GUIDE · MAINTENANCE
How to keep track of your bike's maintenance: what to log and when
Good maintenance is not about remembering everything; it is about being able to look up what was done, when and with what. This guide explains what is worth logging, how to organise history by bike and by part and how to use it to anticipate checks.
Pedalytics is in preparation and cannot be downloaded or used yet. This guide explains the approach it is being built around. Meet Pedalytics
What is worth logging
- Cleanings: when, and after what kind of ride.
- Lubrication: which product and what type of lubricant, for example dry or wet.
- Replacements: which part comes off, which goes on and on what date.
- Inspections: what you checked and what you found.
- Adjustments and workshop jobs, with a free-text note.
One history per bike and another per part
Some jobs affect the whole bike, such as a general clean; others a single part, such as replacing the chain. Each event is best recorded in both places: the bike's timeline tells you what you have done to it, and the part's timeline tells its whole life, even if it moves between bikes.
When to check
- After rides in rain or mud: clean and lubricate the drivetrain and inspect the brakes.
- Before long or demanding rides: brake pads, chain, tyres and wheels.
- Periodically, for parts without a reliable interval, such as the frame, rigid fork or handlebars.
How Pedalytics approaches it
Pedalytics' workshop, still in preparation, records cleanings, lubrications, replacements and inspections, with products and notes. Every event lands on the timeline of the bike and of the part.
- Event types: clean, lubricate, replace, inspect or a custom one.
- When you replace a part, earlier rides stay tied to the previous part.
- History is combined with each part's wear, which is explained through mechanical load and intervals with a source.
Frequently asked questions
What should I log when I replace a part?
The part that comes off, the part that goes on, the date and the bike it is fitted to. If you can, add a note with the reason for the change.
How often should I clean and lubricate the drivetrain?
There is no universal frequency: it depends on conditions. After rides in rain, mud or dust it is best to clean and lubricate sooner.
Is a spreadsheet enough for maintenance tracking?
It works, but it takes discipline to link every ride to the bike and the parts you rode it on. That is where a dedicated tool saves effort.
How does Pedalytics know what to check?
It combines the workshop history with each part's wear, which rests on mechanical load and intervals with a source. If there is no reliable figure, it suggests an inspection.