Maintenance

Setup and servicing that keeps a bike fast, quiet and safe.

• Brake bleed

  Replacing the fluid in a hydraulic brake and pushing out the air bubbles that make the lever soft. Once a year, or whenever the lever feels spongy or pulls to the bar.

• Tubeless setup

  Converting a wheel to tubeless: tape the rim, fit a valve, mount the tyre with sealant and seat it with a burst of air. Forty-five minutes the first time, fifteen once you know it.

• Suspension setup

  Half an hour with a shock pump makes a bigger difference than most upgrades. Set the air pressure by sag, then rebound, then compression — one change at a time.

• Tyre pressure

  The cheapest upgrade on any mountain bike. Too much air and the tyre skips and slides; too little and it squirms, burps and hits the rim. The right number depends on you, the tyre and the trail.

• Chain care

  A clean, lubed chain shifts better, runs quieter and saves the cassette and chainring. Clean and lube it every few rides and replace it before it wears out everything else.

• Pre-ride check

  Five minutes before every ride that catch most mechanicals before they happen: tyres, brakes, axles, bars and the drivetrain, checked in one pass around the bike.