For those of us who, for the winter, have put our bikes away, it is now time for us to dust them off and get ready to ride. A mini tune-up is necessary when bringing a bike out of storage. You need to pay special attention to the following areas namely chain, derailleur components, brakes, and wheels.

a) Chain
If an oil-based lubricant is what you have been using, consider switching to a wax-based product. The only advantage to an oil-based lubricant is that it needs to be applied less frequently, but in every other way, wax-based is superior. For example, unlike wax which sheds abrasives, oil collects trail dust and other things abrasive to the chain. For a wax-based lube, it is recommended that you use White Lightning.

If you’ve been using oil-based chain lube, whether you want to switch to wax or not, you should remove the chain and clean it with a solvent to degrease it before adding fresh lubricant. Using a solvent to degrease the chain needs to be done once a year at a minimum, depending on your typical riding conditions.

2. Derailleur Components
Use a good petroleum-based lube in order to lubricate the pivot points. Try using Tri-Flow. The next step is to lubricate and adjust the derailleur cables, which might have stretched over the winter. Adjust so that shifting is crisp.

c) Brakes
Be sure to lubricate cables. Use either petroleum- or wax-based lube depending on how dusty the expected typical riding conditions will be. Adjusting the cables, which might have also stretched over the winter, is a must as well.

Check the pads to find out if there is plenty of rubber and if the pads hit the rims evenly. Check the brake fuel level in the reservoir if you are using fluid-actuated disk brakes.

4. Brakes
Spin the wheel slowly checking for true. The wheel should not wobble at all. You can make minor adjustments using a spoke wrench if it wobbles a little bit and you have the tools and skills. But you should take the wheel to a shop and have a professional true the wheel if there is substantial wobbling.

Check tire pressure, which is bound to be low after a winter of storage. Inflate to the manufacturers recommendations that are stamped on the tire.

It’s now time to give the bike a once-over. Is the seat adjustment still a good fit? Find out if there is excess play or tightness in the bearings of the wheels, crank, pedals, and headset. It is a good idea to check the suspension joints for full-suspension bikes.

This once-over will help you determine whether it is time for a major tune-up. What this could do is range from a few adjustments to cleaning and/or replacement of some parts. Opinions may vary, specifically on how often a major tune-up is needed. It depends on how much you ride, and how much maintenance you perform yourself.

Every now and then, whether you do the major tune-up yourself or take the bike to a reputable bicycle shop, the following maintenance is necessary for optimal performance and safety: truing the wheels, making overall adjustments, such as to the derailleur and brakes, repacking bearings and adjusting wheel axles, headset, crankset and pedals, and replacing cables.

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