will dirt ride if necessary because it's almost the end of the season. Best practice is the full overhaul service. Take everything apart, clean it, put it back together. This mostly includes removing the crank especially and re-greasing it. To clean the cassette, I like to remove it also and scrub the cogs with a wire brush. You can get a long bristle brush, and a wash bottle with a spout for more surgical water application, rather than using a hose.

It's pretty time consuming. It involves taking everything apart basically cleaning it and putting it back together. Each season is the standard for me. Since I've not got wheelsets with sealed bearings, I don't have to overhaul those hubs anymore. So it simply involves taking out the crank cleaning it, cleaning the chain, cleaning the cassette, and cleaning the rear derailleur. I do take the entire thing off. Re-grease the hollowtech axle, and then everything goes back together.

[meamoantonio]

(12-05-2024, 02:04 AM)Flowrider Wrote:  I 90% ride on trails.

Is it okay to hose down the mud and dirt after a muddy ride with a high-power spray?

Or should I clean and lube my chain and cassette every time?

And how do you know when to service your bike so you don't leave it too late?

Any thought, ideas will be appreciated

Personally I'd stick to a regular hose, degreaser(for the drivetrain), dishwashing liquid and good ol elbow grease. After I dry it up, if im lazy I'd put lube after but if im feeling a bit fancy ill take off the chain and drop it in a melted wax bath so it'll be clean for a few hundred kms. I'f we're talking about a mountain bike I'd do this once a week if I ride 3 times and for road bikes probably around once a month

[enkei]

Don't use dishwashing soap on a bicycle, motorcycle, or car. It often contains salts and other chemicals that can damage the paint finish, strip off protectants like wax, and remove lubricants from places in which you want them to stay.

A lot of people see professional race team mechanics using dishwashing soap and conclude that this is a good idea. Pro team mechanics are constantly rebuilding the bikes and have what is essentially an infinite supply of replacement components and wear items.

There are some excellent products available that have been created specifically for the needs of bike maintenance. I highly recommend them. Note: I DON'T include Muc-Off in the excellent category.

[rydabent]

For me, the best thing to do is at least once a year give your bike a complete going over. I live in the snow belt, and cant or wont ride when it is cold. So about the middle of Feb, I start going over every bearing in the bike that needs to be cleaned and re-greased. I also check every nut and bolt on the bike, and check every adjustment. That way my bikes or now my trike has never failed me in the summer months. It is simply called preventative maintenance.