Bicycles Stack Exchange
Bicycles Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [maintenance]

Tools, parts, techniques, and procedures to keep your bike in working order. MAINTENANCE is not the same as REPAIR, a separate tag. Maintenance is what one does on a regular basis. Repair is what one does only when something is broken.

Also see this thread in meta for more information on the differences between the and tags.

If your question is about, for example, keeping stuff on your bike in working order or in its best condition (such as your bike's drivetrain, brakes) it should have this tag. Questions about tires or paintjobs are borderline, depending on focus of the question.

This is one of the most popular kinds of question here, as you can see.

Example questions:

1060 questions
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Can I use WD-40 on my bike?

Is WD-40 really bad to apply on bikes? I was told so but still see people doing that. Also I saw WD-40 launching their new products of bike lubricant and degreaser. Did anybody try those?
Ian Song
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Optimal Maintenance Schedule

It is forecast to rain this weekend so I was thinking I would drop a tarp down over my living room floor and give my bikes a bit of a tune up. Question What maintenance needs to be done on your bike? How often? Background Generally speaking I am…
sixtyfootersdude
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How long is the life cycle of a bicycle?

This may not be a particularly practical question, but I wonder how often do you find yourself looking for a new (or another) bike? There are, of course, two main aspects of it: Mechanical decay. If you drive a car, you know to lube it every 3000…
StasK
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5 answers

Post Rain Ride Wipedown

I've tried avoiding riding during the rain for years because I didn't want to hurt my bike. But, tomorrow I really want to ride, rain (most likely) or shine. What should I do after the ride to ensure my bike remains in good shape?
J126
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9 answers

At what point should you stop repairs and get a new bike instead?

My bike has passed its prime, one by one parts start to break, and replacing them keeps eating more and more money. Which made me wondering, is there any rule of thumb of when it is more economical to get a new bike instead of replacing parts all…
MaxD
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Why are so many technical aspects of cycling so subjective?

I come from an Engineering background and I have a strong interest in science. It has always struck me as odd how so much of cycling is so very subjective. As an example, though this is by no means the only thing, the best method of lubricating a…
Michael B
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What are good sites/places to buy/sell bike parts for older bikes?

I've been wondering is there a marketplace to buy/sell/get original parts for bikes no longer made? I have a Bridgestone X0-1 Hybrid (the weird looking one with mustache handlebars) and I want to either restore it to original like new condition (or…
MDV2000
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11
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3 answers

Life expectancy of a rim?

I've erroneously bought a rim (hoping my technical English is right: the part of the wheel between the spokes and the tire). While I have no immediate use for it, shipping it back to the seller for refund would be a waste of shipping costs if I…
thiton
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What size are the screws used for water bottle mounts etc?

There's one size of bolt that's used all over modern bikes: water bottle mounts and the braze-ons for racks leap to mind. Whenever I need a few, I take one to the hardware store and sift through the boxes of bolts until I find one that matches. I…
jimchristie
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What parts of a bike could potentially be harmed by degreaser?

I'v been using citrus degreaser to clean my bikes for years. I usually get a gallon jug of it from the auto parts store, and it lasts a long time. I use it for cleaning the drivtrain, either using a chain cleaner or by soaking the chain overnight.…
Goodbye Stack Exchange
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Should I tune up or replace bike?

This question is about the economics of owning and maintaining a bike. I bought a brand new mountain bike for $250 some months ago. I ride about 30 miles a week on paved trails for occasional exercising. The cost of a yearly tune up in my area is…
user3391
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Can I use super glue for punctures?

I want to fix my puncture with super glue, can I use it ? I do not have any glue left in my puncture outfit so can I use ordinary super glue?
debs
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8
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5 answers

Which parts of a bike have reversed (left-handed) threads?

Which parts of a bike have reversed (left-handed) threads? There's 1) the non-drive-side left pedal-to-crank threading and 2) the drive-side right bottom bracket cup (apparently sometimes called the fixed cup). Is there anything else?
compton
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8
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4 answers

Friction in the free hub?

I have noticed there's some friction in my free hub on the TCR - when I pedal backwards slowly, I can get the rear wheel to roll backwards (while on the stand). This strikes me as a bad thing - means when I'm coasting on the bike, I'm losing more…
zigdon
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Sheldon Brown's writing?

This question has been nagging me for ages. I've read a lot of Sheldon Brown's site and actually tend to use bikes from the 70s-80s because they're more economical for daily use and especially for a student like me. But I've noticed that some of…
jfa
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