It is now time for us to dust our bikes and get ready to ride if we have put them away for the winter. When you bring a bike out of storage, it is necessary to give it a mini tune-up. Pay special attention to the following four areas: chain, derailleur components, brakes, and wheels.
a) Chain
If an oil-based lubricant is what you have been using, consider switching to a wax-based product. The only advantage to an oil-based lubricant is that it needs to be applied less frequently, but in every other way, wax-based is superior. Take for example oil which collects trail dust and other things that are abrasive to the chain whereas wax sheds abrasives. A recommended wax-based lube is White Lightning.
If oil-based chain lube is what you have been using, then you should remove the chain and clean it with a solvent to degrease it before adding fresh lubricant whether you want to switch to wax or not. While it would depend on your typical riding conditions, using a solvent to degrease the chain needs to be done once a year at a minimum.
b) Derailleur Components
Lubricate the pivot points using a good petroleum-based lube. Try using Tri-Flow. The next step is to lubricate and adjust the derailleur cables, which might have stretched over the winter. Adjustments are necessary so that shifting is crisp.
Brakes
Be sure to lubricate cables. Depending on how dusty the expected typical riding conditions will be , you can use either petroleum or wax-based lube. Adjust the cables, which might also have stretched over the winter.
Check the pads: is there plenty of rubber; do the pads hit the rims evenly? If fluid-actuated disc brakes are what you are using, then check the brake fluid level in the reservoir.
d) Brakes
To check for true, spin the wheel slowly. It is essential that the wheel doesn’t wobble at all. You can make minor adjustments using a spoke wrench if it wobbles a little bit and you have the tools and skills. But if there is substantial wobbling, take the wheel to a shop and have a professional true the wheel.
Checking the tire pressure is a must since it is bound to be low after a winter of storage. Inflate to the manufacturers recommendations that are stamped on the tire.
It’s now time to give the bike a once-over. Is the seat adjustment still a good fit? Is there excess play or tightness in the bearings of the wheels, crank, pedals, and headset? Also, for full-suspension bikes, check the suspension joints.
From this once-over, you will be able to determine whether it is time for a major tune-up. What this could do is range from a few adjustments to cleaning and/or replacement of some parts. Opinions differ on how often a major tune-up is needed. It depends on how much you ride, and how much maintenance you perform yourself.
Repacking bearings and adjusting wheel axles, headset, crankset and pedals, replacing cables, truing the wheels, and making overall adjustments, such as to the derailleur and brakes are the following maintenance necessary for optimal performance and safety and you should do this every now and then whether you do the major tune-up yourself or take the bike to a reputable bicycle shop.
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Tags: biking, leisure, outdoors, Recreation, sports