Wheels are one of the most important components of a racing bike. For our bike to perform at its best, the wheels must not only be high-quality but also properly maintained. Cleaning and maintenance are essential for extending the life of the rims and increasing the efficiency of our pedaling.
Taking care of every detail to the utmost
Caring for your road bike wheels isn't just about cleaning the rims and keeping them in good condition. Road bike wheels are made up of various components that must be cared for and maintained if we want the wheels themselves, and therefore the bike, to last longer and remain in top condition.
Rims , hubs and bearings are three elements of the road bike wheel that need constant and correctly done maintenance.
So let's find out the most important steps and actions to take to keep your racing bike wheels in good condition.
Cleaning and inflation
We've already seen how to properly clean a racing bike . Let's now go into detail and see how to clean the wheels .
It's good practice to clean your wheels after every ride, especially if you've been riding on wet, dirty, or dusty roads. There may be dirt stuck to the rim and spokes that, if left unremoved, can seriously damage the wheel over time. Therefore, washing these parts is essential. It's always best to remove the wheels for proper cleaning: take a cloth or sponge soaked in water, and perhaps even a mild detergent, and rub it over every part of the rim and each spoke. Then dry with paper towels or a cloth.
For this operation, avoid using a pressure washer because its very strong jet of water can ruin the rim and spokes.
Inflating your road bike tire is also important for its maintenance. Paying attention to this detail extends the life of your tubes and tires, as well as making your ride better.
Therefore, always keep your inner tubes at the right pressure. There are various schools of thought on this point, but as a general guideline, we can say around 8 atmospheres for the rear wheel and 7.5 atmospheres for the front. Don't forget, however, that even more important is the feeling you get with your bike, so only you will know exactly how much pressure to inflate your tires to .
It's advisable to slightly deflate the tires after each ride and re-inflate them before starting again. Furthermore, it's best not to store the bike on the ground, but rather to raise it by hooking it to a wall mount. This will preserve the tires and wheels as much as possible. Finally, the tire should also be cleaned after each training session or race, and a hose is ideal for this purpose.
Let's now see how to perform maintenance on bearings, quick release, hubs and sprocket pack.
Bearings
Bearings are often used until the end of their natural life, that is, until they are completely worn out and need to be replaced. However, proper and consistent maintenance can extend their lifespan.
Remembering that only a qualified mechanic can change the bearings, let's see what procedures to follow for proper maintenance of the bearings of your racing bike wheel:
- remove the cap
- Clean both the cap and the inside of the hub with a little water and a brush because dirt can lodge between the cap and the bearing.
- Lightly grease the front surface of the bearing: that grease only serves to prevent dirt from entering
- clean the caps with neutral soap
- put the cap back on
Quick release
The quick release, the system for removing and attaching the wheel to the frame , despite its simplicity, must be used correctly to avoid unpleasant inconveniences. Like all racing bike components , it is subject to wear and tear and therefore requires maintenance. Maintenance of the quick release is, however, a fairly simple procedure and should be done at least once every two months.
Here are the operations to be carried out:
- remove the quick release from the bike
- Clean with degreaser to remove traces of dirt and oxidation
- check that the pin is not oxidized and that it does not have cracks
- check that the springs are intact and that they do not show any traces of corrosion
- lubricated
- Lightly grease the pin so that it is protected from the action of water and does not rust
- put everything back together
Sprocket pack
Finally, it is very important to pay particular attention to the rear wheel and specifically to the sprocket pack, to clean it properly.
To clean the cassette, simply use a mild soap and a brush. After washing thoroughly, rinse thoroughly.
Conclusion
As you've seen, it's very important to perform regular maintenance on all parts of your racing bike's wheel, to increase performance and, above all, to extend the life of each component.
Our advice is always the same, and very important: if you're not experienced enough or feel unsure about certain procedures, seek the expert care of a mechanic. This way, you can pedal worry-free and your racing bike wheels will always be in top condition.
