
Fleet is home to a growing army of mountain bike enthusiasts, and we know that your mountain bike is a precious piece of kit to each and every one of you. Here at Spokes and Spanners, we work hard to ensure that your bike is always in tip top condition. Our bike mad mechanics are on hand to help you with all of your servicing, repairs and bike sales requirements.
We stock a wide variety of accessories and can even supply you with a shiny new mountain bike in Fleet, should you be looking for one. We pride ourselves on offering a fast and friendly service, with all work undertaken by our professionally trained mechanics, usually in our very own workshop. So don’t be a stranger, come and visit us today.
Fleet Mountain Bike Services
If your mountain bike needs a good going over, we are the boys to do that for you. We can advise you on service intervals, repairs and even the very best local bike trails to suit your ability.
We offer a variety of servicing options, and can answer your questions regarding the current state of your bike. One of the questions we are asked most often is “how regularly should my mountain bike be serviced”. The truth is, many of the smaller jobs can be undertaken by the rider themselves, but bigger works should be left to the professionals. Here are our top tips on how to maintain your mountain bike both at home, and with the help of our mechanics.
As a rider, you want to know that your bike is always up to the task at hand. You can inspect your bike at home before you leave to ensure certain parts are in good working order.
Before Every Ride
You should check for the following:
- The correct air pressure in the tires
- That the cables and brakes are in good working order
- That the crank is set tight
- That the quick release hubs are tight
After Every Ride
When you get home, have a quick go over the following:
- Inspect your tires for glass, gravel shards, and any cuts on tread and sidewall
- Check wheels for true
- Clean the bike’s mechanical parts as necessary
- Once a week or every 200 miles you should ideally lubricate the chain with dry lube
Once a Month
Set aside some time to ensure your bike is in good order. This more thorough check over should include:
- Completely cleaning the bike, including the drivetrain if necessary
- Inspecting both the chain and freewheel, measuring the chain for wear, checking for tight links and bringing the chain into us for replacement if necessary
- You should inspect and lubricate brake levers, derailleurs and all cables
- You should also inspect the pedals and lubricate SPD style cleats
- Don’t forget to inspect tires for wear and rotate or replace if necessary
Whilst you are checking your bike over, make sure to inspect for looseness in all areas of the bike, from the stem binder bolt through to the brake mounting bolts.
Of course, this is a lot to expect if you are new to mountain biking, or do not have the time of the energy to start looking at your bike in detail. No bother though, you can simply drop your bike into us a for a quick check while you wait.
Every 3 to 6 Months
Spend some time getting to know the more complicated components of your bike including:
- Inspecting the frame and fork for paint cracks or parts damage, paying particular attention to all frame joints
- You should also visually inspect for bent components in the seat rails, the seat post, the stem, the handlebars, the chainrings, the crank arms, the brake callipers and the brake levers
- You should also inspect and readjust bearings in headset, hubs, pedals and bottom bracket
Again, we can check all of the above for you, quickly and easily, and usually while you wait.
Every 12 to 18 Months
Your bike will need a full service after this amount of time. Whilst you can of course tinker around with it yourself, the quickest and safest way to ensure that your mountain bike is in tip top condition is to bring it into Spokes and Spanners for a full annual service.
Mountain Bike Servicing In Fleet
Fleet in Hampshire offers a wide and varied selections of bike trails for you to enjoy. Whether you ride when the sun is shining, once a month to blow away the cobwebs or every day without fail, there will be the perfect terrain to suit your needs and skill level.
Swinley Forest, Yateley Heath, Heath Warren and Tweseldown are just a few areas that have a wide selection of trails for you to enjoy. Swinley Forest alone has over 27 man-made trails suitable for all weather riding, making it a popular destination for riders in the area. Yately Heath also offers some great trails courtesy of the Gorrick races, and Heath Warren is a single track mountain bike trail that is fun to ride.
Before you set out to explore the Hampshire countryside, why not visit us first. We will service your beloved bike to ensure it is riding smoothly and keeping you safe as your get out and get riding!