Giving your bike a lube job

When you clean your bike, you’ll likely remove a lot of lubrication and your bike will be thirsty for a fresh dose of oil and grease.

If you’re a typical recreational rider, you may only have to give your bike a quick lube job every week or two. But if you’re riding in wet weather or you’re taking long bike trips, you should oil your bike more frequently. Just like the pre-ride inspection (earlier in this chapter), a lube job is quick and easy — you can do it in a few minutes, and it’ll provide many benefits for your bike.

Many of the parts of a bike that require oil are not fully exposed, which makes it harder to get the oil into the right place. For this, we recommend using a spray can with a thin, straw-like extension. You’ll be able to insert the exten­sion into small, hard-to-reach areas such as inside the brake levers.

Giving your bike a lube job

Here are the parts of your bike you’ll want to lubricate after cleaning:

✓ Brakes: Spray some oil into the brake pivot points to keep them in working order and to prevent rust (see Figure 16-5). Be careful not to get any on the brake pads or rims, because this will impact your bike’s braking capacity. Also, give a shot of lube to the spot where the cable is attached.

✓ Brake levers: Apply oil to the brake-lever pivots (see Figure 16-6). Pull back on the brake lever and spray the exposed cable. Be sure to cover the cable adjusters with lube to protect them from rust.

Giving your bike a lube job

Figure 16-5:

Lubricating the brakes.

✓ Derailleurs: There are several pivot points where the front and rear derailleurs move. Cover each of these with a quick shot of lube. On the front derailleur, lubricate the pivot point (see Figure 16-7) On the rear derailleur, be sure to spray both of the pulley wheels (see Figure 16-8).

Giving your bike a lube job

Giving your bike a lube job

Giving your bike a lube job

Figure 16-8:

Lubricating the rear derailleur.

✓ Chain and sprockets: Of all the parts to lubricate on a bike, the chain is the most important. A poorly lubricated chain will wear out quickly and can shorten the lifespan of your chainrings and sprocket. Apply an even amount of lube to the chain while you’re turning the cranks (see Figure 16-9). You want to make sure that the oil does more than coat the surface but works its way into the individual chain links. If you notice that there is buildup of dirt and grime on the chain, clean it first with a degreaser and then apply a fresh coat of lubrication. When you’re finished with the chain, apply a few drops of lube to the sprock­ets (see Figure 16-10).

Giving your bike a lube job

✓ Cables: Give a light spray of oil to where the inner cable exits from the cable housing (see Figure 16-11). If you have a couple of minutes, remove the cable from the stop and give a spray into the cable housing.

After you’re done lubricating your bike, be sure to use a rag and wipe any excess oil off your bike to prevent it from attracting dirt and grime.

Giving your bike a lube job

Giving your bike a lube job

Giving your bike a lube job

Figure 16-11:

Lubricating

cables.