Keeping Your Components in Shape

The components of your bicycle are comprised of moving parts which need to be lubricated on a regular basis. The first level of maintenance can be done with a can of oil and a rag. Petroleum based oils, like Sturmy Archer, or synthetic based, like Tri-Flow or Superlube, work well. Motor oil is too heavy and attracts dirt which not only makes your drive train more of mess, but also wears it out faster.

Begin by lubricating all of the pivots on the front and rear derailleur with a drop or two of oil. For those who are lucky to have an internally geared three speed hub, ten to twelve drops of oil once a month is sufficient. If the shift cables passes by a cable fluid at the bottom bracket, lubricate there as well and wipe away excess oil. It is important when lubricating components to not let oil get on the sides of the rims or brake pads. Lubricate all the pivots on the brakes in the same manner. Under normal riding conditions, do this every two or three months; if you are riding in more inclement conditions, you may have to perform this every two or three weeks.

When oiling the chain, use the oils listed above or Seeds chain lubricant. Apply oil to the rollers of the chain until you have completely gone around the entire chain. Loosely wrap a rag around the lower section of the chain and, holding on to it with your left hand, pedal backwards with your right hand until the excess oil and grime are removed. For bicycles with a coaster brake, you need to pedal forward while a friend holds the back of the bike up.

In addition to lubricating the calipers and levers of the brakes, there are two more things that can be done to enhance braking. Scrub the sides of your rims with warm, soapy water and a good sponge or brush. While you are scrubbing the sides of the rims, it is also a good idea to do the sidewalls of your tires. Dish detergent works well because it does not leave a residue, and is readily available. Solvents will also work, but some will leave an oily residue.

The next item is to clean the contact surface of the brakepads. This is particularly important on bike with aluminum rims (i.e. alloy). Dirt and grit picked up by the rim becomes impregnated in the brake pad creating an abrasive surface that will erode away the sides of the rim and cause an annoying grinding sound when the brakes are applied. A couple of passes over the braking surface with either a file or a piece of emery cloth will generally fix this problem. Particles that are deeply embedded can be pried out with a straight pin or a safety pin. Despite removing a small amount of pad material, these will improve braking and save you money in costly rim replacement.