However, over time your bike may start to feel like an old dog, and may sound like one, too. Things may not function like you remember and you\u2019ll likely start lusting after something new and shiny.\nThat\u2019s not necessarily the only answer, though, so here are some handy ways to bring new life into that well-loved ride, and keep those family relationships intact.\nBest bike cleaning products: what to buy and how to keep your bike clean\n10 bike maintenance don\u2019ts\n1. Replace your tyres\n\n Rubber wears out and hardens over time. Fresh tyres and brake pads can completely transform a bike.\nWhen did you last replace the tyres on your bike? If they\u2019re on a road bike, are they starting to get a flat centre and show small cuts throughout? If it\u2019s a mountain bike, are the side knobs still intact or are they showing tearing at the edges?\nBest road bike tyres: everything you need to know\nBeyond the obvious wear signs, the rubber in your tyres will get harder over time. Nothing brings quite as much life back into a new bike as a fresh set, especially if you\u2019re upgrading to something better, too.\nFor road cyclists, do your frame and fork offer enough room to go fatter? Why not experience the smoother and more controlled ride of wider tyres?\n\n Aggressive mountain bikers will wear\/tear the side knobs well before the central tread.\nDitto for you mountain bikers, with clear trends showing wider is better. A 2.25in width tyre no longer looks strange on a cross-country bike, and your trail bike may enjoy going wider still.\nWhile replacing your tyres, check your tubes if you\u2019re running them, and your rim strips. These won\u2019t make much difference to the feel of your bike, but hey, you\u2019ll love that old bike more if you\u2019re not stopping to fix a flat.\nWith the tyres sorted, check the other rubber part on the bike (if you have rim brakes) \u2013 the brake blocks. Uneven wear or glazing is sure to be causing lost braking efficiency and possibly even harming your rims.\nWhile the pads aren\u2019t rubber for disc brake users, be sure to keep a close check on pad life and uneven wear here, too. Any severe squealing or lack of bite is a sign that they\u2019re contaminated and you should look at getting that stopping ability back.\n2. Replace your contact points\nIt\u2019s commonly said that fresh bar tape or grips bring about immediate youth to a bike. While this is certainly true, it\u2019s important to not ignore your other touch points too.\nSaddles do wear and over time the foam and shell will lose the firmness, shape and support they once offered. If your saddle is collapsing in the middle, or there are significant creases in the cover where the foam once was, then it\u2019s likely time to get yourself a new perch.\n\n Switching grips or bar tape is commonly recommended for bringing back that new bike feeling, but don\u2019t neglect your other contact points.\nIf you were always comfortable with your past saddle, then look for the closest replacement. If not, consider visiting your local bike stores and asking to trial a selection.\nIt\u2019s a similar story for the pedals. These things spin more than that overly enthusiastic guy holding a sign on your street corner.\nClip-in type pedals have multiple moving parts that won\u2019t last forever. The surface of the pedal is something to consider, too. While most have become far more durable in recent years, some older pedals, such as original Look Keos, are likely to have worn bodies by now and will let your feet rock in a way they shouldn\u2019t.\nDepending on your pedal system, consider giving them a quick service. For Shimano users, this is a straightforward task with relatively simple tools. Shimano pedals showing bearing play (do they wiggle on the axle?) can also be tightened once open, too.\nOther pedals may not be so easy, but certainly check for brand instructions.\nThen there are your cleats. When did you last replace them? Have you forgotten what the wear indicators even look like?\nIf replacing, a handy tip is to draw around the outside of your old cleats with a marker pen. This will let you install your new cleats into the exact position of the old ones.\n\n More maintenance articles\nEverything you ever wanted to know about cleaning your bike chain\n10 reasons why your shifting sucks\nCommon maintenance misconceptions that\u2019ll cost you time and money\n\n\n \n 3. Replace your cables\n\n Got stiff feeling brakes or inconsistent shifting? If so, it\u2019s often the cables. Fresh cables will make everything work right and feel nice and light again.\nConsider a worn, dirty or rusted cable like a clogged artery \u2013 it\u2019s bad news for your bike. Replacing your cables and housing isn\u2019t expensive and will bring a whole new smoothness to your brakes and shifting.\nIf your shifting is sluggish and inconsistent no matter how you adjust it, then it\u2019s likely the cables are at fault.\nWhile it\u2019s possible to buy fancy (expensive) sealed cable systems and low friction coated cables, my preference is to use common stainless steel cables and standard housings, and just replace them more often. For Shimano users, this means something like a SP41 housing and \u2018SUS\u2019 inner cables.\n\u201cBut Dave, I have electronic shifting,\u201d you say? Hey, good for you. You\u2019ve just stumbled upon one of the biggest benefits to such a system. Now, go charge your battery.\nBrakes are a similar story to mechanical shifting systems, but are typically less susceptible to showing issues from cable contamination. I probably replace my brake cables with every third set of gear cables.