Preparing Your Bike for a Century

Preparing Your Bike for a Century

If you ask someone how to prepare your bike for a Century ride, they'll most likely tell you to "get a tune-up".  While that's good advice, it really doesn't tell you what items you need to specifically address, and what are the particular trouble spots you're likely to encounter on Century rides.

Here are the three most important items in preparing your bike for a Century:

1. Tires

Flat tires are the #1 failure point on bikes, and riding in a Century will be no exception.  You can't prevent flats, only minimize the risk.

New bikes will usually come with the thinnest and lightest tires possible, which will make your bike ride it's best off of the showroom floor.  That's great for for speed, but not necessarily the best choice for everyday riding.  They're more susceptible to flats because they're thin and light.

If you travel on bumpy roads, uneven asphalt, potholes, ruts, etc., (basically everywhere we ride) than chances are that you'd be better served by a more durable tire.  Some cyclists won't use these because they're slightly heavier.  However it's a fair trade-off in weight, for the peace of mind knowing that you're less likely to flat.

Another option is to install a "tire liner" which is a thin plastic strip that goes inside of your tire, between the tube and the tire itself.  These are good at preventing thorny things from poking holes in your tubes.  Again, the trade-off is extra weight.  However, when you're on the side of the road changing your tire, having to deal with a tire liner flopping around, and trying to get it installed, can be a hassle.

Road bike tires have a very limited life-span and you need to replace them accordingly.  New bike tires may last less than 1,000 miles.  More durable tires might last twice as long.  It's always beneficial to replace tires before they wear out, instead of waiting until it's too late and you have to walk home.

Check with your local bike shop to see which size, brand and model of replacement tire would work best for you and your type of riding.  Try to switch to a more durable tire and minimize your risk of flats.

2. Chains

Chains wear out and "stretch". Well they don't really stretch because they're made of metal.  However, the distance between each link will increase (very slightly) over time.  That's because the pins and connector sleeves at each link wear down with use.  This wearing has the effect of making each connector pin thinner, and results in the chain links becoming slightly farther apart over time.  You may not be able to see this "stretching" but you can certainly measure it.

Bike shops use a chain measuring tool in order to determine if your chain has "stretched".  If so, it needs to be replaced.  What happens if you don't replace it?  Lots of bad things.  Instead of neatly dropping into each gear sprocket, a stretched chain will wear against the edge of each gear, on both your chainring (front) and cassette (rear).  In a very short amount of time your gears will become ruined and need replacing.

Replacing a chain is a $100 job.  Replacing cassettes is an additional $100 and chainrings can cost several hundred to replace.  So it's very important that your chain is replaced as necessary.  A new chain may only last a few thousand miles.  It really depends upon how hard you ride and how forceful your shifting is.  That's why it's best to let a mechanic visually inspect your chain and gears, to see if anything needs replacing.

On a Century ride, you're likely to be pushing your bike harder and longer then you've ever done before.  If you've already put in hundreds or even thousands of mile on your bike leading up to the Century, than chances are that replacing the chain would be a prudent decision before your Century ride, not during.  Otherwise it may break just when you're trying to crest the steepest hill of the day.

3. Cables

Brake cables and shifter cables are made up of several strands of thin wire that are under constant, heavy stress.  They stretch over time and will eventually snap. The only problem is, that you don't know exactly when they'll decide to break.  Most likely it will be during your Century ride.

A good way to tell if your cables need replacing is if you've noticed that your bike doesn't shift as smoothly as it once did.  For example, when you shift from 3rd to 4th gear, it doesn't quite shift into 4th like it should.  You have to press lightly on the shift lever and kind of wiggle the chain into position.  If you get off of your bike and adjust the cable tension slightly (by turning the adjustment barrel) this corrects the problem.  Then next week you have to do the same thing again.  Guess what?  You probably have a cable that's going to break soon.

The tell-tale sign of a bad cable is that it needs constant adjusting.  It needs adjusting because it stretched, and it stretched because it's about to break.  So get the cables replaced.  Generally, cables should last one, two or three years.  How hard you ride and how hard you shift can alter this duration significantly.  When in doubt, replace.

Cable replacement is a relatively inexpensive repair that's a sound investment.  If do you plan on new cables, be sure to look at some of the newer "low friction" cables that result in smoother shifting and braking.  They cost around $50 a pair, yet they'll make your bike feel like you've gone out and spent big bucks on high-end components.  Check with your local bike shop regarding new cable sets.

So while you'll certainly want to get yourself a "tune-up" before a Century ride, take extra care in examining your tires, chains and cables.  You may just save yourself from having a mechanical issue during your Century ride.