Winter reconditioning

"Per Elmsäter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Just started a thorough going over on my roadbike, now that I won't use it outside until come next
spring. This is what I've done so far. What else would you do?

It's a Trek 5200 carbon frame with DA components except FDR, chainrings

and

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BB, whom are still Ultegra. It's been used one season now and about 5000

km.

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- Took the wheels off, cleaned and trued them. Inspected the rimtape and decided it looked
just fine.

I'd check the bearings, make sure they're smooth, no signs of pitting. I would pay more attention to
the rear and if you're hesitant at all on the rear, overhaul it. It generally is in poorer condition
than the front.

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- Gave the frame a thourough cleaning and polish.

I do that EVERY day!! ;-) (I rarely do more than wipe it down after a ride..)

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- Screwed my Ultegra V-brakes into as small as possible components,

cleaned

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and lubed them.
- Cleaned and lubed the drivetrain including taking the chain off and putting it in a shaker.
- Took the cassette off and washed it thouroughly while I was at it.
- Measured chainwear and found 25% left.

I'd replace the chain. That's just my preference. If you KNOW you have 25% left, you could probably
leave it for another 1000km, but I replace mine yearly regardless..just habit I guess.

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What I am considering.
- Change wires and housings?

Nope. I wouldn't unless they're binding or not running smoothly. You could pull the housing back
(don't disconnect the inch bolts..) and clean and lube the inner cable, but I wouldn't simply
replace. Some bikes have wonderfully bedded in cables and I hate replacing cables like that. OTOH,
if they're corroded or binding, you can replace. Try just the inner first as it's usually the worst
of the two.

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What I am considering. but really don't know how to do.
- Take the headset apart, clean and lube it.

I wouldn't. I'd worry about the BB and rear hub before the headset. On my MTB, I put 5 seasons on my
headset without ever lubing or cleaning. Still fine when I took it apart. Probably the least
important bearing on the bike. But if you're looking for something to do.... ;-)

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- STI shifters?? Do I need to do anything except spray some lube inside.

Nope. Don't take them apart whatever you do!! :-)

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- FDR?, RDR?

For the FDR, I usually flush the dirt out with wd-40 and then lube with teflon spray lube. You could
remove and clean, but you sometimes mess up perfect adjustment and ruin an inner cable doing this.
Usually better to just do the former..especially if you generally clean your bike up regularly.
Especially on the FDR where the degreaser can get into the BB if you're not careful.

For the RDR, I usually remove the jockey wheels and clean them in degreaser, re-grease and
re-assemble. I'd clean ther RDR on the bike with some degreaser as well. Spray clean with compressed
air and lube with teflon spray lube.

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Anything else you can come up with will be appreciated.

Take out the seat post and stem, clean, re-grease and re-install. Since you have carbon, you may
have to use special anti-seize that won't break down the carbon. You may also want to file your
brake pads flat (or replace) and make sure your rim braking surface is clean.

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--
Perre

You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

Quoted message said:

Just started a thorough going over on my roadbike, now that I won't use it outside until come next
spring. This is what I've done so far. What else would you do?

It's a Trek 5200 carbon frame with DA components except FDR, chainrings and BB, whom are still
Ultegra. It's been used one season now and about 5000 km.

- Took the wheels off, cleaned and trued them. Inspected the rimtape and decided it looked
just fine.
- Gave the frame a thourough cleaning and polish.
- Screwed my Ultegra V-brakes

OUCH!

<snippage>

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Perre

You're doing fine, except for the part about putting the bike away until spring. Put
fenders(mudguards) on, put more clothes on, and keep riding.

--
Ted Bennett Portland OR

Ted Bennett said:

Quoted message said:

Just started a thorough going over on my roadbike, now that I won't use it outside until come
next spring. This is what I've done so far. What else would you do?

It's a Trek 5200 carbon frame with DA components except FDR, chainrings and BB, whom are still
Ultegra. It's been used one season now and about 5000 km.

- Took the wheels off, cleaned and trued them. Inspected the rimtape and decided it looked just
fine.
- Gave the frame a thourough cleaning and polish.
- Screwed my Ultegra V-brakes

OUCH!

Hey don't be such a wimp. V-brakes are for manly men.

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<snippage>

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Perre

You're doing fine, except for the part about putting the bike away until spring. Put
fenders(mudguards) on, put more clothes on, and keep riding.

Don't worry. I have two more bikes that will hit the dirt all winter long. A hybrid for the roads
and a boing boing for the forest. My roadbike will be put on a trainer until march or april.

--
Perre

You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

S. Anderson said:

I'd worry about the BB and rear hub before the headset.

Thanks for all the good advice S. What can happen to the BB. Isn't it all just one sealed cassette?
Do I take it out and wipe it off or what? How do I check the bearings in the hub? Do I have to open
it or can I determine if it is necessary by some other means first. I suppose Sheldon Brown has a
bearings article somewhere 😉

--
Perre

You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

"Per Elmsäter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Thanks for all the good advice S. What can happen to the BB. Isn't it all just one sealed
cassette? Do I

take

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it out and wipe it off or what? How do I check the bearings in the hub? Do I have to open it or
can I determine if it is necessary by some other means first. I suppose Sheldon Brown has a
bearings article somewhere 😉

--
Perre

That BB is sealed, yes. But it will eventually become contaminated and start to break down. So take
the cranks off and check it for smoothness. You can actually lube the bearings I think (I'm not sure
if they're TRUE cartridge bearings in that model..some Shimano "sealed" units can be disassembled to
some degree..) but I'd just check it for roughness or play and if it's good just leave it be. They
last a good long time and last I checked, weren't that expensive to replace when the expire. In my
experience, the shimano cartridge BB's were a great boon to MTB's..with the conventional BB's we
would be replacing an absolutely trashed BB in a year. With the Shimano Cartridge BB they lasted
about 3 years and then were garbage, but they were so cheap to replace it was a good trade-off in my
opinion. And you check all bearings that way..get down to just the axle and spin it in your fingers.
If you feel tight spots or general roughness, you need to disassemble it, inspect and repair. If you
feel play (a small amount of play in the hubs is ok, but not BB) then adjust it out and check the
bearings for roughness. Too much play can mask any damage to the hub.

Cheers,

Scott..