How often does your bike really need servicing? Road bike maintenance guide

[@cyclingSausage]

Due to some really bad experiences with my LBS I decided to buy my own tools and do all my own bike repairs / builds / servicing etc. It's not difficult at all, and everything you need to know is on youtube.

[@celestialemissary4934]

Same here.

[@n22pdf]

Agree dude.. I enjoy doing my own bikes, there’s a couple of rare jobs I’d take it to my LBS which I don’t want to buy tools for cutting fork for example but all other things I do, I like to build my bikes to 😊 gives you piece of mind as well 😊 Pete 🚴🏻👍

[@SaschaRissling]

Same here. I can do everything except truing wheels. I found a shop that is great with this. So except for a frame breaking i'm fine. This channel gave me so much knowledge.

[@n22pdf]

@@SaschaRissling yeah love this channel.. wheel truing is also something I would do yo a wheel builder for 👍👍🚴🏻

[@DeanPattrick]

I love cleaning and servicing my bikes. This channel has been invaluable for improving my skills. Only thing ive yet to do is bleeding the brakes, but everything else I have the tools and skills for.

[@Bikespeeds]

Bleeding brakes is a pain any which way but not necessarily hard just a pain, biggest battle is having all the right fittings you need before you have brake fluid coming out and realising you don’t have it all🧡

[@Cyclingismywholelife]

Some of my favorite advice I got from one of my Sergeants in the Army was, “Every situation in your life can be summed up with with a few words, if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.” I apply this after every success and every failure. Life is all about learning.

[@thegeordiefellwalker8878]

i think real enthusiasts are in the habit of regular maintenance.but a lot of your everyday cyclists just ignore things until preventable damage is done.good to see you out 🚴👍☀️

[@Bikespeeds]

Exactly what I see 🧡

[@KarlosEPM]

What a lovely route for a morning ride. Thanks for the concise maintenance schedule and the rationale behind it, free expert knowledge is what makes the internet an invaluable tool for progress. Ride on 🚲

[@Bikespeeds]

Good to hear you liked this one thanks Karlos, more “topic” videos on the way🧡

[@alistairmacfadyen9365]

Great to see you out on the bike..

[@Bikespeeds]

Thanks for enjoying it!🧡⚙️

[@youarevictoria4981]

props on using a stem to rig the back cam. I did a similar thing to fix a friend's hand bike.

[@Bikespeeds]

If it works it works!🧡

[@Paul-of2yq]

Great video guys do all my own servicing I always kept on top of my commuting bike as it hammered all year with bad roads and even worse weather and I didn’t want it to let me down. Working on my race bikes was more out of love as you know the pleasure of working on a nice bike is almost as good as riding it …….nearly 😉😊

[@Bikespeeds]

I feel the same way!🧡

[@markbailey2130]

I hot my wax chains in bulk, for my road bikes and my one on the Zwift trainer. This saves me time and my drivetrain swapping out every few 100 miles . Got it down to a tee now.. first boiling in an old sauce pan to remove the old wax (DO NOT USE YOUR WIFES BEST PAN!!) then bunging in the ultra sonic cleaner with a muc off/peaties bike cleaning solution diluted down.. The next step is a quick shake in a jam jar filled with isopropanol before drying out and immersing in wax in a crock pot/slow cooker. I tend to "break" the chains wax by running over an old wooden curtain pole suspended from my bike cave ceiling. I try and collect all the wax that falls off onto newspapers and drop it back into the wax pot. Finally if I am feeling a bit lazy I occasionally drip Silca wax lube on the chain if it still looks clean but starting to make a noise.. Finally I buy my quick links in bulk from Ali express , one of the only things I would trust off the site as I tend to change them every chain swap on my road bike or every other on my trainer.. Bonus tip.. Use old links to connect the chain back up before waxing in the crock pot.. To many times I have been stuck on my knees scraping out excess wax not he end rollers/plates when trying to put the chain back on the bike as the wax has stayed out the links.. It dont matter if they are loose as its only ever gona come apart in the pot , of which I have not had one yet!,

[@adamb2619]

One of my favorite parts of your video are how nice and tidy everything is on your workbench and background. Could it be possible to give a little tour of how you keep everything with your setup? Cheers!

[@Bikespeeds]

I never like to open my cupboards on camera as I’m always cautious about who might be watching on the internet! Never want to give out a roadmap of where to steal! But thanks very much for watching and enjoying the channel🧡

[@todddudgeon2320]

Really happy to see you back on the bike Lee. This video is a great way to remind us of the importance of servicing our bikes…and the perfect way to do that…while enjoying an early morning ride. Like many of the other commenters, I like to tinker with my bikes too. I don’t mess with the cabling of the shifters and brakes. I leave that to my local bike shop. Take care.

