Your bike requires more than leg power; it also needs care and maintenance in order to remain in tip-top shape.
Start off by conducting a thorough safety inspection of your tire pressure, brakes and chain. Next, clean your bike using bucket, sponge and hose. Avoid high-pressure water as this forces in unwanted debris while washing away crucial grease and lube deposits that help the bike work optimally.
1. Check Your Tire Pressure
One of the worst experiences you can have while riding is being surprised with a flat tire before, during, or after your ride. To protect against this happening to you it’s crucial that your tire pressure be checked regularly.
To do this, remove one of your tire valve caps and insert a tire pressure gauge. Pressing down against the valve stem until a hissing sound can be heard will provide an accurate reading of pounds per square inch (psi).
Maintaining proper inflation on your bike will extend its life and ensure optimum performance on every ride. When checking tire pressure, always do so when your tires are cold; every 10degF temperature drop can reduce pressure by one or two psi and this could potentially affect traction, handling and longevity of your tires.
2. Check Your Brakes
Your brakes are an integral component of your bike. For safe riding, it is vitally important that they can be easily accessible and controlled, making for safe rides. Making time to check them periodically is one way of making sure you have strong, functional brakes.
If you have rim brakes, be sure to inspect their brake pads regularly and ensure they make full contact with the rim. Worn-out pads may begin squealing and require replacement as soon as they become excessively worn.
Periodically check that your brake levers are easy to reach without a steep ramp or gap between them and shifters – this simple adjustment could greatly enhance your comfort while riding!
3. Check Your Chain
Your chain connects pedaling motion with drivetrain components, so keeping it clean and lubricated is of utmost importance. Make sure to use only bike-specific chain lube when applying a coating of chain lube; anything thick can attract dirt, making shifting difficult.
Be sure to lube all pivot points of your pedals and derailleurs, including levers on brake and shifter barrel adjusters. Loctite Threadlocker Blue 242 can help seal threaded bolts against loosening, as well as keep lugs lubricated – something which is important in helping avoid costly repair bills in the future. Finally, before storing your bike give it a good shake-over to check for loose or rattle-causing parts; doing this will also keep lugs lubricated while helping maintain hardware. Regular maintenance goes a long way toward avoiding expensive repair bills in future years!
4. Clean Your Bike
Make sure you keep a bucket of soapy water and sponge, along with old toothbrushes for cleaning, on hand at all times. Take special care in drying off components exposed to the elements – any remaining water may promote corrosion and lead to other issues.
Clean and degrease your bike on a regular basis to reduce wear-and-tear and maintain optimal performance. Cleansing should take place every couple of weeks for best results.
Start by spraying down your bike with low-pressure water hose or bucket and using a sponge to scrub its frame and components, before applying degreaser on its chain, cassette and crankset (wait three to five minutes to let the degreaser work its magic before using compressed air to rinse and dry your bike). Finally, rinse and dry it as necessary with either compressed air rags or compressed air canisters.
5. Replace Worn Components
No matter the kind of cyclist you are or intend to become, learning basic bike maintenance tips is essential to understanding how your bicycle operates and extending its lifespan while preventing costly repairs down the line.
Maintaining a clean bicycle will help to decrease wear and tear on its moving parts, such as its frame and accessories. Be sure to regularly inspect your chain, cassette and derailleur for looseness or cleanliness before applying lubricant of appropriate quality for each component.
Tightening bolts to the right specifications when tightening them is of vital importance when working with carbon components, as overtightening can cause them to fail or crack. Refer to your owner’s manual for recommended torque specifications and use a torque wrench when performing this task.
