ridemore: 2010

drivetrain & gears
the first bicycles had a single gear-good for riding on the flat but hard going up hills. gears can make all the difference to whether your bike ride is easy or difficult. understanding your gearing system will help you improve your cycling efficiency.
drivetrain care
clean chain with chain scrubber/toothbrush once a week - 5 minutes
clean cassette - once a week - 15 minutes
clean rear derailleur - once a week - 15minutes
clean front derailleur - once a week - 5 minutes
clean hub gear - once a month - 10 seconds
take entire drivetrain apart for deep cleaning & lubricating - once a month - 30 minutes

wheels

your bike is not going to get very far without these vital pieces of equipment. as with frames, the lighter and stronger the wheels are on your bike, the faster you will go. a little bit of maintenance of the wheels will give you a smoother ride.
wheel maintenance
clean rims, hubs & spokes - once a week - 5 minutes
check alignment - once a week - 30 seconds
take skewers out to clean & lubricate - once a month - 3 minutes
true your wheels (if you know) - when misaligned - 30 minutes++

frames & forks

the frames and forks are the heart of your bike. the material they are made out of, the angles of their design and the quality of the joins have more of an effect on the way your bike rides than any other component.
frame care
wipe frame clean - every 3 days - 2 minutes
check frame & fork for damage - after a crash - 3/5 minutes

bike technology

maintaining a well-running bike is part of the enjoyment of cycling. it is easy to forget to look after your bike. they are so well-designed and engineered that it is possible to run them for long periods without maintenance or even cleaning. however, failing to look after your machine could lead to breakages, inefficient running and possibly even crashes. if you do a few small jobs regularly, some every time you ride, some on a weekly basis, some once a month, your bike will continue to run as well as it did when it was new.