Getting ready to start my first bikepacking adventure through northern europe. Bought this Focus Mares AX yesterday and have done some minor maintenance, inc. changing from 11-28 to 11-32, trying to make the brakes squeak less and changed the bearings of the crankbrothers pedals. I'd appreciate advices that help me eliminate/minimize the most common/major risks. I was a bit worried wheter the BB should be swapped to a new one, since it most likely is the original one from 2015 when the bike was new. There is very subtle clampping that can be noticed when moving the cranks towards and away from the frame. The brakes work, but the squeak sound is annoying.
by Mineral89
4 Comments
Play in the BB = new bb.
Loud brake = contaminated ones. An easy google fix.
Uff. On such a bike everything could be amazing or not. Aside from the usual basic surface checks I suggest a few longer shakedown rides to determine. Of course you could also just roll it into an lbs for an overhaul, but I suppose you would not be asking in that case.
Also, its not all just mechanical, do you even know how well it fits you for a long time in the saddle?
Let’s just admire that Focus Mares in Rapha x Focus livery. The glory days with Jeremy Powers. Amazing buy!
Looks good! Before my first tour i hadnt ridden a new bike enough and especially up and down some pretty angry hills. Thats when you really want your gears and brakes to work in extremis circumstances. Give it a good few rides before going on tour and you should be able to identify any things which might need tweaking.
For the squeaky brakes is it a constant whine when you brake or a intermittent one? Most likely new brake pads front and back would be a good idea.