If we cycle every day for a long period, the wear and tear of our mountain bikes will reach a certain level in a year, and it will affect our riding experience. If the situation is serious, it may even affect our safety. Many mountain bike parts are about to be “retired” and we need to replace them with new ones. For example, the most common consumables: tires, brakes, etc. require frequent maintenance and replacement.
First look at the tire, as an important source of contact between the mountain bike and the ground, the state of the tire and our riding experience are inseparable. Under normal circumstances, as far as our daily riding is concerned, although the riding frequency is relatively high, the number of kilometers per ride is very low. At this rate of wear and tear, a new tire needs to be replaced in about two and a half years. Another situation is to look at the surface of the outer tire. If there are cracks on the surface, it can also indicate that the tire needs to be replaced.
Then there’s the chain. The chain is the key to connecting the freewheel and the chain wheel, and the importance of the chain is self-evident. Under normal wear and tear, the life of the chain is slightly longer than the life of the tire. There is an obvious signal that the chain is stretched, which means that the life of the chain is up. Chain elongation will affect the speed and transmission efficiency of the bike, and it will also increase the risk of chain drop. So we need to replace the new chain in time. To detect whether the chain is elongated, a chain caliper needs to be used. When the two ends of the chain caliper completely enter between the chains, it means that the chain has to be replaced.
Next are the brake blocks of our mountain bikes, which are generally disc brakes. We can confirm the degree of wear of the brake pads by removing the brake pads and detecting the thickness of the brake pads. The new disc brake pads are about 3mm thick. When the thickness of the brake pads shrinks to 1mm due to wear, the disc brakes will stop working, causing unnecessary danger. Therefore, when we find that the disc brake pads are thinner, we should replace the brake pads as soon as possible.
And the wire tube. The wire tube is connected to our gears and brakes, they cannot be separated. In good condition, the shifting is smooth and precise, and the feel is better when braking; Generally speaking, if we are riding more than three days a week, the wire tube should be replaced once a year. If we have a significant sense of blockage when using it, it also means that the wire tube needs to be replaced. If it is found that there is obvious rust on the wire tube, it is also necessary to replace the wire tube.
Finally, the freewheel and the chain wheel, which are parts with a relatively long life. But no matter how long the life is, it will also wear out. If the loss is serious, it will also affect the life of the chain and cause the risk of chain skipping. If we find that the chainrings of the the freewheel/the chain wheel have become significantly pointed, it means that the freewheel and the chain wheel need to be replaced.
