What maintenance should I do after a DH weekend

[Guest Sam Blake]

Is there any routine maintenance or checks I should carry out on the bike and its parts after a a solid ride?

[porqui]

Can one DH in Guateng ?? thought you needed a mountain for that.

 

 

Just a good clean and check wipers on shocks.

[Guest Sam Blake]

Can one DH in Guateng ?? thought you needed a mountain for that.

 

Just a good clean and check wipers on shocks.

 

A mountain would help. The Thaba SA Champs track is pretty good though. We rode it yesterday and Wendell has done a great job. The start section is nuts just trying to figure out a line to get down the rocks and the bottom is more bike park, lots of jumps and flowing berms and a big fast finish.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Sam Blake

[Hog_]

I'm really bad when it comes to maintenance. My bike is lucky when it gets a decent wash.

 

I usually do the late night before bikepark day service, which has included anything from brake bleeding, headset clean/regrease/replace and BB emergency surgery through to a quick fork service. Depends on what needs to be done and how much beer there is in the basement.

 

Most often though, it's just a quick check to see if there are any unusual creaks or things falling off.

[Skylark]

I'd give the whole bike a good once over, check for play/looseness in anything.

Maybe check all the fastners are tight, takes 10mins.

[Capricorn]

if you crashed, go with a comprehensive look at just about everything. but in general, start with a good wash. But before you wash it, have a look at the tyres and see if there are any spots where the sealant is leaking out. Gives an indication that you might need to top up the sealant. Also part of pre-wash check is around the shock and fork stanchions: oily dust is an indication of oil seal health.

 

Then hook up to a stand,

check brake hosing for cuts and kinks.

check condition of brake pads

check brakes for spongyness. Bleed as necessary

Remove chain and check that the crank spins smoothly.

with chain still off: spin the wheels: check for wobbles and brake rub. Listen to the hubs for noises and check they spin freely.

Check pedals for lost pins and that the spin smoothly/as expected with no wobbles which would indicate bent spindles or bust bearings.

Check rear mech indexing is correct and shifts are smooth.

Check tyres: no bulging or side wall tears.

Check spokes: nothing bent or gashed. Finger test spoke tension. you do this enough and you will eventually get an idea of whats loose or not.

Top-up sealant if necessary.

Edited July 7, 2014 by Capricorn

[Redlight]

Is there any routine maintenance or checks I should carry out on the bike and its parts after a a solid ride?

 

wash your underpants

[Guest Sam Blake]

if you crashed, go with a comprehensive look at just about everything. but in general, start with a good wash. But before you wash it, have a look at the tyres and see if there are any spots where the sealant is leaking out. Gives an indication that you might need to top up the sealant. Also part of pre-wash check is around the shock and fork stanchions: oily dust is an indication of oil seal health.

 

Then hook up to a stand,

check brake hosing for cuts and kinks.

check condition of brake pads

check brakes for spongyness. Bleed as necessary

Remove chain and check that the crank spins smoothly.

with china still off: spin the wheels: check for wobbles and brake rub. Listen to the hubs for noises and check they spin freely.

Check pedals for lost pins and that the spin smoothly/as expected with no wobbles which would indicate bent spindles or bust bearings.

Check rear mech indexing is correct and shifts are smooth.

Check tyres: no bulging or side wall tears.

Check spokes: nothing bent or gashed. Finger test spoke tension. you do this enough and you will eventually get an idea of whats loose or not.

Top-up sealant if necessary.

 

That's comprehensive, thanks man!

[porqui]

I find one of the best "tools" to be my ears.

 

Get to know the sound of your bike - it's like a diagnostic test on the run.

 

I can hear when my bike is happy and when not.

[Sean32]

A mountain would help. The Thaba SA Champs track is pretty good though. We rode it yesterday and Wendell has done a great job. The start section is nuts just trying to figure out a line to get down the rocks and the bottom is more bike park, lots of jumps and flowing berms and a big fast finish.

Hi Sam not a Maintenance reply just a pointer on the top rock garden. I will break this down in 3 sections to help understand better. Section1: Top of the rocks before the valley drop in. They will do some cleaning up so your entry is easier as you come down and turn right towards the valley drop in. There will be 2 lines probably. Section 2 Valley drop in you have one line as you hit the bottom of the drop there is a very big rock on your right and a Small rock which has been place no top of the bolder if you want to call it that. B Line you hug the Big Rock and go into the small valley towards the Metal poles. There they will be adding in soil and sand bags to make a berm with a catch fence hence the Poles. Section 3 down the drop in valley go past the small rock on the right and turn a bit left as you look at the rock face drop off there is a tree aim for the tree and the 2 other ledges further down sit back and roll down. Enjoy the ride.

[Guest Sam Blake]

 

Hi Sam not a Maintenance reply just a pointer on the top rock garden. I will break this down in 3 sections to help understand better. Section1: Top of the rocks before the valley drop in. They will do some cleaning up so your entry is easier as you come down and turn right towards the valley drop in. There will be 2 lines probably. Section 2 Valley drop in you have one line as you hit the bottom of the drop there is a very big rock on your right and a Small rock which has been place no top of the bolder if you want to call it that. B Line you hug the Big Rock and go into the small valley towards the Metal poles. There they will be adding in soil and sand bags to make a berm with a catch fence hence the Poles. Section 3 down the drop in valley go past the small rock on the right and turn a bit left as you look at the rock face drop off there is a tree aim for the tree and the 2 other ledges further down sit back and roll down. Enjoy the ride.

 

Thanks for the tips Sean. That really is helpful. I tried to follow Hogan down there but he quickly disappeared over the rock face and I lost his lines. That berm at the bottom will definitely help psychologically. That start section really is impressive. You ride these things to push what you're capable of and that is well outside my comfort zone. I think Wendell, Hogan and everyone who has worked on the track have done justice to the event.

[Hog_]

Back to the topic of maintenance...

 

It seems my chain needs replacing after ±15 bike park days. Obviously the amount of pedalling would have very little to do with it, but I guess the rough terrain, as well as often very wet and muddy conditions cause he chain to wear extra fast.

 

Kinda funny that the first bike I've had long enough to have to replace the chain on is the DH bike.

[Guest Sam Blake]

Back to the topic of maintenance...

 

It seems my chain needs replacing after ±15 bike park days. Obviously the amount of pedalling would have very little to do with it, but I guess the rough terrain, as well as often very wet and muddy conditions cause he chain to wear extra fast.

 

Kinda funny that the first bike I've had long enough to have to replace the chain on is the DH bike.

 

 

A DH drivetrain does take a beating between the big hucks and sharp sprints and as you say the conditions wouldn't help either.

[LongDonkey]

Put that broken arm in a cast.