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Basic Mountain Bike Maintenance All Riders Should Know to Stay Safe

joelzieve

Updated: Feb 29, 2024



Introduction:


So, you’re new the sport of Mountain Biking? Congratulations! Welcome to the sport. I hope you get just as addicted as the rest of us 😜. Whether you bought a brand-new bike or a new-to-you previously-owned bike, I’ve got news for you - your investment (time and money) has just begun! Just like any machine, it needs regular maintenance, or it will become unsafe to ride.


➡️ Following the advice in this blog post, learning these skills and getting these tools (along with getting your mountain bike to your favorite bike shop 1-2 times/year) should keep you riding carefree 98%+ of the time.


Even if you plan to have a bike shop do all your regular maintenance, there are some basic skills you will need to help ensure that:

  • Your bike remains safe and reliable between those visits to the bike shop.

  • You minimize the chances of breaking down on the trail and having to deal with the “walk of shame” for miles back to the trail head.

  • You are prepared to fix minor issues that come up on the trail so you can safely ride back to the trail head.


Things You'll Learn in this Blog Post


You can search the web for months and never run out of things to learn about maintaining your mountain bike. I’m not going to come close to duplicating all of that. I’m going to give you four lists of things I believe you need to learn and prepare to do to your bike. I’m not going to tell you how to do them here (Google and YouTube are great for that), but I am going to list the tools you’ll need to do them. I suggest you learn them in this order. I’ll cover:

  • Post-Ride Check

  • Pre-Ride Check

  • Common Trail Breakdowns and What to Learn to Fix Them On-Trail

  • Things to Check on a Regular Basis


Post-Ride Check


Bike Stand: You’re going to want one. It’s likely going to be your most expensive tool you buy, but you’ll be able to have your choice of used ones on KSL Classifieds. You don’t “have to” have one, but working on your bike while it’s off the ground will be a lot easier. The stand will also make it easier to wash your bike. I suggest getting one that has a clamp that attaches to your seat post and gets the entire bike off the ground.


Here's What To Check After Each Ride…

  • Everything with bearings: Headset, wheel hubs, pedals, bottom bracket. If it moves/turns, it’s got bearings.

  • Condition of your bar ends plugs. Trust me, you don’t want an exposed bar end coming anywhere near you on a crash.

  • If your tires are tubeless, shake the wheels to be sure you can still hear sealant sloshing around. If not, it’s time to add some. Tools/Supplies: Valve core remover, sealant (don’t mix sealant brands).

  • Check the tension on your spokes by hand. They shouldn’t move more than 1-2mm. Give each wheel a spin an eyeball each wheel from straight on looking to see that your wheels appear to be “true”.

  • Get the dirt/dust off of your brake pads by spraying them with water.

  • Remove the dust from your stanchions (fork, shock, dropper post) with a clean dry cloth.

  • Wipe dust, dirt, mud from you chain.

  • Have an eBike? Be sure the wires to your display unit are in good condition and plugged in. Check with the manufacture on recommendations for when to charge the battery and charge it after the ride if it’s recommended based on when you think your next ride will be.

  • Is it getting more difficult to let air out of or put air into your tubeless tires? If so, your valve stem and/or core may need cleaned or replaced. Tools: Valve core remover.

Now you know with certainty you’re ready for your next ride.


Pre-Ride Check


If you’ve completed the Post-Ride Check above at the end of your last ride, the only thing you should need to do before your next ride is check the tire pressure in both tires. I prefer to do these at the trail head so I’m doing it at the temperature and altitude I’ll be riding at. Tools: Floor pump, tire gauge (don’t use the gauge on the pump unless it’s a high-end pump – they aren’t very reliable).


Common Trail Breakdowns and What to Learn to Fix Them On-Trail


You’ll need to carry tools with you on your bike to deal with any breakdowns that come up on your rides. You can carry them in your hydration pack, backpack, or frame bag. I do NOT recommend a saddle bag as they tend to mar your seat post and if you have a dropper post, it may not be able to drop the full amount without the saddle bag hitting your rear tire. Find a good multi-tool to put in that saddle bag as you’ll need it for most of these trail-side repairs.


