Bad Lag

I don't mean, at what intervals, I mean when during your busy lives do you find time to do it?

If I put my bike up on the stand for cleaning and maintenance, I can't go riding. Not only is my bike at some level of disassembly and, therefore, unrideable but I will not have time left in the day to actually ride the thing.

I am mostly concerned about the drive train (chain, freewheel, derailleurs).

Should I buy a second setup and just swap the clean one for the dirty? That seems a bit much, especially so for the derailleurs.

roadcrankr

On my main riding rigs, I lube and rebuild at normal intervals.
On my classic bikes, the low mileage does not demand much attention.
Gosh, if you mainly ride a '75 Bob Jackson, I'm super impressed.
That will mean more frequent intervals of rebuilding hubs, bb's, headsets, etc.
They don't make 'em like they used to!

Polaris OBark

After every ride. If there is an issue, it is best to get right on it. Or in the case of my Chris King headset, one every 5 years.

abdon 

Define maintenance. I hose my mountain bike when I get it muddy and oil the chain so it doesn't rust on me. To me actual maintenance is to repack bearings and bottom bracket unless those are sealed bearings, if so there is very little maintenance to perform. Keeping an eye on the chain (chain wear tool) helps to slow down the wear and tear on the crankset and cassette. So basically once a year for regular maintenance and the regular cleaning and lubing of the chain.

Dfrost 

I lube the chains whenever they start chirping and check for chain “stretch” at that time (replace at 0.05% - usually at around 3500 miles), rear tire gets replaced with the previous front when it’s looking thin in the center (typically 3500-4000 miles with Compass/RH EL in various sizes). My wife’s hydraulic disc pads and 11-speed cassette seem to require lots more replacements than my KS salmon pads and 8-speed cogs. Anything else I do as soon as I recognize the need, but I don’t follow any other maintenance schedule.

panzerwagon 

This problem does not exist in my N+1 world. There’s always a bike to ride even if several get stuck in the maintenance yard for a while.

dedhed

Not what you want to see.

jamesdak 

No set time for sure. It's easy to put something off when you have so many rideable bikes. But I normally try and do it when a problem arises. Like on yesterday's ride with the new to me Colnago Master Extra Light. I got it with old Michelin Pro Race tires so I ordered new GP5000s rubber for it. Put off doing the change though and flatted on yesterday's ride. So I got home and finally swapped on the new tires.

The Merlin I'm working on has some crusty, rusty shift cables on it. I got new ones last weekend but have yet to put them on. Maybe today.

Last week I was off most of the week but I picked it as time to test the repaired knee so I did over 320 miles in a 6 day period. Just didn't feel like wrenching on bikes when I got done. So things like the still unfinished Kestrel 200 SCI still sit. In good weather I'd rather ride then work on bikes. I get a lot more done in the winter months when I just put a big ol' sheet down on the floor in the living room, put on a movie or whatever, and start working on the bikes.

thinktubes 

I seem to get caught by a rain shower 2-3 times per season, so the drive train gets attention then.

Anything else is on a “as-needed” basis.

BradH

I probably clean & lubricate the drivetrain and wipe down the rims & brake pads every 200 miles or so. Maybe a wash & wax once or twice a year. If something breaks or I'm in the process of an upgrade I have a fleet of spares to choose from.

plumberroy

When I am riding, just getting back due to health issues. Every bike is inspected cleaned and lubed during the winter. Any issues popping up during use is addressed reasonable promptly but with 8 bikes I always have something ridable. I am one of those people who get called over prepared , told I don't need All that stuff, until they need help. I carry enough to get me home unless I have major issues like a destroyed wheel etc.

Pompiere

I usually do major maintenance over the winter when I get bored and start swapping parts around to different bikes. Minor stuff like lubing chains and fixing flat tires gets done throughout the year.

RH Clark

Exactly why I have at least 4 bikes I regularly ride.

georges1

when the shifting isn't as smooth as before or when wheels aren't true

tremolo1965

1. Major overhaul = in the winter. Inspection and cleaning = every ride.
2. No - No need. Procedures really don’t take long.

randyjawa 

Most vintage bike maintenance takes place when there is a lot of this on the ground...


