Modern bicycles are more sophisticated than ever, so why don't we approach their servicing and maintenance with the same level of sophistication?
Complex mechanisms require precise adjustments. Every part of a bicycle affects its overall performance, while proper maintenance ensures optimal functioning of all components and maximum enjoyment of riding. Regular servicing extends the life of individual parts and the entire bicycle. Mechanic must have knowledge of different types of bicycles, materials, and technologies. The point of this text is to raise awareness about the harm of "overstuffing" components of bicycles with grease, especially bearings.
Bicycle is not a motorcycle, car, or tractor, so there is no need for excessive use of lubricants and other greases. Cyclists need to be educated about proper maintenance and cleaning to prolong the life of components.
We often see high-end bicycles with excessive amounts of grease in bearings and other moving components, which causes significant damage in the long run, considering the dynamics of moving components such as bearings or the kinematics of frames and bolts. When something goes wrong, many customers wonder how it is possible if they have been regularly maintaining and servicing their bikes. It is possible, and it is exclusively possible if inappropriate lubricants are used in places not intended for them.
For example, link bolts, or rear triangle bolts, where the application of inappropriate grease and an inappropriate amount of grease, due to the forces created by the bicycle's kinematics, leads to wear of the material into which the bearing is pressed, and thus a shift or expansion or cracking of the seat into which the bearing enters. This is increasingly found on serviced bicycles. Everything is interconnected! After that, many wonder how it happened - today everyone is a mechanic, and everyone easily shares their opinions on social networks but has no basis for it or has heard "somewhere else".
We have written about the dynamics of bearings in previous blogs, as well as about the rational and correct use of appropriate lubricants for optimal performance. Tuning is something else, and customers must be aware that it may not be for them. What prompted us to write this blog was the excessive use, in this case, of white grease in inappropriate locations where it makes no sense or has no effect. In this case, a very thick white Teflon grease was used on the outer surfaces of the bearings and on the axle caps because the mechanic thought about creating some kind of protection so that water would not enter the bearing. If we go deeper into the problem, we come to the conclusion that this makes little sense, except that we have increased friction to the maximum, and when water enters the bearing itself, that water has no free way to exit, so the bearing begins to rapidly deteriorate and corrode.
At World Cup races, we disassemble bicycles every day, and there is no grease that will prevent water from penetrating the bearings. There are procedures and different purposes, and there are adequate lubricants on different bases that will optimally lubricate and allow water to exit, and they also contain certain additives that protect metals from corrosion and at the same time do not create a barrier between them. Don't waste grease, use optimal greases, and most importantly, maintain your bicycles yourself between service intervals, dry them after washing, do not use shampoos and degreasers, and the components will last longer, riding will be more pleasant, and service intervals will be cheaper. There must be an awareness that prolonged exposure to water and mud requires additional maintenance, especially with today's high-end bicycles!
