Beginner advice

Hey out there, just bought a Trek 6000 with the intention of tackling Ballyhoura. Anyone got any tips for servicing and keeping the bike in good nick????

one of these for definite, use it after every spin:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...x?ModelID=8207

this is cheaper,but still decent

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=10195

then buy yourself loads of WD40 when Lidl/Aldi get their next cheap batch in

ah fergal you beat me to it

here's my penny pinching method

to start, after spins clean the suspension, just the stancions, that do the travelling.. so no dirt gets in on the next spin

and to make the chain, cassette and chain rings last longer, clean the chain
you can get it 90% clean with an old rag.. leave it on the bike, grab the chain with the rag and clean (back and forward). A nail brush is good for the cassette/cogs
and a small bit of chain lube on when you're finished

I'd consider that a good start/bare minimum

giving the bike a regular clean too, is good for spotting problems and bits falling off :)

good choice with the trek 6000

Cheaper still .
http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages...n_Cleaning_Kit

Tanks guys, basic stuff but great advice. What should the tyre pressure be?;D

Don....Donnnn..

Sorry, I was asleep on the couch again...now...firstly in relation to keeping you bike clean, bear in mind you will only do this for a short period after buying the bike, after a while you will convince yourself that it being caked in mud actually prevents rust and wear, it helps to prevent scratches too, and you fellow bikers will think you are out all the time. A clean bike makes everyone suspicious, I still think Lynchy is a TW mole, sent in to get all our secrets. It must have been killing him riding so slowly at the outset.

As for tyre pressures I have only two tips, if the are tubed then do what you like, they will only blow up or puncture. If the are tubeless run them as soft as you dare depending on how aggressive you are, I like 22psi and seem to get away with it, but some of our older, more eccentric types run them at 60psi for reason best known to themselves, 'Coughbyrner!!'.

The best advice I can give is to disregard any advice you get here and go to the MAD site, they are a sensible bunch.

The best advice I can give is to disregard any advice you get here and go to the MAD site, they are a sensible bunch.[/QUOTE]
like how to weigh a bike using a bath full of distilled water !!

-Whilst Don is (undoubtedly) an expert on tyres and all things tyre related please ignore any other advice he may give you about bike cleaning or maintenance! The truth of this statement is borne out by the fact that he replaces DU Bushings more often than he lubes his chain! (Unfortunately he also rides his bike disgustingly well but that's another matter entirely!).
I would suggest that you wash your bike every time after you ride it, lube the chain and spray WD40 or similar all over (except the brake discs!). A Mobi Washer or similar is a great investment in my opinion! Apart from tearing off a rear-derailleur I have yet to walk home from a spin - although I have been known to do a fair bit of walking during one!!

its like this Don, you dope, i can ride everything up and down faster than you with 60psi..i ignore pain and make no excuses..i can make a woman orghasm with a look..
all because i have 60psi in my tyres !!!

And Running sure he ran half the club league last year!! I have to agree cleaning the bike after every spin and lubing it is the way to go although alot of members in this club turn up with their bikes filthy dirty from the spin they did 2 weeks ago and still kick my ass. but i actually like cleaning the bike it helps!!

A clean bike helps with wind ressistance:), you never see a dirty F1 car now do you

Cleaned mine once and it was over a pound lighter.imagine how sad my life is doing such trivial things.maybe I should join MAD,they would give out medals for such scientific endeavours.

Looks like i'll go with 60psi, especially if it helps with the ladies ha! I'm sure i'll clean the bike at least after the first ride but as I am inherently lazy probably wont get done again....I have a Honda Blackbird that hasn't been washed in two years, ooops!!!

I was just watching an old Blackadder the other night and I knew Captain Flash-Heart reminded me of someone.

Terry, I'm intrigued by this cleaning and weighing, was this achieved in a single operation using the MAD bath method?

TatBoy if you're going to be riding a lot in muddy conditions and you drive to spins, a Dirtworker is well worth it. If you're not familiar with it, it's a portable pressure washer that runs off the 12 v lighter socket in a car, fill it with 14 L of water before you leave home and then clean the bike off before you load up to drive home. The mud and dirt are still fresh, so clean off easily, quick bit of WD40 or TF2 or your lube of choice and you won't need a fiddly chain cleaner. The pressure is deliberately low so as not to drive water through seals and wreck bearings etc. 100 notes or so, the Bike Rack probably sell them, money very well spent.

