Before, During, and After Your Ride
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Bike repair and maintenance involves more than caring for your bike while you have it stowed away at home. It’s an ongoing process that’ll involve action before, during, and after your ride. |
Finally, to keep the moving parts of your bike in good working order, purchase an all-purpose lubricating oil. Focus on lubricating your chain and the pivot points in places like the brakes and derailleurs. Having a cleaner around when you’re working on your bike is just as important. Look for an environmentally friendly product, such as a citrus degreaser.
Before you ride
The before-you-ride part of the trilogy deals mostly with the preventive maintenance steps you should take, which not only help your bike but increase the safety of each ride.
One of the best things you can do to improve your safety is to do a pre-ride inspection and maintenance check:
✓ Using a gauge, check that your tire pressure is equal to the recommended level on the tire’s sidewall. (See Chapter 6 for more information on tires.)
✓ Inspect the brake to make sure the pads are not worn and they tightly grip the wheel when you squeeze the brake levers. (See Chapter 8 for more on brakes.)
✓ Look and listen for looseness in the handlebars, headset, wheels, and other part. (See Chapter 16 for more information on inspecting your bike.)
Whether you have a brand-new bike or a 20-year-old clunker, things go wrong when you ride. Your best bet is to be prepared and bring a toolkit along with you to help you if you get into a jam. Here are some steps you should take to prepare your toolkit (see Chapter 4 for more information):
✓ Have a small tire pump mounted to your frame.
✓ Include everything you need to repair a flat, including a patch, glue, tire levers, and spare inner tube (in case you blow a tube).
✓ Include some hand tools, such as Allen wrenches, screwdrivers, a spoke wrench, and pliers. These will allow you to make adjustments as you ride.
✓ Pack away a rag to wipe the grease off your hands when you’re finished.
If you’re planning an extended trip, you’ll want to add some tools to your kit. These include a spare foldable tire, a chain tool, chain links and rivets, extra spokes, spare cables, lube, and the all-purpose MacGyver tool, duct tape.
(See Chapter 4 for more information.)
While you’re preparing for a possible roadside emergency, don’t forget the following:
✓ Cellphone
✓ Identification
✓ Money
✓ Energy bars
✓ Rain jacket
✓ Sunglasses
12 Part I: Getting Started
While you ride
Although you may not think about riding as a time for bike maintenance, there are things you can do while you ride to care for and maintain your bike. If you get into the habit of doing these things, you’ll extend the life of your bike and stay safer:
✓ Keep your tires properly inflated while you ride to improve rolling resistance and absorb shock.
✓ Pay attention to the road in front of you.
✓ Walk your bike over curbs and other objects.
✓ Raise yourself out of your seat and use your arms and legs like a horse jockey to absorb an impending blow.
✓ Shift into lower gears before you reach the steeper sections of inclines to put less strain on the chain and derailleurs.
✓ Look out for any creaks or loose parts on the bike before they’re in need of repair.
For more information on safe riding practices, turn to Chapter 16.
After you ride
The trilogy of maintenance activities is completed with the after-you-ride phase. Dirt acts as a major abrasive against your bike and, as it works its way into the internal parts, it starts wearing out bearings and other components. After you ride is a great time to combat this enemy by washing your bike. Wet it down — but make sure you don’t spray water directly at the hubs or bottom bracket. Use a brush and soap to scrub down your bike. Use degreaser to break up any difficult-to-remove grease.
Remember to always lubricate your bike after drying it — particularly the chain, derailleurs, brakes, and cogs. When you’re finished, wipe off any excess grease so that it doesn’t attract additional dirt.
For more information on washing and lubricating your bike, turn to Chapter 16.