Full Service

Inspect & grease hubs, headset, bottom bracket and pedal bearings (where
appropriate and not cartridge units), possibly replacing any balls that
look dull.

Remove, grease, refit: pedals, seatpost, quill stem.

General checking, adjusting and lubrication of brakes, gears, cables,
wheels and tyres. They might routinely change cables and brake blocks
(even when this wouldn't be strictly necessary). Check chain for wear,
possibly replacing it, possibly sprockets too if well worn. Nothing more
advanced unless something was broken.

~PB

Richard Bates said:

If I take a bike to a LBS for a "Full Service", what can I expect them
to do?

Sorry, it may be a long answer. I'm just wondering if anything will be
done, which I am currently unaware should be done, that I cannot (as a
reasonably decent bike mechanic) do myself (other than true wheels and
do whatever needs doing to a headset).

TIA

I have a feeling that I'm about to discover that I'm actually a very
poor mechanic when I see a list of jobs that I would never have
thought should be part of maintenance!

I doubt there'll be much that you couldn't have done. I like to have
my bike professionally serviced every now and then for two reasons.

Firstly, it means the gears will work for a while. As far as I'm
concerned, derailleur gears work by Black Magic and can only be made
functional with cantations learned by LBS wizards.

Secondly, it's simply reassuring to know that a second pair of eyes
have had a look and might have spotted some impending failure that I'd
never have imagined. It's worth 20 or 30 quid once a year for that
peace of mind alone.

in message <[email hidden]>, Richard Bates

(') said:

If I take a bike to a LBS for a "Full Service", what can I expect them
to do?

Sorry, it may be a long answer. I'm just wondering if anything will be
done, which I am currently unaware should be done, that I cannot (as a
reasonably decent bike mechanic) do myself (other than true wheels and
do whatever needs doing to a headset).

There's nothing they will do that you can't do. They should strip and
regrease bearings, replacing any damaged parts; true the wheels if
needed; clean and adjust deraileurs; check and adjust the brakes,
replacing pads if necessary. They'll almost certainly replace the
chain, and the cassette and chainrings if they're worn beyond a
reasonable amount. None of this is difficult.

If you have suspension, particularly air suspension units, these can be
more complex to service but it still ain't rocket science.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; better than your average performing pineapple