Choosing the Right Bike Service: 5 Crucial Considerations

It's a common question for all riders - "What is the best service for my bike?".

A Giant bike getting a Tune Up service

Here's 5 notes to take before making a decision.

1. Frequency

Bicycle odometer on a bikes handlebar

• Family Friendly Casual Riders (less than ~20km / week): If you ride your bike occasionally for short commutes or random weekend adventures, a basic maintenance like brake adjustments, chain lubrication and gear tuning might suffice. This is more of a safety check you need to have at least once a year. Our Tuning Service offers all of the above to get you enjoying those sunny, wind-free days.

• Regular Riders (~20km - 50km / week): If you ride several times a week to the station or cover long distances, your bike will need a more thorough check. This could include derailleur alignments, drivetrain cleanout (a clean bike is a smooth bike) and perhaps even wheel truing. Our General Service offers all of the above plus a little more to get you riding easier and quicker to where you need to go.

• Gran Fondo Cyclists (~50+km / week): For those who use their bikes for sports clocking in the strava miles, specialized services that include a closer look at complex systems like headsets, bottom brackets, hubs and hydraulic brake systems are necessary. Even though you go through a few kms "nicely", you could be loosing wattage on worn out bearings, rubbing brakes or dry hubs. For this, our Complete Deep Clean Service is the go-to service which gets your bike feeling safe and ready for the next challenge.

2. Last Service Date

• 0-6 months: If your bike has been serviced recently or come out of the box and shows no signs of wear or malfunction, it may not even need a service. But for peace of mind, a Tune-up wouldn't hurt anyone. If anything, it will make the riding even more enjoyable. Alternatively, you could book in a FREE check-up for us to double check there is nothing wrong with the bike!

• 6-18months: Bikes showing little signs of wear like squeaky brakes, skipping gears, or rust may require the General Service that goes beyond basics. in the 6-18 month period, this is where all the oils and lubricants that protect your bike start to become dry. Once it is dry, there will be no more protection for your bike which will cause rust. So a easy service may turn into a nasty bill to replace what needs to be replaced.

• 1.5+ years: If your bike hasn’t been serviced for a long time or is showing multiple signs of wear and tear, a comprehensive overhaul might be needed. From history, bikes that have not been serviced greater than 1.5 years usually come in for a minimum of our General Service, otherwise The Complete Deep Clean service. There are rare cases where it would just need a tuning service to get it running again, but for safety and longevity, we would always recommend the general service at minimum.

3. Intensity of Use

A bike that is on the 9th gear (easiest cog)

If you would have to average out your faviourite cog level, what would it be?

To answer this question as simply as we can, say you have an 9 speed bike (9 levels of gears in the back cog). If your favourite gear to ride on is gear number 9 (smallest cog in the rear), then you are riding in a high intensity gear. This means when you pedal, it is really "hard". The harder you pedal, the more tension there is on the chain which will cause it to wear out faster than another bike with a rider riding on easier pedalling. The above however is subjective, as not everyone feels the same "hardness" as the other person. But for simplicity sake, we will compare it on the level of cog you are riding on the most with the front cog in the middle cog for bikes with 3 cogs in the front or largest cog for bikes with 2 in the front.

• Easy riding (Gears 1-3 out of 9 speed): Known as the "Granny gears", the first 33% of cogs (Gear 1, 2 and 3 of a 9 speed cassette) are usually for riders that pedal with minimum effort. Here, chains would get the most life but pedalling will be too easy to gain any speed.

• Medium riding (Gears 4-6 out of 9 speed): the middle cogs (Gear 4, 5 and 6 of a 9 speed cassette) are usually great for flat paced riding. Here, chains get comfy and are under medium tension.

• Hard riding (Gears 7-9 out of 9 speed): the hard cogs (Gear 5, 6 and 7 of a 9 speed cassette). If you want speed on a flat surface, these are the gears to be on. Usually harder to ride on for prolonged periods of time but it will get you to the speeds you hope for. Here, chains and cogs recieve the most torque.
  

Knowing the above will give you a little insight on the pressure and strain your bike's drivetrain is under. Over time, each of these riding modes will consume the life of your bike as parts generally just get "worn" out through consistent use.

4. Current Condition

Bike with rusted chain and broken front wheel

From our experience, the condition of the bike gives a good insight on what is needed to get it to ride well.

Brand Spankin' New:

Congratulations on your new bike! At this stage, a quick check-over and Tuning Service to ensure all the parts are working correctly is a good idea. This will ensure all parts are assembled correctly. You can typically wait a little longer for a more in-depth service.

Dusty: If your bike has been sitting idle and collected some dust, a Tuning Service might be just what it needs. This service will give the bike a wipe down, lubricate the chain, lubricate the cables and adjust all the gears and brakes so it’s ready for the road or trail again after a long rest.

Rusty: Rust is a sign of neglect and potentially serious problems. General Service at minimum is a must to assess and treat rust and corrosion, replacing parts as needed.

Dusty, Rusty and Musty (Neglected): If your bike has seen better days and has been neglected, then it may need a complete overhaul. The Complete Deep Clean is a full clean, thorough inspection, heavy geasing and lubricating service to ensure it is safe and ready to ride. Be prepared for a potentially higher service bill if your bike has reached this stage. We will always assess the bike and give you an estimate before commencing the service just to make sure you're okay with it. 50% of the time, bikes that have reached ultimate neglect are a write-off as your money may be better spent on a new bike!

5. Specific Issues or Concerns

• No Issues: If nothing seems wrong and you just want a routine check-up, a basic service will likely suffice.

• Targeted Issues: If you are facing specific problems like a broken wheel or weird noises in the pedal area, you may opt for a service that focuses on those particular areas directly.

• Multiple Issues: If you have a range of concerns from gears to brakes to wheel alignment, a more comprehensive service package would be the best choice such as the complete deep clean service. Here we will find all the problems of your bike and take action to remove all your problems.
  

By evaluating these factors, you can better match your needs to the service packages offered, ensuring that you invest in the most appropriate maintenance for your bike.

Check out whats included in our service packages here.

How to Book?

Booking a service with us couldn’t be simpler. Book online or give us a call. Clear pricing is available right in our booking system.

Don't compromise on performance or safety. Choose the service that's right for you and your bike. At Supatan Bikes Co., a well-serviced bike is a happy bike, and a happy bike makes for an even happier rider.

Ready to ride smoothly? Book your service now.