winter maintenance plans

[Kookas]

I'm using a Felt Z95 to commute through the winter (and after, of course) and need a winter maintenance plan for the new bike to keep it running well come the sunnier days. Would you change anything about this one?

Quick wipe down of frame and parts after every wet ride.
Mickle methoding the chain at least once a week, more if it was wet.
GT85 on the cables once a week.

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

I am commuting on my best bike at the moment. I clean and oil the chain everyday and also clean the rims each lunch break. At the weekend i give it a top to toe clean and remove the brake pads and remove all the crap that is in them. Once a month I remove the BB and clean everything before putting it back together.

 

[Beebo]

Salt is the biggest worry. If the road has been gritted make sure your remove any salt asap.

 

[400bhp]

I'm using a Felt Z95 to commute through the winter (and after, of course) and need a winter maintenance plan for the new bike to keep it running well come the sunnier days. Would you change anything about this one?

Quick wipe down of frame and parts after every wet ride.
Mickle methoding the chain at least once a week, more if it was wet.
GT85 on the cables once a week.

GT85 on the whole bike every time it rains (roughly dry first).

Strip bike down after winter (say in March) and clean all parts/replace stuff as necessary.

Full length mudguards.

Depending upon what you are currently running, change tyres

 

[Kookas]

Salt is the biggest worry. If the road has been gritted make sure your remove any salt asap.

But how would I know if it's been gritted? How big are grit rocks?

GT85 on the whole bike every time it rains (roughly dry first).

Strip bike down after winter (say in March) and clean all parts/replace stuff as necessary.

Full length mudguards.

Depending upon what you are currently running, change tyres

Stripping it would be the toughest part; I honestly don't think I'd be up to the task of e.g. removing and cleaning a BB, or cleaning a hub.

The only things I know I can remove without hassle are:

• Chains, cassettes, chainrings, cables
• Both derailleurs

I could probably figure out how to do the brakes - that's just one bolt, after all - but BBs and hubs seem more specialist.

 

[400bhp]

What BB is it?

Hollowtech 2 is dead easy if it's one of them. Just need the correct tools. The most difficult bit is torquing up when putting back on. In fact if it's Hollowtech 2 I wouldn't bother taking it off to clean as there's not much to clean. Just wait until it dies.

Hubs are a bit fiddly, but of it's a sealed hub then personally I wouldn't touch it unless it's showing signs of wear.

Headset will need cleaning up.

 

[Kookas]

What BB is it?

Hollowtech 2 is dead easy if it's one of them. Just need the correct tools. The most difficult bit is torquing up when putting back on. In fact if it's Hollowtech 2 I wouldn't bother taking it off to clean as there's not much to clean. Just wait until it dies.

Hubs are a bit fiddly, but of it's a sealed hub then personally I wouldn't touch it unless it's showing signs of wear.

Headset will need cleaning up.

Going off the spec sheet, it's an FSA Square Taper. Doesn't say any specifics about the hubs, though - they're just 'Felt' hubs. The bike's RRP is about £650, don't know if that says anything about the likelihood of having sealed hubs or not.

While I was Googling stuff though, I did read that it might be worth a tenner or so to replace the square taper with a Hollowtech 2 when I do get around to removing that part - apparently because it's stiffer.

Do you have any links to any videos/walkthroughs that would be useful when servicing the headset? Think this one covers everything?

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP2qaKUUMDM

 

[Deleted member 1258]

My fixed gets washed down once a week, polished once a month, once a week I check the tyres for debris and put some air in them if they need it, I'll check and if needed tension the chain, if its dirty I'll wipe it down and re oil, if its very dirty I'll clean it with white spirit and re oil, then check the bike over and adjust anything that needs adjusting.

 

[400bhp]

Going off the spec sheet, it's an FSA Square Taper. Doesn't say any specifics about the hubs, though - they're just 'Felt' hubs. The bike's RRP is about £650, don't know if that says anything about the likelihood of having sealed hubs or not.

While I was Googling stuff though, I did read that it might be worth a tenner or so to replace the square taper with a Hollowtech 2 when I do get around to removing that part - apparently because it's stiffer.

Do you have any links to any videos/walkthroughs that would be useful when servicing the headset? Think this one covers everything?

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP2qaKUUMDM

Not sure about the FSA square taper and stffness-I've never used one.

That vid covers everything - note that they have removed the front brake so the forks can be completely removed, but I don't bother. I just balance the forks on the back of a chair with the bike on a stand.

 

[Kookas]

Not sure about the FSA square taper and stffness-I've never used one.

That vid covers everything - note that they have removed the front brake so the forks can be completely removed, but I don't bother. I just balance the forks on the back of a chair with the bike on a stand.

Thanks. This is all lot of maintenance that I didn't do on the T3, and it really did take its toll.

 

[400bhp]

Buy a load of cans of GT85 off fleabay. IMO, it's a quick and easy way of keeping things tiptop.

The wheels you have are cheap and IMO the effort and time of messing with the hubs doesn't justify it. Cheap Shimano R501 wheels can be bought for £70 ish a pair.

 

[Beebo]

But how would I know if it's been gritted? How big are grit rocks?.

You will know, because it is cold! Plus you can usually see the grit in the gutters.

 

[Moodyman]

Winter maintenance should be the same as summer. General wipe down and re-lube. I address the hubs, BB and fork if they start creaking or feeling rough - this can anytime not just in winter.

 

[I like Skol]

I oil my chain if it starts to sound a bit noisy and sometimes check the tyre pressures. Occasionally I recharge the batteries in my lights and I think I once washed the whole bike

I do about 3000 all-weather (even the sub-zero days) commuting miles and use approximately 1 cassette and 2 chains a year. Still on the original gear cable at 7-8k

 

[fossyant]

I oil my chain if it starts to sound a bit noisy and sometimes check the tyre pressures. Occasionally I recharge the batteries in my lights and I think I once washed the whole bike

I do about 3000 all-weather (even the sub-zero days) commuting miles and use approximately 1 cassette and 2 chains a year. Still on the original gear cable at 7-8k

Slacker...