We are often asked which service would be best to proceed with before a race. In all honesty it depends on the condition and the specific issues with the bike itself. The most ideal situation would be the bike is in good condition so all it needs is a clean, lube and safety check to ensure it’s the fastest it can be and is looking good at the start line. If there are any minor inconveniences such as brakes are rubbing or gears not quite aligned, then a basic service should suffice, and the issues eliminated.
Give yourself time after a bike service to have a few pre-race rides.
Of course, to go into more detail then an intermediate service would ensure that the whole drivetrain has a deep clean and any mechanical pull cables replaced if necessary, I would recommend this no less than 2 weeks and a couple of rides before the race to eliminate any issues that could arise from a deeper service. There’s always the possibility parts need to be ordered, or human error can come into play.
Planning ahead of time to schedule your bike services to get your bicycle ready for race season.
There should be no need for any advanced or full-service type jobs just before a race, but if there are any deeper issues showing where bearings are worn then there is only one way to fix this issue and should be done well in advance, to give enough time in finding and replacing the parts, then squeezing in those essential pre-race rides. Its always up to the rider to maintain and understand their bike and not neglect it to the point it causes dilemmas so close to a race.
By Jordan Colledge, Head Mechanic Vélo Presto