\nFor those with hydraulic brakes, consider a bleed. Brakes using DOT fluid will greatly benefit from some fresh fluid and you\u2019ll be amazed at how nice it is to have that lever \u2018snap\u2019 back.\n4. Replace your worn chain\n\n Chains wear surprisingly fast, so keep up with regular replacements and the rest of your drivetrain will last nicely.\nI\u2019ve covered this in depth, but a wearing chain is likely to feel sloppy and slow. More likely, though, that a wearing chain is met with an equally neglected drivetrain covered in muck.\nUse a new chain as an excuse to give that whole drivetrain a going over (unless it\u2019s too far worn, again, see the chain wear article). I\u2019ll never put a new chain onto a dirty drivetrain \u2013 you shouldn\u2019t abuse your mechanical privileges like that.\nLet\u2019s say you have worn that chain and it\u2019s now longer than ever. It\u2019s a perfect time to assess how your gearing ratios are working for you. Perhaps that 11-28t cassette is slowing you down and an 11-30t is needed, I mean hey, none of us are getting any younger.\nOr perhaps you\u2019ve never replaced your chainrings and they look more like a ninja throwing star than a cycling component. Are the ratios suitable or have you always just used them because that\u2019s what the bike came with? Always use your hard work of wearing things out as an excuse to upgrade and customise.\n5. Replace worn bearings\n\n Just because you can\u2019t see them doesn\u2019t mean they don\u2019t need attention. Don\u2019t ignore your bearings, it\u2019s amazing what a good quality and free spinning bearing can do to the way your bike rides.\nDon\u2019t always fear the things you can\u2019t see. Bikes hide bearings in the hubs, bottom bracket, headset and, on some mountain bikes, the suspension pivots.\nThe good news is that many modern bikes use \u2018sealed bearings\u2019, also known as \u2018cartridge bearings\u2019. When these feel rough or form play, the best solution is to replace them. Unfortunately, depending on how they\u2019re installed, you may need some specialist tools.\nFor hubs, I personally seek out ABEC 5 steel bearings from the likes of Enduro. If you\u2019re swapping out worn bearings, you\u2019ll be amazed at the difference a high-quality bearing can make to the feel of your bike.\nHeadsets are typically easier and a few hex keys are all that\u2019s needed to get to the bearings. If you regularly ride in hot conditions, then you likely spend much of your time dripping corrosive sweat straight onto the headset bearings.\nKnowing this, preventative maintenance is super easy and undoing the stem, dropping the fork out and squirting in some fresh grease every few months will keep your bike tracking the way it should.\nThen there\u2019s the bottom bracket. Personally, I check this out anytime I have the crank off the bike (typically when it\u2019s new chain time and I\u2019m cleaning things). Roughness is a sign of wear, but also be sure to check for play or any creaking. If it\u2019s a press-fit system and not giving you any of the above issues, then just leave it alone.\nIf it\u2019s a threaded unit, then my preference is to remove it, give it a clean and a new coat of anti-seize before re-installing.\n6. Service your suspension\n\n No matter the configuration of your suspension, maintenance will always improve its performance. Dan Milner \/ BikeRadar\nIf you\u2019re a mountain biker, here\u2019s a sixth tip for free. When was the last time you had your suspension serviced? Can\u2019t remember?\nThe oil within degrades with time and use, which greatly affects the sought functionality of the product. Additionally, ignoring these service internals could lead to significant component wear, which means big bucks to fix, compared with many other parts on the bike.\nHow to set up your mountain bike suspension: video guides to help you get the most from your bike\nSuspension manufacturers will always be conservative with their suggested service intervals, with Fox recommending an overhaul at every 125 hours of use, and RockShox suggesting you do a similar service every 100 hours.\nAnd don\u2019t forget, keeping the wiper seals clean between rides will keep your suspension much happier between services.\nAll of the above are each, in their own right, proven ways to bring some happiness back to your ride. You can do each one as you please and feel a renewed ride, or you can go all out and give it a complete overhaul in time for the change of season. After all, it\u2019s your bike.","image":"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/get-that-new-bike-feel-home-wrench-dave-rome-1-1456459671943-1n652xgwx0ux0-e992172.jpg?quality=90&resize=768,574","width":768,"height":574,"headline":"5 ways to make your old bike feel new again","author":["@type":"Person","name":"David Rome"],"publisher":"@type":"Organization","name":"BikeRadar","url":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com","logo":"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/cropped-White-Orange-da60b0b-04d8ff9.png?quality=90&resize=265,53","width":182,"height":60,"speakable":"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","xpath":["\/html\/head\/title","\/html\/head\/meta[@name='description']\/@content"],"url":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/features\/make-your-old-bike-feel-new-again\/","datePublished":"2020-03-21T11:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2020-03-21T11:00:15+00:00"}] 5 ways to make your old bike feel new again Refreshing the right parts will bring new life to your old steed
Not All Bikes are Created Equal… Some Parts Just Won’t Work on Older Steeds
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