Hey out there, just bought a Trek 6000 with the intention of tackling Ballyhoura. Anyone got any tips for servicing and keeping the bike in good nick????

one of these for definite, use it after every spin:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...x?ModelID=8207

this is cheaper,but still decent

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=10195

then buy yourself loads of WD40 when Lidl/Aldi get their next cheap batch in

ah fergal you beat me to it

here's my penny pinching method

to start, after spins clean the suspension, just the stancions, that do the travelling.. so no dirt gets in on the next spin

and to make the chain, cassette and chain rings last longer, clean the chain
you can get it 90% clean with an old rag.. leave it on the bike, grab the chain with the rag and clean (back and forward). A nail brush is good for the cassette/cogs
and a small bit of chain lube on when you're finished

I'd consider that a good start/bare minimum

giving the bike a regular clean too, is good for spotting problems and bits falling off :)

good choice with the trek 6000

Cheaper still .
http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages...n_Cleaning_Kit

Tanks guys, basic stuff but great advice. What should the tyre pressure be?;D

Don....Donnnn..

Sorry, I was asleep on the couch again...now...firstly in relation to keeping you bike clean, bear in mind you will only do this for a short period after buying the bike, after a while you will convince yourself that it being caked in mud actually prevents rust and wear, it helps to prevent scratches too, and you fellow bikers will think you are out all the time. A clean bike makes everyone suspicious, I still think Lynchy is a TW mole, sent in to get all our secrets. It must have been killing him riding so slowly at the outset.

As for tyre pressures I have only two tips, if the are tubed then do what you like, they will only blow up or puncture. If the are tubeless run them as soft as you dare depending on how aggressive you are, I like 22psi and seem to get away with it, but some of our older, more eccentric types run them at 60psi for reason best known to themselves, 'Coughbyrner!!'.

The best advice I can give is to disregard any advice you get here and go to the MAD site, they are a sensible bunch.

The best advice I can give is to disregard any advice you get here and go to the MAD site, they are a sensible bunch.[/QUOTE]
like how to weigh a bike using a bath full of distilled water !!

-Whilst Don is (undoubtedly) an expert on tyres and all things tyre related please ignore any other advice he may give you about bike cleaning or maintenance! The truth of this statement is borne out by the fact that he replaces DU Bushings more often than he lubes his chain! (Unfortunately he also rides his bike disgustingly well but that's another matter entirely!).
I would suggest that you wash your bike every time after you ride it, lube the chain and spray WD40 or similar all over (except the brake discs!). A Mobi Washer or similar is a great investment in my opinion! Apart from tearing off a rear-derailleur I have yet to walk home from a spin - although I have been known to do a fair bit of walking during one!!

its like this Don, you dope, i can ride everything up and down faster than you with 60psi..i ignore pain and make no excuses..i can make a woman orghasm with a look..
all because i have 60psi in my tyres !!!

And Running sure he ran half the club league last year!! I have to agree cleaning the bike after every spin and lubing it is the way to go although alot of members in this club turn up with their bikes filthy dirty from the spin they did 2 weeks ago and still kick my ass. but i actually like cleaning the bike it helps!!

A clean bike helps with wind ressistance:), you never see a dirty F1 car now do you

Cleaned mine once and it was over a pound lighter.imagine how sad my life is doing such trivial things.maybe I should join MAD,they would give out medals for such scientific endeavours.

Looks like i'll go with 60psi, especially if it helps with the ladies ha! I'm sure i'll clean the bike at least after the first ride but as I am inherently lazy probably wont get done again....I have a Honda Blackbird that hasn't been washed in two years, ooops!!!

I was just watching an old Blackadder the other night and I knew Captain Flash-Heart reminded me of someone.

Terry, I'm intrigued by this cleaning and weighing, was this achieved in a single operation using the MAD bath method?

TatBoy if you're going to be riding a lot in muddy conditions and you drive to spins, a Dirtworker is well worth it. If you're not familiar with it, it's a portable pressure washer that runs off the 12 v lighter socket in a car, fill it with 14 L of water before you leave home and then clean the bike off before you load up to drive home. The mud and dirt are still fresh, so clean off easily, quick bit of WD40 or TF2 or your lube of choice and you won't need a fiddly chain cleaner. The pressure is deliberately low so as not to drive water through seals and wreck bearings etc. 100 notes or so, the Bike Rack probably sell them, money very well spent.