TUNING YOUR BIKE BEFORE AN EVENT

Preparation is key

Give your bicycle a thorough tune-up early in the season, and plan final prep at least 2 weeks before your event. In any competitive or long-distance cycling endeavor, preparation can make all the difference between success and disappointment. On race or event day, you will be confronted with many things that are out of your control: the weather, the speed of your competitors, an unfamiliar course, etc. Good preparation will make sure that the things you can control will not be a problem in your big event, leaving you able to deal with the things outside of your control. The condition of your bicycle is one of the many elements that you can control.

Planning your bike's tune-up schedule

When you transition from indoor training to riding outside is the best time to have your bicycle fully tuned-up. Getting a full tune-up early in the season will help you get the most out of your training. This is also a good time to make any changes to your position. Combining the tune-up with a professional bike fitting will reduce the cost of making modifications to the bike that are recommended during the fitting. Then, throughout the season, plan final prep at least 2 weeks before major events to make any necessary repairs and replace or upgrade components.

Extending the "life" of your tune-up

As you progress through your training, you can easily extend the life of your bike's full tune-up:

Keep your bike clean and the chain properly lubricated.
If new noises or other issues develop during your training, they can be taken care of quickly with little disruption to your training schedule.
Approximately two weeks before your event, have your bicycle checked over and any issues that affect its performance taken care of. Plan to ride your bike around 200 miles between your tune-up service and the event . This will allow any new parts that might have been installed to break-in and any other post-service settling to occur with plenty of time to get it taken care of before your event.
If you have race wheels, this is a good time to have them installed and get the brakes and derailleurs adjusted to the new wheels.
New bicycle tires usually have a mold release compound coating the tread, which reduces their grip especially in wet conditions. Install new tires in time to ride them for at least 100 miles to wear off the release compound.

Following these guidelines will ensure that your bicycle performs flawlessly, allowing you to focus your attention on achieving your best performance. When your bicycle is performing, it disappears from your consciousness and becomes an extension of your body.

– Ken McLean, Landry's technical director

Questions? Contact or visit your local Landry's Service Department for assistance.