As we all know, due to the epidemic and the superposition of various factors, the demand in the bicycle industry has shown an increasing trend in recent years, but manufacturers have not been able to keep up with the pace of demand.
The shortage of bicycles and accessories is real, and while many forecasters say it will continue until 2022, perhaps everyone has prepared for a long-term shortage. In this case, you may need to use your existing parts for a longer period of time. Here are some suggestions to make your accessories last longer.
Maintenance and prevention of parts damage is the key
Choose when and where you ride
Not cycling in rough weather will greatly increase the life of your drivetrain, brakes, tires, and bearings. Of course, sometimes it’s unavoidable, but if you can choose not to cycle on wet, muddy, or gravel-filled trails, your bike will thank you.
If you planned to cross-country cycling, then you need to consider whether the route you choose will have water accumulation. For example, after heavy rain, the trails and gravel roads will be wetter than the wide roads. A little adjustments to your route will greatly extend the life of accessories.
Clean your drivetrain, lubricate your chain
Keeping your drivetrain clean and lubricated can greatly increase the life of the drivetrain. As an extreme example, in the case of lack of maintenance, the entire drivetrain of the same model is covered with rust after less than 1000 kilometers of use and has to be replaced. While those who keep it clean and use high-quality lubricants, the chain can use at least 5000 kilometers.
In pursuit of marginal benefits, different chain oils have been developed. A well-maintained chain can have a service life of more than 10,000 kilometers. If you feel the chain load is rough or dry during cycling, then it needs to be lubricated as soon as possible. Generally speaking, the wax chain oil is not easy to stick to ash, is suitable for the dry environment, reduce chain wear; oil chain is suitable for wet environments, with stronger adhesion, but it is easy to get dirty.
Checking the chain wear and tension in time is another important point to protect your driveline. Before your chain wears and becomes longer, you need to replace it in time, so as not to accelerate the wear of the flywheel and the disc, or break and cause unpredictable damage. A chain ruler is usually required to confirm whether the chain is stretched or not. Some brands of chains come with a chain ruler, which needs to be replaced immediately when the chain exceeds the stretch warning line.
Implement preventive maintenance
The drivetrain is just one part of the bike. Others such as bottom brackets, headsets, hubs, etc. can also be implemented preventive cleaning and maintenance. Simple cleaning and lubrication of these often-overlooked parts to remove accumulated grit and prevent corrosion will also greatly increase service life. Also, if your bike has movable parts like shocks or dropper posts, fine dust can get trapped under the seal and gradually damage the surfaces of those telescopic parts. Usually, suppliers recommend that similar parts be serviced at 50 or 100 hours of use If you can’t remember when the last service was, it’s definitely time to do it.
Brake block, brake lining inspection
Whether you’re using disc or rim brakes, the braking surfaces will wear out over time, but taking precautions can greatly improve the life of parts. For rim brakes, this can be as simple as cleaning your rims with a clean rag and removing any dirt from the brake pads.
For disc brakes, the most common cause of premature wear is uneven friction caused by improperly installed calipers or by warping the pads. Disc brake road kits are one of the parts most affected by supply chain shortages, and adjustments to the brakes can have a huge impact on wear and braking performance. Usually, when the thickness of the pad is less than 1mm, the pad can be replaced. In addition, don’t forget that the disc will eventually wear out. Checking the relevant parts in time can find the problem as soon as possible.
Avoid getting wet with sweat and take active maintenance
The winter cold weather and many cyclists choose to use the riding platform at home. Because of the relatively fixed position and a lot of sweat dripping, it is very likely that the sweat will penetrate into the interior of the parts, and the salt carried in the sweat will accelerate the metal parts oxidized, and the accumulated salt will also cause damage to the parts. There are many pictures of salt-corroded parts on the Internet.
Therefore, when using the riding platform or cycling on a muddy road, you should avoid direct infiltration of sweat and mud into the parts. If it has infiltrated by accident, please actively clean it, which will greatly extend the service life.
Select compatible products to upgrade or downgrade as appropriate
When the parts do reach the replacement, you find that the same model is already out of stock. At this time, you need to find a more advanced or downgraded compatible product to replace. This is also an opportunity for you to understand the part compatibility you need and see if there is a low-end or high-end part that can be substituted.
For example, road chainrings are a classic example. Usually for the drivetrain, other parts of the same brand and the same speed can be mixed, such as 105 cranks with Dura-Ace chainrings. Or choose some third-party discs.
For other parts, the main focus is on compatibility, such as the OD2 head tube and others such as seat tube diameter, etc., as long as they are compatible.
Look in the second-hand market
With parts shortages, purchasing new parts can be difficult and expensive. In this case, buying used parts might be a good way to go.
Of course, it is not recommended to buy consumable parts in the second-hand market, such as chains, flywheels, brake blocks, and discs, etc. But other spare parts can be selected if they are in good condition.
It is should notice that most of the products on the second-hand market have no warranty, and the quality depends on your own judgment. Whether can accept these shortcomings varies from person to person.
Think outside the box
Need a new gear kit but none of the merchants have it in stock? Maybe this is the best time to think outside the box and convert it into a single-wheel shifting. The idea isn’t for those who cycle in groups and live in bumpy terrain, but it’s certainly an option for those who prefer solo cycling and flat conditions. A typical single-speed conversion requires a single-speed cassette and chain without any shifting system, and best of all, it’s not very expensive or a permanent change.
The above is just an example so that you can think outside the box when there is a shortage of parts, and you may have a different experience.
Don't always be in the online world
Due to the rapid development of the Internet, many people live completely in the online world, and it is easy to form an information cocoon. The spare parts information searched on the Internet show out-of-stock and premium prices, which is very likely to be misleading.
The reality is that many spare parts manufacturers will close online agents, online sales channels to support their offline retail partners. Such as Giant, Trek, Specialized, or almost any major bike company parts are fully serviced offline. The same goes for Shimano, SRAM, Fox, and countless other spare parts manufacturers, not all of which are available on the internet.
If you can’t find parts online, give your local bike store a call and see if they can help, there’s a good chance there will be a different fix.