Keep the bike ready so practice and race weekends are about riding, not surprises. This is a suggested service schedule - adjust to your bike, miles, and shop recommendations.
This schedule assumes a practice-heavy season - roughly three weekday rides plus a couple of Saturdays a month. On that cadence, Level 1 is about every four weeks, Level 2 about every eight weeks, and Level 3 about every four months. If your rider logs more or less time, follow the riding-hour marks (~25 / ~50 / ~100) more than the calendar labels.
Each task will eventually open a short how-to: what you need, how to do it at home, and when to take it to a shop. Until those pages exist, use this as a checklist and ask a coach or local shop when you are unsure.
On iPad or phone: open the chart, then use Share → Print → Save as PDF to keep a copy in Files or AirDrop it to someone in the shop.
What the badges mean
ShopUsually better left to a mechanic unless you already know the job.
SpecialNeeds gear beyond the basic home toolkit - bleed kit, truing stand, hanger gauge, and similar.
WarnEasy to ruin parts if you get this wrong - stop and check before you start.
Tools before you start
Start with a basic home kit. Use the Shop and Special badges on the schedule below - their meanings are in the key at the top of this page.
Changing a flat on the trail only works if the pack matches the job: levers, air, a tube or plug kit, and a place to park tiny parts while your hands are dirty.
Basic home toolkit
Cover most Level 1 work and a lot of inspection with a small, known set. Buy quality once; label hex sizes so younger helpers can find them.
Hex / Allen keys (metric set that fits your bike - usually 2–8 mm)
Torx / star bits if your stem, rotors, or pedals use them
Flat and Phillips screwdrivers
Open-end or adjustable wrenches for pedals and axles
Cable / housing cutters
Chain checker and a way to break / reconnect the chain
Tire levers and a floor pump with a gauge
Rags, isopropyl alcohol, and the chain lube or wax you actually use
Tubeless sealant syringe or bottle, and spare valve cores
Specialized gear (as you grow into jobs)
These are the “Special” badge items. You do not need them on day one - borrow, share with the team, or take that job to a shop until you do.
Torque wrench for cockpit bolts (stems and bars are easy to overtighten by feel)
Shock / fork pump - low-volume, high-pressure; a floor pump will not set sag correctly
Brake bleed kit and the correct fluid (DOT vs mineral oil - never mix)
Wheel truing stand and spoke wrenches
Derailleur hanger alignment gauge
Bottom-bracket tools / press for your specific BB standard
Fork / shock service tools, oils, and seals for your model
Workstand (and sometimes a soft-jaw vise) for stable bench work
Pedal rebuild kit matched to your pedal model
Trail and race pack - build it on purpose
A multi-tool is fine if you like them. If you do not, sit down with your home kit and pack only what you would actually use on the trail. Ask for each job: “Could I really finish this mid-ride?”
Spare tube (even on tubeless bikes - many riders carry one for “tubeless to tube” saves)
Tire levers and a pump or CO2 you have practiced with
Patch kit or bacon strips / plug kit if you run tubeless
Multi-tool or the exact hex / Torx bits your bike needs
Chain quick-link that matches your chain
Small plastic bag or zip pouch for valve cores, stem nuts, and tiny parts so they do not disappear in the dirt
Phone, cash / card, and a way to call for a pickup if the repair is bigger than the pack
Ride-day checks
Before every ride - ABCDE check
Every ride · Takes about 2 minutes
Air - tires, bead seat, suspension sag
Brakes - lever feel, pad clearance, rotor
Chain - wax or lube present, no stiff links
Drivetrain / dash - shifting, hanger, e-bike display if equipped
Extras - stem, bars, saddle, thru-axles tight
No exceptions before rolling out.
After every ride - about 5 minutes
Every ride · About 5 minutes
Wipe frame, fork, shock, and drivetrain with a damp cloth
Rinse mud from brakes and rotors - no pressure washer on pedals or bearings
Check tire sidewalls for cuts, tears, or embedded debris
Check tire tread - replace when center knobs are worn flat
Spin wheels - listen for bearing roughness or wobble
Hang or store upright - never resting on the rotors
Service levels
Shop prices are rough planning numbers for what a typical tune often costs (parts extra). They are not quotes - call your shop for real pricing.
