A well-kept bike is a key to a smooth and enjoyable ride and just like your personal vehicle needs a little bit of care and maintenance, so does your bicycle, hybrid or mountain bike. Here are top 5 ways you can keep your bike in perfect condition.
Your Bike Requires Purging
Bikes for women and men these days are available in exciting designs and impressive specs that guarantee long-term usability. But, why should that be an alibi to steer clear of regular cleaning? Thorough cleansing of your bike helps augment its overall life and riding performance. The good thing is that there is no need for a professional cleaning kit because all you require is a sponge, soapy water, and a cleaning brush or degreaser. Wash away the dirt and grime from every corner of the bike to remove any oil and grime particles stuck in the gear pockets and the chain.
Check The Nuts And Bolts
While some bikes for men and women would bear nuts, others might have quick release skewers. Depending on the type of bicycle you own, make it a habit to diligently check the wheel nuts or the skewers to ensure they are tight and properly fitted. You will need to inspect the main bolts located on the seat post, cranks, saddle, head stem, and rear rack to avoid any nut coming off loose while you’re on the road. A good idea to test the tautness is to use a spanner or an Allen key on every bolt or nut and then tighten it to keep it firmly in place.
The Tires Should Be Inflated
If you’re planning a bike ride to your favorite city for Christmas or the holidays, the last thing you want is a flat tire. Checking for tire pressure and any holes in it is an essential part of the bike upkeep routine. A tire not properly inflated is vulnerable to punctures and a cheesy hand pump is not going to do you any good. Make sure you have a proper standing track pump that comes equipped with a pressure gauge to facilitate the monitoring. Use the pump to fill up the tire with the correct amount of air, which is usually mentioned on the side of the tire after the letters PS.
Inspect Your Brakes And Brake Pads
Dirty wheel rims, greasy brakes, and unclean or worn brake pads will only yield screeching and saggy brakes. Check for any bad brake pads by locating the grooves. If you can’t see them. That is your sign you need a new fitting. Installing a new brake pad for your bike is inexpensive, simple and can be easily done by using a set of Allen keys and following an online how-to tutorial. Clean the brakes and the rims properly taking care not to let any saggy brakes go undetected. Just press the brake lever and if you feel it moves more than halfway toward the handlebars, you need to tighten it. Turn the barrel adjuster near the brake lever in a spinning motion to fix the saggy brakes.
Get The Bike Examined From A Professional
It’s good that you can take care of your bike but getting it inspected once a year by a professional is a great way to get additional upkeep tasks done without hassle. These can include lubrication, wheel-true check, and comprehensive bike service. It also helps to get some productive bike maintenance tips from the mechanic at the shop.
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