That said, I do regular mechanic condition checks before every ride. And, for what it is worth, very few of my bikes see serious mileage anymore. This early eighties Bianchi being the exception...



And, I check the Bianchi out before each ride down the lonely roads of Jamaica. Who knows, I might even get around to cleaning it this year (Jamaica is only six weeks away)...


This is how the Bianchi looked when I first took it to Jamaica with me (it stays there now)...


Since then, someone damaged a pedal thread in the drive side crank. Had to replace the entire crank set with this pooey-stinko unit but it does the job...


Last year, upon arriving in Treasure Beach, I was sad to learn that there was something wrong with my rear wheel. Someone had borrowed the bike and broke the rear axle and one spoke. I spent five months riding, to and from here and there, with that broken axle and am here, today, to tell the tale...

rustystrings61 

I usually perform bike maintenance where there is something else I really should be doing, but just don't want to.

RB1-luvr

when I feel confident enough that I'll actually improve the situation and not make it worse, as is often the case.

Spaghetti Legs 

Definitely whenever a part falls off.

Other times, when I’m riding the bike, I’ll make a mental note. I’ll then forget and make another mental note the next time I ride it. If I haven’t forgotten again by end of the ride, I’ll put a note on a piece of tape and stick it to the saddle or handlebar before stashing back in the stable. Sometimes the tape falls off, but if it doesn’t then I’ll tackle the problem. I have a fair number of bikes so that’s usually a 6 month or so cycle. Flat tires I’ll usually get right on and the wife’s commuter bike gets fixed toute suite for obvious reasons.

jon c. 

Maintenance? I throw some oil on my chain if it's making noise. And I fix a flat if I get one. Other than that I just ride. I used take it in to the LBS once a year to repair or replace anything I had noticed or they could find. But my LBS closed a couple of years ago. Eventually the laissez faire approach will force me to find a new shop. But until that happens I'll likely just keep riding. Might help that I ride vintage friction so there may be less that can go wrong. And I ride on well paved low traffic roads and I try to only ride in the sunshine. So my maintenance requirements are probably less than other riders may face.

Bad Lag

We don't often get rain and never get snow, that that interval for maintenance is out. In fact, winter is the best time for riding - cool, less traffic, fewer tourists.

I bought some Soma brake lever hoods, some new tape for the bars and new gloves for me hands. Yeah, the gloves were THAT bad (slimy leather)!

I also have a new chain and chainwheels awaiting installation but they're probably not really needed.

The derailleurs both need serious cleaning.

John E

Wow -- talk about timing! On my mountain bike I had been noticing that I had to push my rear derailleur shift lever progressively farther to reach low gear. When I returned from my usual hilly training loop, I put it up on my trusty shop stand with the intent of merely adjusting for cable stretch at the derailleur end, but I first checked for telltale fraying at the thumb shifter end. Oops! I'm just glad the cable didn't snap on me as I started the big climb! Anyway, new cable, threaded through the under-bottom bracket guide and the hole in the U-brake mount, and all's well. Problems like this I can handle.

As a teenager with Huret-Allvit derailleurs, I used to snap shift cables pretty frequently, but with SunTour and Campag., cable failure has become a rare event.

Bad Lag

LOL!

I bought a new set of cables two years ago. I've just never installed them. The front derailleur cable even has a broken strand but it remains on the bike.

Maybe this is just procrastination on my part.

merziac

I try not to let anything fall off, I don't typically ride hard or far enough to need any real maintenance so I can let most things go far longer than I should.

After 1000's of passes at the drag strip, my spidey sense will usually let me know if something truly needs immediate attention.

If not, at least I won't be going 100 mph.

gugie 

@Andy_K will verify that the bike I'm riding on any given day with him is probably the one that doesn't need maintenance. I typically ride them until I can't, then grab another one from a hook. Maintenance typically occurs when I run out of rideable bikes. Well, before a tour whatever my rider will be gets a thorough overhaul.