Get into the habit of giving your bike love regularly, and both of you will be happy you did.
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Keep it Clean
Keeping your bike as clean as possible extends the life of moving parts. It’s essential to clean your investment when it is dirty, but keeping it washed and clean is just as crucial since it's continuously getting scalded by the weather conditions on the roads. Proper lubrication can prevent excessive wear caused by friction, and it allows all moving parts to perform better on and off the road. Apart from going out to ride a bike, one of the great pleasures is going out to ride with your well-adjusted bicycle. Smooth-shifting, a quiet chain, and even well-inflated tires can make your ride more enjoyable. Therefore, as far as possible, take a few minutes before each departure. |
Are you getting annoyed when your bike has a loud rattling and squeaking sound from the chain and sprockets? That is the not-so-sweet sound of metal rubbing against metal and grime and mud because the lubrication has dried off. The moving parts of a bike eventually will wear out fast if the bike does not get service. A bike has numerous moving parts, and they are subject to quite significant forces. So, be prepared to replace parts eventually. It’s a good investment for your beloved bike to keep it clean and properly lubricated. Suppose you have ridden the bike in wet conditions and lots of dust. Then It’s good to remove dirt and grit by using some mild soap detergents and degreaser products. But remember to always oil the bike chain after washing, allowing for it to dry first.
It is not cheap to replace worn off bicycle parts, so save yourself some money by regularly cleaning and lubricating the drivetrain. Maintenance is the key, If you demand peak performance from your equipment. If you feel like you're not riding as fast as you want to and you can't figure out why maybe it's your bike. Replacing wheels, a suspension fork, chain, cassette, crankset, or derailleurs can raise the cost, so make sure these critical parts are in top shape. If you're not sure, or you don't have the time then take the bike to our shop for inspection or have a friend with a high bike IQ take a look. |
The Fix
- Clean your bike after every ride! Seriously if you develop just one habit to prolong life. Here are the following maintenance tips.
- Clean the bike with a rag and look for signs of wear on the components.
- Using a rag and a little degreaser, lightly clean the chain, sprockets, and chainrings. When finished, apply lubricant again.
- Check the tension on the spokes and make sure there aren't any broken.
- Check the fit of the bike's moving parts and joints (levers, pedals, chainrings, seat post, seat, handlebar, stem, and other accessories)
Lubrication
Even if you don’t have time to clean your bike, keeping the chain cleaned and well lubed will prolong the life. During winter, we advise using what is called a ‘wet lube’ for the chain. This is a thicker lubricant that tends to last longer during the winter months. In spring/summer, it is best to switch to a more viscose ‘dry lube’. With any lube, you should use it sparingly as too much lube can attract dirt (which isn’t good!). We like Finishline Wet and Dry Lubes.
To apply:
- Always start with a clean chain (see above);
- Hold a rag around the chain and drop chain lube to the chain. Spin the pedals in reverse so that you can cover each section of the chain;
- Apply a moderate amount of lube to the inside of the chain, again while spinning the pedals in reverse to cover all sections of the chain; and
- Wipe away any excess lube with a rag.
Why should you hire a professional to tune your bicycle?
Hiring a skilled mechanic to tune up your bicycle will extend the life of your bike. A bicycle expert will have the right tools and experience thoroughly tune-up your bicycle to bring it back to like-new conditions.
If you ride your bike daily or even weekly, you may want to consider a tune-up service every four to six months. Look over our Service Menu for more details on tune-ups.
Hiring a skilled mechanic to tune up your bicycle will extend the life of your bike. A bicycle expert will have the right tools and experience thoroughly tune-up your bicycle to bring it back to like-new conditions.
If you ride your bike daily or even weekly, you may want to consider a tune-up service every four to six months. Look over our Service Menu for more details on tune-ups.
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What’s included:
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What happens next:
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Establishing Cost
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Most conversations about bicycle tune-up start with: “How much does it cost”? While this seems like a valid question, it is not very meaningful until you’ve established the cost. And that’s difficult to do because there's no standardization whatsoever in tune-up offerings among different bicycle repair shops.
