Like many, I first learn Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance whereas in my early 20s, when the open street was a continuing name. But I used to be way more enthralled by the cautious consideration to mechanic workings the e book offered. Still am. Yesterday I started the method of servicing a suspension fork, straightforward sufficient, however one thing that requires focus, consciousness, and that awards not only a plush fork however immense satisfaction. I re-read this text earlier than I started engaged on the fork and we determined to share it once more. – Ed.
Way again in highschool, I acquired a job at an area bike store. I used to be shortly positioned beneath the supervision of the top mechanic, a man named Jeff who sported huge sideburns and yellow Converse All-Stars. Once I earned his respect, he grew to become a completely unimaginable mentor in wrenching and in life. What I realized from him over the course of 4 years, the whole lot from wheel constructing to mechanical problem-solving to border restore, has confirmed completely invaluable in serving to each stop and repair all method of issues on backcountry rides and bikepacking expeditions.
Solutions to essentially the most difficult situations that will have made Jeff proud offered themselves. Crank arm retains falling off? Shim it with a little bit of a soda can. Damaged air seal in a rear shock? Shrink it ever-so-slightly with a lighter. Cracked chainstay? Splint it with rebar and baling wire.
End-of-the-day drivetrain upkeep goes a great distance towards holding issues clear and working easily.
But not everybody was as lucky to have had a mentor as stellar as Jeff. So many cyclists have minimal background in engaged on their very own bikes, and the prospect of encountering mechanical issues deep within the backcountry is intimidating. I need to share a bit about what will be finished to reduce these issues – preventative upkeep, carrying the precise spare elements and instruments (and figuring out how you can use them), and what primary restore duties are vital to have the ability to do. More substantial bike issues might not be repairable within the subject, after which limping out and hitchhiking is the doubtless final result. But more often than not, mechanical issues don’t must imply the tip of the trip.
Perhaps the simplest solution to keep away from important bike issues within the backcountry is to ensure that a motorbike is in good working order earlier than hanging out on the path. Give the bike a fast once-over. Check all of the bearings for play, slop, crunchiness, or extreme friction – the crankset/backside bracket, hubs, headset, and pedals. Often instances, looseness in any of these bearings will create a rattle, so bounce the bike on the bottom firmly and pay attention for any rattles. Also verify for any play or rattle in suspension forks and rear suspension linkages. Spin the wheels, verify for roundness, and really feel all of the spokes to ensure none are notably unfastened. Look over the tires for any indicators of harm. Inspect brake strains and shift cables and housing for any injury, kinks, or cracks. Run via the shifting to ensure that the derailleur(s) are functioning correctly. Peer into the brakes to confirm that the pads have ample materials remaining. Check all of the bolts on the bike for snugness, and in case you have a series checker, see how a lot life is left within the chain. If something irregular exhibits up in these checks, deal with it earlier than the trip.
Once out on the path, a contented bike will proceed being so with some basic common upkeep, and this turns into essential on multi-day journeys.
Learning how you can handle tire issues is way simpler in a workshop than within the snow.
I verify tire and shock strain each morning, simply by really feel, to ensure that nothing misplaced air in a single day. I carry a rag and stiff brush to maintain the drivetrain as clear as potential and use each each time I lubricate the chain. I additionally look over the bike shortly at the least as soon as a day, checking virtually the whole lot talked about above. And if something on the bike begins sounding or feeling notably totally different from regular, I cease immediately to diagnose the issue. Usually, it’s simply one thing like a webbing strap bouncing alongside on the tire or one thing hitting the body. But sometimes, a rattle has turned out to be one thing a bit extra problematic like a lacking brake caliper bolt or a damaged spoke.
For extra distant backcountry rides and bikepacking adventures, my software and restore equipment is bigger than what I keep on regular day rides, nevertheless it’s nonetheless comparatively small. Here’s what I’d advocate carrying:
The contents of Kurt’s typical bikepacking restore equipment.
• A motorcycle multi-tool (with chain breaker) that each suits and reaches each bolt on my bike – I significantly just like the very purposeful Blackburn Big Switch and the Crank Brothers M19 and F15 instruments
• Another small multi-tool with a knife, file, and pliers – that is helpful for the whole lot from making dinner to stitching tires to eradicating a valve core
• Tire pump – the Lezyne Pressure Drive (the small mannequin) may be very packable and can be utilized to inflate suspension as much as 120 psi
• Small shock pump – the Birzman Zama is my present favourite, however there’s a smooth spot in my coronary heart for my minuscule however nonetheless efficient 4” pump scavenged from an outdated Blackburn Toolmanator multi-tool
• 1-2 tubes relying on the size of the journey
• Tire lever
• Tire plugs
• Small roll of Gorilla tape
• Thick needles and fabric thread
• Spare valve core or stem
• Presta valve adapter – good for re-seating tubeless tires at gasoline stations
• 10+ glueless patches; for colder journeys with temperatures <40 °F, glue-on patches are higher way more dependable
• 2 Park self-adhesive tire boots
• 1-2 pairs of spare brake pads
• 5+ thick zip ties
• 2-3 fast hyperlinks and an additional little bit of chain
• Spare derailleur hanger
• RockShox Enduro Collar or Wolf Tooth Valais Clamp if working a dropper submit, simply in case the dropper refuses to remain up
• Spare cleat and mounting bolts
• Chain lube, cleansing brush and rag
A number of of Kurt’s favourite multi-tools – the Blackburn Big Switch and the Crank Brothers F15
For longer or extra distant journeys, I additionally will contemplate including within the following:
• Spare brake caliper bolts (these rattle out sometimes)
• A number of different miscellaneous bolts particular to my bike
• Spare derailleur pulley and shift cable (for actually lengthy journeys)
• 2 spare spokes with nipples (taped to seatstay)
• Small bottle of tire sealant (for lengthy journeys solely)
Razor sharp limestone positive left a mark, however stitching up and booting this tire was all that was wanted for getting via the ultimate 2 days of the journey.
Flat tires are by far essentially the most frequent bike drawback confronted by many mountain bikers. Most riders can pull off a tire, pop in a tube, and get it aired up in case of a flat (all the time bear in mind to verify the within of the tire for thorns earlier than tubing it up!). But bigger holes or slices in a tire might require a bit extra labor. On an outdated tire, apply putting in tire plugs. These are completely magical for shortly fixing tire punctures in each the tread and alongside the bead within the case of a pinch flat. Also strive booting and/or stitching up a sliced sidewall. This is an all-to-common tire damage when driving a loaded bike on rocky trails, however stitching up a slice with a thick needle and fabric thread could make the tire utterly useable once more. Sometimes, stitching a boot to the again of the slice may even enable the tire to be returned to tubeless.
Practice changing a derailleur hanger and adjusting the shifting on a rear derailleur. Make positive to know the distinction between adjusting shift cable rigidity and the restrict screws – many poorly-adjusted derailleurs are the results of somebody mistakenly altering restrict screw place as an alternative of cable rigidity.
On an outdated chain, ensure that your fingers are robust sufficient to interrupt it open together with your multi-tool. I usually have to make use of my mini pliers for extra leverage. Then put the chain again along with a fast hyperlink for apply.
Be in a position to substitute brake pads, unfold the caliper pistons out, alter the caliper place relative to the rotor, and straighten a bent rotor. All are surprisingly easy duties after only a little bit of apply.
Like so many different issues in life, the extra apply and expertise one has sustaining and repairing bikes, the better and fewer tense the duty will turn out to be.
Plus, it may be kinda enjoyable repairing your bike trailside.