Here’s what you’ll want to be prepared to deal with on the trail…

  • Broken Chain: You’ll need a chain breaker (as above, a good multi-tool will have one included), quick-link (aka power-link). Quick-links are drivetrain brand dependent and also based on how many gears you have (11 speed, 12 speed, etc.)

  • Fix a Flat: If you have a tubeless setup and sealant in the tire (see Post Ride Check above), small to medium holes should seal themselves. If not tubeless, or if you get a bigger puncture, you’re going to need to put a fresh tube in. Tools/Supplies: Tube, tire levers, tire boot (if have a sidewall slash/puncture).

  • Is your shifting acting up? If you haven’t bent your derailleur hanger, the barrel adjuster on your shifter can be used to smooth things out.

  • Is your dropper post dropping too easily or to difficult? This can also be addressed by turning its barrel adjuster.


Things to Check on a Regular Basis


These are all items you should learn to check on your own at home to be sure there are no surprises on the trail and between trips to the bike shop for your regular tune ups.

  • Check your air pressure in your shock and your fork once a month. Know where they are supposed to be based on your riding style and your weight. Tool: shock pump.

  • Some dropper posts can have their air pressure adjusted too. Check monthly or if your dropper starts acting up. Tool: shock pump.

  • Check for chain wear. This is a big one. Over time, your chain will wear out and appear to “stretch” (it doesn’t really stretch, but that’s a whole different story). If you let it wear too far, it will drastically shorten the life of your cassette and chainring. Do not count on your bike shop to check this for you! Tool: Chain checker. If your chain does need replaced, your bike shop should be able to do this for you while you wait. If you’re looking for a good maintenance to-do as your first at-home repair, this is a great place to start.

  • Speaking of your chain, clean and lube it on a regular basis. For me, I’ll go 50-100 miles based on trail conditions. The dryer things are (the more dust the chain takes in), the more often I will clean and lube it. I typically check for chain wear (above) each time I clean the chain. Tools/Supplies: Lube. Plus a chain cleaning tool makes cleaning fast, clean and efficient.

  • Wash Your Bike: How often is up to you. On our next lesson, ask me how I always keep my bike “functionally clean”. The list of tools/supplies and how to clean your bike is an easy to find how-to topic on Google and/or YouTube.

  • Bolt Checks: Bolts loosen over time. I go through all of mine every 3 months and/or 300 miles. Your bike’s manufacture should have a list of torque specs to follow so that you don’t over or under tighten each bolt. Get this list from them and find yourself a quality bike torque wrench.

  • If you have an eBike, check for firmware updates – I check mine every 3 months.

  • Keep an eye on your brake pads. Learn about how long they last based on how you ride so you know how often to check. Mine typically will last 800-1200 miles. When you do replace them (or your bike shop does for you), be sure to also check the wear on your brake rotors to see if they need replacing.


Thanks for Riding with Me / Wrap Up


I know this was a lot to take in for one blog post. I hope this gives you a checklist of things you’ll want to learn over time to decrease your bike’s down time and reduce the chances of breaking down on the trail. If you’d like me to teach you how to do any of this as part of your next lesson, just ask. All my coaching sessions are 100% customized based on what you want to learn.


**Bonus** Get Coached

A shameless plug? Maybe, but I believe that skills coaching is the fastest way to reach your full riding potential. Nothing beats having a qualified coach giving you real-time feedback regardless of your riding ability. If want to ride more safely, have more fun, go a little faster and/or just feel less fear on your bike, let me help you get there. Mountain biking doesn’t need to be extreme or dangerous: learn the fundamentals of safe, confident and fun riding.


Click Here to Book Your Next Lesson


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About the author: Joel Zieve is a Certified PMBI Mountain Bike Skills Coach in the Ogden Utah (Northern Utah) area. He specializes in helping beginner, novice and intermediate riders ride more safely, have more fun, go a little faster and feel less fear on their bikes. He is also the host of the Podcast "Aging on Dirt". Click here for more information about his coaching programs.

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