Repairing your own bike can be both highly satisfying and a money-saving exercise. However, it's worth keeping in mind that we all make mistakes â and that when it comes to maintenance these can come at the expense of your safety, damage to your precious ride (we'll leave you to fight it out over which of those is the more important) or simply limiting its functional potential
This time out on Home Wrench I'll be outlining some common repair mistakes â knowing of them should hopefully prevent you from making them.
Many of us replace our own chains â but sizing is critical. Assuming the derailleur cage length is right for your chosen gear setup, you should be able to cross-chain on the big-big combo without huge issues. If youâre derailleur doesnât allow this, your chain is too short.
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If going to the opposite of small-small, the chain shouldnât droop on the ground and the derailleur should be under at least some tension.
Of course, generally both of these gear combinations should be avoided when riding, but thatâs another debate entirely. And lastly, don't forget to account for any chain growth if you're on a full-suspension mountain bike (generally only an issue on older bikes).
Seeing excessive cable housing on bikes is a pet hate of mine. It adds weight, increases friction and looks silly. As with chains though, itâs just as easy to go too short.
You can read more at BikeRadar.com