Maintaining your bike, whether it is an expensive WorldTour race machine or something in the family garage, is of utmost importance. Here are five simple and cost-effective checks you should perform prior to every ride to keep things in top shape and ensure an enjoyable riding experience.
Flat tires are inevitable, so learn to patch them before you take to the road. Carrying a tube patch kit, multitool and CO2 pump with you on each ride can make repair easy.
1. Tires
An adequately maintained tire will last much longer than one that is allowed to deflate completely, potentially leading to its steel rim collapse under pressure and leading to an accident. You can avoid this scenario by regularly checking on your tires to see if any need replacing or are damaged too much – something which regular inspection of tires should prevent from happening.
Checking tread and sidewall damage, and clearing away any objects stuck within them before every ride should become part of your routine, particularly during winter when debris builds up more rapidly. A quick visual inspection may also show if there’s a puncture causing your tire to go flat – saving time, hassle, and cost by acting sooner rather than later!
Bike tires can be costly investments that must work optimally to provide maximum pleasure when riding. Therefore, when one of your current tires develops a bubble (an air pocket between rubber belts and steel wires in its casing) or has cracks and is showing signs of cracking and rot, it is time for replacement.
Check and adjust tire pressure as necessary, to maintain the recommended PSI. Identify whether your tires are tubeless or tubed; in case one goes flat, grab some fix-a-flat and follow its instructions for getting back up and running again. Coach Darryl suggests using an old piece of tire or even folded dollar bills as filler until you can reach a bike shop to replace the tire. Take this opportunity to inspect your wheels, ensuring they are true and all spokes are secure and not bent or broken. Clean and lubricate the chain with dry or wet lube so as to maintain smooth movement – this will prevent grinding and squeaking and make the ride more pleasant for everyone on board!
2. Chain
A quality bike chain is one of the key components in your drive train, yet despite being made from hardened steel it will deteriorate with use and need replacing at some point. How quickly this happens depends on numerous factors including frequency and type of riding activity.
At a minimum, it’s advisable to remove and reinstall your bike chain after each ride to ensure it remains clean and lubed, helping prevent rust build-up while prolonging its lifespan. In particular, rain or muddy riding should require extra lube reapplication so as to preserve its lifespan as much as possible.
One way to increase the lifespan of your chain is to take steps when you finish using it for the day and allow it to dry completely before reinstalling it. Also take time out periodically to inspect it for signs of wear or damage such as loose links or when it rubs against your rear derailleur cage – tighten any loose links as soon as possible to keep it working its best!
Fixing a loose chain on a hub or fixed-gear bike is straightforward. Simply elevate the rear wheel so you can access its rear sprockets; do this either with a stand, wood blocks, cinder blocks, etc. as support structures.
Loose chains may also result from improper tightening or adjustment of the rear derailleur; to avoid any complications when performing maintenance on your bike, please follow its owner’s manual’s instructions for doing any adjustments or maintenance tasks.
Investment in a chain checker is also highly recommended; this small device will fit between your chain rollers and inform you as to its wear and tear level, helping prevent premature chain deterioration and helping determine when its time to replace it.
Checking and lubing brake levers, derailleurs and cables regularly is also part of routine bicycle maintenance. Be careful when spraying lubricants; using a high-powered hose may cause them to splash onto other parts of your bike and degrease them; instead use a bottle of cleaner or wet lube to safely lubricate these areas.
3. Brakes
Brakes are one of the most vital components on any bike, yet can often be among the hardest parts to keep up. They require regular use in order to operate optimally and should be adjusted regularly in order to prevent excessive wear that could cause poor performance or even failure.
Switching brake pads is straightforward, but taking proper care with calipers requires additional steps. Check each pad for small tabs on its back to remove (magnet-style pads don’t typically feature such tabs) then using fingers or pliers, gently pull all pads from caliper and spring from spring coil. From here you can adjust caliper positioning so as to narrow or widen gap between pads and rim.
If the pistons aren’t moving as they should, it may be time for new brake pads. Be sure that your caliper isn’t misaligning; otherwise it may rub against or overlap inner edges, generating heat and leading to potential damage.
Make sure that the barrel adjuster (just above the caliper) is tight by turning it clockwise two full turns to tighten, then counterclockwise several more until your pads no longer drag on the rim and lever throw is just where it should be. Repeat this procedure on both brakes.
Glazed brake rims may not be ideal for riding on, but can often be repaired quickly with some quick wipe down using rubbing alcohol and a clean rag. Sandpaper may also help roughen up their surface to help rid yourself of that slippery feeling when riding your bike.
An effective rule is never leaving an uncapped bleeder valve open when not bleeding brakes and to always cap off cable ends with rubber plugs – this will help stop tubes leaking while making it easier to re-bleed later if necessary. Also make sure to use bike-specific cable cutters so as to achieve tight, smooth cuts without frayed or burred ends when cutting cables for your brake or shifter housing ends.
4. Frame
Many riders opt to entrust larger maintenance jobs to professional mechanics, but learning some fundamental skills that can help keep your bike in good working order and save you money in repairs is well worth your while. While specific details may differ depending on which bike it’s on, as well as being beyond beginner riders’ capabilities, these general suggestions should help get you on track when maintaining your own bike.
Cleaning Your Bike
One of the key steps in maintaining good condition on a bicycle is keeping it clean. Dust, mud and grime can quickly wear away components, detracting from its performance and diminishing your ride experience. To avoid this from happening, use a gentle cleaner along with a brush to thoroughly wash it with special focus given to frame, drivetrain and brake components.
Adjust Your Tire Pressure
Maintaining proper tire inflation is vital to enjoying an optimal ride experience and extending tire lifespan. To do so, check each sidewall of every tire for its recommended pressure level; and regularly monitor them to make sure they remain properly inflated.
Lubricate Moving Parts A high-quality lubricant can help reduce friction, improve shifting performance and extend the life of gears and cables on your bike. Be sure to apply a small amount to each component – such as chains, derailleur pulleys and brake levers.
Check Pivot Bolts
Pivot bolts can be a source of mechanical issues, so it’s vital that they’re tightened properly using a torque wrench in order to avoid over-tightening which may strip threads and lead to mechanical issues. Furthermore, taking apart and cleaning pivot bolts twice annually should help remove dirt or debris that might be causing issues with tightness.
As is best practice, it’s wise to store your bike vertically. Letting it rest on its side could throw off its derailleurs’ alignment and compromise control when riding. If necessary, use cardboard under each tire’s casings for added moisture protection and dry rot protection.https://www.youtube.com/embed/8TIlNAXU1kk