Winding down for winter
Winter is the slowest season at any bike shop, and it’s the best time to get your bikes serviced without long wait. This is especially true if you have a full suspension bike and need to service your fork, shock and pivots after the riding season.
When Spring comes, bike shops become very busy and service times can reach up to 2+ weeks, especially if any new parts are required. This always comes as a disappointment for a rider that wants their bike to be serviced fast so they can get back on trails. Of course, we would love to get your rides ready for trails (or roads) quickly, but in Spring it will be impossible. We highly recommend to bring your bikes for service during colder months. This way you will get them back much faster, and considering that not many riders continue to ride all year around, there is a good chance you won’t be missing your bike much while we are taking care of it.
How often should I service my bike? We often hear this question. General recommendations that we give our customers are:
If you ride 1-2 times a week during the warm months, then yearly Tune Up should do it for you. What tune up package to choose depends on how much you maintain your bike during the season. If you clean your drivetrain and lubricate your chain regularly, then basic tune up package should cover it for you. If not, we recommend to add Drive Train cleaning to tune up.
If you ride 3-4 times a week, then you will benefit from getting your bike serviced every 6 months
If you ride almost every day, then your mechanic should be checking your bike 3-4 times a year
These are just general recommendations that might vary a lot. There is a lot of other details to consider besides how often you ride such as riding distance, riding conditions, riding style and terrain.
If you feel your bike isn’t performing as nicely as it did when it was new, it’s time to service it.
If your brakes lost their braking power, or your shifting isn’t crisp and precise, it’s time to visit your mechanic.
If you hear any new noises, creaks, squicks etc., it’s time to show up at a bike shop.
And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get ahold of us!