Bicycle Program
Bicycle Maintenance
Bicycle maintenance is essential to ensuring rider safety. The chart below provides a typical maintenance schedule to help you keep your bicycle operating efficiently. For more information on bicycle maintenance, like instructions on how to change a flat tire, click here.
| Every Ride | Monthly (after 500 Miles) | Every 6 Months (after 2,500 Miles) | Annually (after 6,000 Miles) |
| Check tire pressure and add air if needed | Clean the bike with a rag (or soap and water if it's real dirty) and inspect the frame and components for signs of wear such as cracks | Clean and wax the frame to protect the paint/finish (not necessary on bare titanium frames); once it's clean, inspect the frame and fork for any cracks or damage | Check all bearing systems: hubs, bottom bracket, headset and pedals: adjust and/or overhaul as needed |
| Check the tire tread for wear and embedded debris that could cause a flat | Wipe the chain and cassette cogs clean with a rag and earth-friendly degreaser and relube | Check and replace tires if needed; also check your spare tube and patch kit to make sure the spare holds air and the kit has glue and patches | Check all cables and housings for fraying, breaks, rust and corrosion and replace if necessary |
| Check that the wheel quick releases are tight and that the wheels are secure | Check the wheels for loose spokes | Replace brake pads, rubber brake hoods and handlebar tape if necessary | Replace brake pads, rubber brake hoods and handlebar tape if necessary |
| Spin wheels looking for wobbles, which indicate you should have your wheel trued | Test with a wrench, the tightness of the: crank arms, pedals, chaining bolts, seat bolt, seat post bolt, stem bolts, handlebar bolts and all accessory mounting bolts/screws | Check all cables and housings for fraying, breaks, rust and corrosion and replace if necessary | Clean and check wheels carefully for signs of wear such as worn sidewalls (braking surface) or cracks at the spoke nipple |
| Squeeze the brakes to make sure they're grabbing and check to see that the brake pads are in good condition and that they strike the rims (not the tires!) | Lube the brake, derailleur and clip less-pedal pivot points | Check for worn brake pads and replace if needed; also replace worn handlebar tape or grips | check the hubs, bottom bracket, headset: adjust and/or overhaul as needed |
| Compress and release the suspension to check that it's working properly | Lube the cables to prevent binding and check the cables for fraying and rusting and replace if necessary | Check for chain, cassette cog and chaining wear and replace worn parts as required | Overhaul the pedals to check the bearings and add fresh grease; if you're using toe straps, check them for wear and replace if needed |
| Check chain and add lube if it looks dry | Check clip less pedals and cleats for loose screws/bolts | Clean the drivetrain (chain, chain rings, cassette, front and rear derailleur's) with biodegradable solvent and rags | Maintain and lube your suspension components according to the advice in the owner's manual |
