Seven factors that influence how often your bike needs a service

Regular bike servicing from a professional mechanic helps keep your bike running sweetly and safely but what determines how often it will need a service and is there anything you can do at home? We take a look at the seven factors that influence how often you will need to service your bike. 

How often you ride 

First and most obviously is how often you ride. Logically the more you ride the quicker things wear out and the more often your bike needs servicing but this isn’t the full story. Expendable items such as tyres, chains and cassettes wear out with frequent use but home maintenance can help to prolong their life. If you look after your bike between rides, clean it properly and store it somewhere dry then this can help keep it in great working order. 

Where you ride

Different places have different conditions and challenges for your bike, particularly if you ride off road. Wet, sandy and dirty conditions can create a kind of abrasive grinding paste around your chain and cassette which will wear them out more quickly than riding somewhere dry and dust free. Hilly areas mean more strain on your drive-train from the extra torque of climbing and increased wear on your brakes and brake pads from use on the descents.  

Your body 

Heavy powerful riders tend to put more strain on their bikes, their brakes need to work harder to stop them and more force is being put through the components, wheels and bike frame. How much extra strain heavy and powerful riders put on their bikes depends a lot on riding style. 

Your riding style 

While some riders have natural finesse, they pedal smoothly and shift gears intuitively, other riders look like they are in a wrestling match with their bike! Riding style makes an even bigger difference on a mountain bike; while skilful riders can clear obstacles and use their body to land their bike with minimal impact, less technically able riders will slam their front wheel into rocks and roots. If you tend to ride fast and brake late your pads will wear down much quicker than those of a less aggressive and dynamic rider. We aren’t saying this is wrong – but it will increase wear and tear! 

E-bike versus conventional bike

E-bikes tend to need new components more often than conventional bike as they are often faster and heavier. There is more strain on your drive-train from the torque of the motor and a faster, heavier bike needs more braking power to stop quickly and smoothly

How well you clean your bike 

One of the easiest ways to keep your bike’s components from wearing out prematurely is to keep it clean and keep moving parts lubricated. Dust, moisture and dirt affects every part of your bike, wearing out moving parts and preventing smooth shifting, braking and pedalling. Give your bike a quick clean after every ride and lubricate with an oil recommended by your Shimano mechanic! 

Where your bike is stored 

In a perfect world we would all be able to keep our bikes indoors, but we know that isn’t the case. At a minimum keep your bike dry as rain and moisture can lead to rust. If you have an e-bike store it somewhere with a constant, warm temperature as very cold and very hot environments can affect your battery. 

Shimano Service Center

Shimano mechanics are all professionally qualified and kept up-to-date with the latest developments in Shimano products, they probably know your bike better than you do!  Find your nearest Shimano Service Center  to get the best advice on looking after your bike.