16
Lifespan and normal wear
A bike
’s
frame, fork and every component
that makes a complete bike are subject to
material fatigue and wear.
Normal use of your bike will eventually
wear components such as the chain, the
brake pads, the tires, the rims, bearings,
etc.
Intensive use, harsh conditions and lack of
maintenance will cause these parts to
wear off faster.
Most of the parts on your bike are
replaceable and they should be when they
are worn out.
Here’s how to find out
when some of the components of your
bike need to be replaced:
Brake pads
The brake pads get in contact with the
rim’s braking track and a small quantity of
material wears off every time you apply
the brakes.
Replace the brake pads once the material
has been worn off down to the engraved
limit line.
In order to maintain strong braking
power and to prevent premature wear
of your brake pads and rim, inspect the
brake pads contact surface from time
to time. Remove any metal shrapnel present and
lightly sand down the material to remove the thin
glazed portion of its surface if necessary.
Rim
A quality rim can last for many years when
used under normal conditions and with
timely brake pads replacement. However,
it is not eternal and the rim’s braking
surface slowly wears out every time you
apply the brakes.
A rim should be replaced when the
braking track material has been worn off
down to the engraved limit groove line.
From time to time, of after a hard
impact, inspect your rims to spot any
deformation in the material. Check
every spoke to make sure none of
them is broken. If the rim has a deformation, or if
a spoke is broken, do not ride your bike. Have the
damage assessed by a qualified technician and
have the parts fixed if possible.