Level 1 - monthly service
About once a month · About every 25 riding hours (~4 weeks at practice cadence) · ~$109 shop equivalent (parts extra)
Tubeless - top up sealant 30–60 ml per tire; inspect bead seat
Tubeless valve cores - clean or replace if sealant flow is sluggish
Chain - strip and re-wax (hot wax or your usual method)
Suspension - check sag, air pressure, rebound clicksSpecial
Brakes - pad wear depth; fluid sight glass if present
Clipless pedals - inspect and re-grease if needed
Cockpit - torque stem bolts, bar clamp, and seatpost clampSpecial
Tires - center knob wear and sidewall cuts
Thru-axles - thread condition and torque to spec
Good first service for younger riders to help with, under supervision.
Level 2 - bi-monthly service
About every two months · About every 50 riding hours (~8 weeks at practice cadence) · ~$189 shop equivalent (parts extra)
Everything in Level 1, plus:
Fork lowers - drain, clean, refill (use the oil your fork calls for)ShopSpecial
Chain wear - measure; replace if worn past the maker’s limit (often ~0.5%)
Brakes - full lever feel test; bleed if spongy (confirm fluid type first)WarnShopSpecial
Headset - check for play; grease if needed
Dropper post - actuation and cable / hose routing
Derailleur hanger - check alignment, especially after impactsSpecial
Wheel hubs - check for play; spin for bearing roughness
Wheel truing - spoke tension; true if more than about 2 mm outShopSpecial
WarnConfirm brake fluid type (DOT vs mineral oil) before any bleed - mixing them ruins the system.
Level 3 - quarterly service
About every three months · About every 100 riding hours (~4 months at practice cadence) · ~$399+ shop equivalent (parts extra)
Everything in Level 2, plus:
Fork - full service (air spring and damper)ShopSpecial
Shock - air sleeve service and o-ring replacementShopSpecial
Brakes - full bleed with the correct fluid (SRAM is typically DOT 5.1; Shimano and TRP are typically mineral oil)WarnShopSpecial
Bottom bracket - check play and creak; service or replaceShopSpecial
Clipless pedals - full rebuild with the correct kit for your model (Crankbrothers bodies are often stamped 2, 3, or 11)Special
Cables and housing - inspect; replace if frayed or corroded
E-bike motor - torque check per the manufacturer (if equipped)ShopSpecial
Suspension linkage bearings - check play; grease or replaceShopSpecial
Pedal rebuilds can be a supervised youth project. Full shock service is often billed separately at shops.
Specialty & seasonal
Clipless pedal care (example: Crankbrothers)
Intervals below match common Crankbrothers guidance. Other pedal brands differ - follow the maker’s kit and grease schedule.
Pre-ride - inspect pedal body and cleats for wear or looseness
Monthly / ~25 hr - re-grease internals; light oil on the wing pivot
Quarterly / ~100 hr - full rebuild (Eggbeater/Mallet kit #16051 or Double Shot #16274 are common Crankbrothers kits)Special
Annually / ~150–200 hr - overhaul or factory service if wornShopSpecial
~300–500 hr - inspect and replace cleats when worn
Avoid close-range pressure washing - it pushes grease out of the seals.
Annual / seasonal checks
Do these at least once a season, or whenever a deeper look is overdue.
Frame - inspect welds for cracks or dents (especially BB and head tube)
Full-suspension pivot bearings - replace if play showed up at Level 2 / 3ShopSpecial
Brake rotors - check runout; replace if warped beyond about 0.3 mmShop
Tubeless - inspect bead for cracking; replace sealant fully
E-bike battery - capacity check and firmware update if equippedShop
Grips / bar tape - replace if worn or cracked
Fit review - saddle height, reach, and bar width for growing riders
Adapted from a family fleet service chart (generalized for the club - no personal names or private bike data).
