The question, “How often should my bike be serviced?” is a common one in the cycling community.
It all depends on how often you ride your bike. However, the most common answer is between 4 and 6 months.
This applies to riders who ride only once in a while.
Service frequency is related to the health of parts. Not all bike parts have the same lifespan. We offer different frequency segments for servicing.
This article will answer that question by showing you what to do after a certain time period to maintain your bike’s safety and health.
Quick Answer
Bike service Edinburgh frequency can be divided into four main time frames: every bike ride, 3-5 rides, 3-6 mounts, and every 6 months to a year. Frequency is related to part health. Not all bike parts have the same lifespan so we have different frequency segments.
After Every Ride
It’s a good habit for building, and you probably already do this, such as checking your brakes and tire pressure before each ride.
This service should be universal in order to cover all aspects of the bike. It can be crucial to a bike’s safety and performance.
It should include servicing and checking:
Tire pressure.
Hub integrity and wheel truth.
Lubricate and clean the chain.
Quick release tension and thru-axles are recommended.
After each ride, wipe off any dirt or mud.
This service covers everything you need to keep your bike in good condition.
After 3-5 riders
This is the time to check for wear and slack.
This service covers wearable, losten and misconfigured / adjusted parts
Inspect your brake pads.
fork/shock air pressure
Chain worn.
Bolt tension.
You should check your brake pads often if you ride DH or require a lot of braking.
You can do this by taking out and checking the thickness of the padding material. If it is less than 1 millimeter it is time to replace it.
Mountain bikes require you to check the health of your suspension. Forks and shocks can lose air over time. A special air pump is available for this purpose.
A couple hundred miles is enough to cause some stretch to the chain. When it reaches a certain stretch, it will damage both the cassette and the chainrings teeths. This will result in chain slipping or jumping.
You can’t replace the chain right now. There is only one option: replacing your entire drivetrain system.
Loosen bolts are the last thing you should check. This can cause safety and mechanical problems.
Some people say it’s too soon and can delay it for 10-15 rides. But here are the reasons you should track your bike’s wear early.
You can detect wear signs early and have the opportunity to replace your components easily and avoid serious damage.
Every 3 to 6 Months
This is when the service goes a bit deeper than just checking. It’s time to do some cleaning and maintenance.
This service should be extended to include:
Change the seal and fork oil.
Hydraulic brakes that are not working properly
Clean the drivetrain.
Tubeless fluid sealant.
tires.
Re-lubricating the forks and bleeding the hydraulic brakes is the most expensive but will prolong their life expectancy.
If you feel confident doing it, you can either hire a local bike shop mechanic or do it yourself.
You can reduce the cost of replacing tire tubes and tubeless fluid.
Each 6 Months to 1 Year
You can stop checking and maintaining your bike after 6 months.
This service includes:
Frameset linkages.
Rear shox air.
It is recommended that you start with the frameset and disassemble all linkages, starting with the headset bearings to reach the bottom bracket.
Bearings should be properly calibrated and, if necessary, replaced.
This last one is for full-suspension mountain bike. The rear shock (or fork) can lose air over time and must be refilled to keep it performing and fluid.
Recap
These services and checks can sometimes be frustrating, but the benefits and advantages are well worth it.
Conclusion
We hope you found this article helpful in determining how often you should service your bike, and which parts and components you need to take care of over a certain time.
Regular servicing of your bike will ensure its safety and health on roads and trails.
After a long period of working with bikes and dealing in maintenance issues, you can acquire service skills and experience.
You should also make a habit of servicing your bicycle regularly, to ensure your bike is in top condition.
Keep in mind that consistency is key to maintenance.
Bike owners who take care of their bikes well are happier bikes.