Get Your Bike in Shape for Spring
It is that time of the year when you see mountain bikes on hilly areas, on roads, and in parks, because it is spring again! Whether you go out for racing with your friends or just want to enjoy the breezy wind, you need to tune-up your bike and carry out some bike repair so you can welcome spring with full zest.
Proper tuning of mountain bikes can give a safe and pleasant biking trip.
Brake pads Brake pads can get old and hard with time.
To test for softness of brakes pads, push a fingernail in the pad material.
If you can't, it is time to replace the brake pads.
Brake pads which are too thin, with a thickness of less than 1mm, should be replaced too.
Gears Cleaning gears will allow the bike to run efficiently and quietly.
A dirty chain will create problems in shifting gears, as the accumulated dirt and grime will prevent it from moving smoothly on the chain ring.
A chain scrubber can be used for this purpose.
It brushes the inside part of a chain.
Use a citrus-based cleaning solution.
Citrus degreasers are made specifically for cleaning bicycle chains.
They are inexpensive and biodegradable.
You should also lubricate the chain after cleaning it.
Use a bicycle chain lube and avoid motors and sprays.
Lube the chin regularly and don't forget to lube pedals and chain rings.
Tires For most cross-country rides, you could choose lighter weight tires and tubes.
An anti-puncture sealant could also be used for fewer punctures and a better ride.
Check the tires of your bicycle to see if they are out of true or out of alignment.
To check if a wheel is out of true, rest the bike upside down on its seat and handlebars and spin the wheel.
The wheel should spin freely.
If it wobbles or if the wheel comes in contact with the brake pad while it is spinning, then it may need truing.
You should also tune-up your mountain bike by removing the front wheel and turning the handle bars from side to side to ensure that the steering motion does not bind.
Shifting and braking adjustments Usually, cables control shifting and braking.
They need to be adjusted properly to function correctly.
You can do a simple tune-up of your mounting bike at home.
If you are not able to do it by yourself, you should take it to a shop for bike repair.
Proper tuning of mountain bikes can give a safe and pleasant biking trip.
Brake pads Brake pads can get old and hard with time.
To test for softness of brakes pads, push a fingernail in the pad material.
If you can't, it is time to replace the brake pads.
Brake pads which are too thin, with a thickness of less than 1mm, should be replaced too.
Gears Cleaning gears will allow the bike to run efficiently and quietly.
A dirty chain will create problems in shifting gears, as the accumulated dirt and grime will prevent it from moving smoothly on the chain ring.
A chain scrubber can be used for this purpose.
It brushes the inside part of a chain.
Use a citrus-based cleaning solution.
Citrus degreasers are made specifically for cleaning bicycle chains.
They are inexpensive and biodegradable.
You should also lubricate the chain after cleaning it.
Use a bicycle chain lube and avoid motors and sprays.
Lube the chin regularly and don't forget to lube pedals and chain rings.
Tires For most cross-country rides, you could choose lighter weight tires and tubes.
An anti-puncture sealant could also be used for fewer punctures and a better ride.
Check the tires of your bicycle to see if they are out of true or out of alignment.
To check if a wheel is out of true, rest the bike upside down on its seat and handlebars and spin the wheel.
The wheel should spin freely.
If it wobbles or if the wheel comes in contact with the brake pad while it is spinning, then it may need truing.
You should also tune-up your mountain bike by removing the front wheel and turning the handle bars from side to side to ensure that the steering motion does not bind.
Shifting and braking adjustments Usually, cables control shifting and braking.
They need to be adjusted properly to function correctly.
You can do a simple tune-up of your mounting bike at home.
If you are not able to do it by yourself, you should take it to a shop for bike repair.