Some still consider a bicycle to be mostly a “toy,” it is a vehicle capable of carrying you with considerable speed. Therefore, it is crucial for your safety that all of its systems are working correctly, can hold up to the forces of the moving parts will be subjected to, and that the bicycle can stop securely, dependably and safely. So before you consider the price tag of the bicycle tune-up, here are some questions you should be asking: 
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What is included in the bicycle tune-up?
It can be shocking to hear that a bike tune-up costs upwards of $180 or higher amounts, especially if someone down the street is offering it for $29.99. But what one shop may call an “$29.99 Tune-Up” to get you in the door, another shop may provide for free as a complimentary “Air & Oil Service.” Shops may offer different tiers of tune-ups, so when you’re doing comparison or shopping, make sure you compare comparable services. My tune-up prices range from $60 to $180 - $220. The specific tune-up we recommend is not based on personal preference (ours or yours), but rather dictated by the condition of the bike when it is brought to us for service. For instance, our Basic Tune-Up may not adequately address the needs of a bike that’s been ridden extensively, left outdoors, or neglected for several seasons, and offering anything other than the top-level service will not result in a safe operating manner or your satisfaction. Will I know the total cost of the repair in advance? Tune-up prices usually reflect only the cost of the labor. More often than not, doing a tune-up requires replacing worn or damaged parts, and these can quickly add up to as much, or even more, than the tune-up labor itself. All bike shops should provide you with a complete itemized quote based on a physical inspection of your bike before you authorize any repairs. If the quote exceeds your budget or expectations, it may be possible to scale back from the optimal level of service. However, keep in mind that bicycle parts work together in concert, and holding off on replacing certain parts may affect the performance of others. For example, replacing a worn chain without replacing the gear cluster may result in gears skipping; adjusting rim brakes is impossible without truing the wheels. Of course, there are always unforeseen circumstances or problems after the mechanic has gotten into a project. My commitment is to notify you of any additional charges needed to complete the repair in such cases. What can I expect after the tune-up is completed? If you agreed to a level of service appropriate to the condition of your bicycle, Your bike may need some additional adjustments after a comprehensive tune-up, especially if any parts have been replaced. Any full-service tune-up should include a follow-up period during which such corrections or adjustments related to the original service can be performed in 90 days free of charge. Can the repair be tailored to my specific needs? A tune-up can be a terrific opportunity to upgrade components on your bicycle, or to modify its fit or functionality to your current needs. A tune-up service does not include the labor on the removal service and installation of components. I am an experienced professional bicycle technician. I should be able to hear your concerns, recommend the complete solution based on the consultation with you, and the physical inspection of the bicycle. |
Some services not available at this time:
Servicing or rebuilding suspension forks, servicing or rebuilding coaster brakes, Bleed hydraulic brake lines, building wheels. Electric batteries and wiring for electric bikes. See below all services available.
Servicing or rebuilding suspension forks, servicing or rebuilding coaster brakes, Bleed hydraulic brake lines, building wheels. Electric batteries and wiring for electric bikes. See below all services available.
Our Workshop
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We do not have to hide what we do. On the contrary, my workshop here is exposed to our customers so that they witness the quality of the service that I offer when repairing your bicycles. It is essential to recognize that this task is not easy and requires many years of experience to achieve.
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Give yourself the opportunity and visit John Bicycles. See for yourself what it means to be treated as part of a big family. If you would like to learn how to do some necessary bicycle repairs, you will be prepared to spend between 30-90 minutes of your time. You may watch or assist in doing the repairs, or you can drop off your bike. Inspections are free (15 minutes of your time). Most work will be completed while you wait or same day or the next day. (Drop off in the morning-middle of the day and will be ready by the end of my day, If new parts are needed to get your bike back in shape it could be longer. I always provide a free quote before doing any work. I work by appointments only.
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