[@Bikespeeds]

It’s a good balance, I read lots of comments about riders that do everything themselves and when I see those “do everything myself” bikes in the shop they’re sometimes very dangerous; punctures, chains, bar tape, that kinda thing is good at home but I’d always recommend a bike shop for the big jobs! Thanks as always 🧡

[@todddudgeon2320]

@@Bikespeeds 👍👍

[@Jacksparrow4986]

On a commuter bike, you totally should check the chain wear. As the usage pattern is usually very consistent, you can predict when a chain needs replacing after you've changed them a few times. That saves big €€€, time and bike downtime. Learning to change a chain with quicklinks is very easy and requires minimal tooling, replacing the casette is more involved and involves tools that no longer fit in the small drawer that might store your bike tools essentials (multitool, chainlink tool, tyre levers, chain checker, bike lubricant).

[@Bikespeeds]

Well said 🧡

[@scooterchannelanddoityoursel]

I like the bike you ride, no brake discs , no electronics, no expensive fancy stuff, same as me. I ride a Cannondale CAAD10 , everything stock, besides the tires which are Conti Grand Prix.

[@Bikespeeds]

If it works it works!🧡

[@p44doyle44]

As much as I love watching the service videos it’s great to watch these info videos while you’re enjoying the bike again.

[@Bikespeeds]

We will continue to drop them in here and there! Thanks for enjoying them and supporting 🧡

[@531c]

When cleaning a bike thoroughly, whether after a period of time or after a wet and mucky ride its normally the case that i come across mechanical issues that might need attention. Know your bike.

[@Bikespeeds]

Exactly, the more time spent with it the better 🧡

[@roncooke2188]

Not sure if i agree if i understood you correctly, Wait until something goes wrong. My way thinking is to get it serviced before something goes wrong and then a service should avoid it going wrong breaking down.

[@CoachLo3]

Great advice that I needed to hear! Thank you!

[@Bikespeeds]

Glad to hear it helped! Thank you for watching 🧡

[@petecurran3995]

Great practical advice! 👌🏼

[@Bikespeeds]

Thanks Pete I appreciate it!🧡

[@markstone5390]

Bike parts are getting better and lasting longer this is a combination of better materials and improved seals. Get into the routine of checking your chain weekly it only takes a minute.

[@Bikespeeds]

Exactly🧡

[@AdmiralYrrek]

Handy bike info and I'm really impressed with your mic; there could have been deafening wind noise yet there was barely any.

[@Bikespeeds]

Thank you, we spent a lot (for us) on this setup so appreciate it🧡

[@tinniswood2577]

Really enjoy these ride vids.

[@Bikespeeds]

Good to hear, it’s a mixed response but we’re going to keep making them🧡

[@1972malberto]

Thanks for all the advice I wish you were my mechanic.

[@Bikespeeds]

Super kind as always thank you! Hope all is well🧡

[@BarryJones-wt3et]

Another great video 😊

[@Bikespeeds]

Thank you Barry I always appreciate it!🧡

[@gingerphil]

Illegal ebike at 10:13 😂

[@murphyco88]

When spinning the keep your hand on the frame you can feel the bearings if they on shot 😎

[@Bikespeeds]

Exactly!🧡

[@Felintrepid]

Great advice!!! Thank you!

[@Bikespeeds]

Thanks for the support!🧡

[@barryfrancis7899]

What do you use as an extension for your gopro

[@murphyco88]

A hilly area will give excessive chain pull …so the chain checker is most important 😎

[@Bikespeeds]

Unfortunately for you!💰

[@grecinos2]

I noticed you had a tail light mounted on the rear triangle, where did you get it?

[@Bikespeeds]

I think this is a moon light🧡

[@TESTA-CC]

I do my Vintage Bikes Religiously every 6months. Grease Wheel Bearings, BB. Clean & ReWax Chain With BananaWax Drag Friction TDF Racing Chain Wax.

[@Bikespeeds]

Sounds like a very good routine!🧡

[@TESTA-CC]

@@Bikespeeds i must confess, it's alot easier with vintage bikes, doesn't take long to strip everything down.

[@mateuszukasiak7675]

I got Swissstop SR (yellow) pads for Tektro MD-C511 brakes working on Sora Shifters (Boardman 8.6 ADV). I sanded them down with P100 after use, used degreaser, burned it, used degreaser again. Then I sanded rotor, used degreaser. I centered the rotor and adjusted gaps under 1mm each. Cable operation is smooth. Stopping power is not good. I have a 15-year old carrera with basic metallic brakes and stopping power is 100% greater (wheel stops with half the effort during any speed). What to do?

[@Bikespeeds]

Cable shifters are never that good in my experience, you may have them as good as they’ll go!🧡

[@ivorpeachey4366]

No excuses nowadays, you an GOOGLE every repair/ rebuild bike job there is . Tools will save you a lot of money in the long run. I never service my bikes as are problems are corrected after cleaning. 200 k is a short ride for me even in Winter .

[@victorsantana2123]

which torque wrench do you use?

[@Bikespeeds]

I’ve owned this around 12 years and honestly have no clue! Sorry I can’t help 🧡

[@carlpentney290]

Thank you for your tips and the reminder really. It's easy to let maintenance drift during a busy season.

[@Bikespeeds]

It costs you money! Thanks as always Carl🧡

[@reecedawson6113]

Twice a year for myself being a racer and commuter how rides everyday, i go through a chain nearly every 6 weeks. I'll do basic stuff myself and give the bearings a good service but replacing them, hydraulics, etc... I'll pay a LBS to help me out

[@markbailey2130]

I recently bled and serviced my Hope C2 brakes on my old 24 year old MTB I used to race on.. Was really proud of myself as they can be a bugger.... Worked perfectly but that night I read they should be Dot 5.1 not the mineral fluid I put in them... LOTS of flushing through with isopropyl and blowing through with an air line before adding the correct fluid... taught me a lesson to research intensely before doing anything to an old bike!!

[@rastislavstanik]

how many km do you make on one chain?

[@reecedawson6113]

@@rastislavstanik 2500/3000

[@NeonNion]

​@@reecedawson6113 Do you cycle like 60 to 80 km every single day?

[@reecedawson6113]

@@NeonNion 30km each way to work 5 times a week plus training on my days off so yeah

[@dalj4362]

I think every cyclist should know how to do the basics. Replace the Chain, Pads, Discs, Tyres, Punctures, Index gears, etc. It's really not that hard at all, and you get more satisfaction doing it yourself.

[@cyclingSausage]

It really is easy peasy, but people are pretty lazy when it comes to stuff.

[@sbccbc7471]

Exactly. The first time I dismantled my clincher setup (no mistakes even), nobody taught me first-hand, it's from watching and reading the how-tos several times.

[@GiorgosNedialkov]

Its my second year since I have been into the cycling and all I have learnt so far is to fix my tyres after puncture 😂 I am really bad with mechanical stuff🙈

[@rastislavstanik]

hopefully your shoulder is getting better

[@ivorpeachey4366]

I broke my collarbone bone 4 weeks before PBP last year. The physio said i should be able to ride again in 10 to 12 weeks time . I was on the turbo from day 3 in the sling . Week three I make my hand reach the hoods . . The next day I was on the road . Yes I went to France and completed PBP .

[@rastislavstanik]

@@ivorpeachey4366 cool, I had arthroscopy done on my shoulder (bankart lesion) and before that I had it dislocated 10 times, being hypermobile doesn´t help..it never got back to being super good however I still ride a bike and enjoy it a lot :)

[@Bikespeeds]

It is as good as it will get which is for me “good enough” thank you for your support!🧡

[@rastislavstanik]

@@Bikespeeds all the best, I've got issues with shoulder as well, I know how shitty it is..

[@Traildude193]

I get my bikes serviced every year

[@Bikespeeds]

Perfect!🧡⚙️

[@timothyscott3116]

If everything is still spinning/operating smoothly no play no noise it doesnt need servicing.. bike "mechanics" will lie to you!

[@Cycle.every.day.]

It's not like a car service , a car can be serviced once a year and possibly not need anything inbetween , bikes are different,they're more 'as and when/as you go' , a bike can be serviced yet need something 2months later through no fault of whoever did the service.

[@jamesf8864]

I think car and bike servicing are directly comparable. For example, a car's air filter doesn't need replacing if it's not clogged, and its spark plugs don't need replacing if they are still firing correctly. In just the same way, you wouldn't replace your bike's brake pads or chain if they're not excessively worn. The difference is that most people don't have the abilities or facilities to inspect and replace their car's components and fluids as and when they need to, so we often just "put them in for a service". Do the filters, oil, spark plugs and brake fluid all require replacing on the same day? The answer is "no", but it's convenient, and generic preventative maintenance before it's actually necessary tends to save big bills down the line for those who don't inspect their cars on a regular basis.

[@rayc4543]

The handlebars look a little too wide for your shoulder width

[@sbccbc7471]

Maybe the wide field of view affected the perspective.

[@liamg9846]

Not a fan of these tyoe of vids, but each to their own.

[@531c]

Turn it off then