EZ Tips for Bicycle Maintenance

Bicycles are sturdy and reliable forms of transportation. They also require regular, routine bicycle maintenance and proper care if you want to keep them at the top of their game. While some bike failures are inevitable most of the trouble can be prevented if you are really conscientious about proper bicycle maintenance on an ongoing basis.

Bicycles today are made of special lightweight materials that have high tech components. These deserve checkups in the same way that a car may require. However, you can learn to be your own bike technician and mechanic. This is more or less required because if you bicycle breaks down most often there is no one around to fix the problem but you. Therefore, knowing basic bicycle maintenance is essential.

Inspection and Bicycle Maintenance

Let's begin with the first item on the agenda which is cleaning and inspecting your bicycle. This should be done daily if you ride a lot. If you are a sporadic bike rider you may be able to get by with a weekly, or monthly, inspection and cleaning.

If you store your bicycle, you really should do a monthly checkup and bicycle maintenance routine to make sure that there are no problems with the bike. Cleaning your bike is easy when you use a small brush, a soft cloth and mild solution of soap. While you are rinsing off any dust and grime, you need to inspect for cracks and splits along the frame, tires, seats and lights.

To Ensure Your Safety, Tighten the Bolts

The bolts on a bike frame need to be checked and tightened on occasion, especially the ones known as stem bolts. However if you over tighten any of these bolts then you can easily damage or break them. There are specific instructions that tell you how to tighten the bolts so that you meet the torque ratings for each one. The best way to do perform this type of bicycle maintenance is with a tool known as a torque wrench.

Tires are Essential

Inspect your tires to make sure that they have adequate pressure. Properly inflated tires are safer for the rider, and they are less easily damaged or punctured. If you notice a small leak in the tire, then go ahead and patch it so that it does not create a bigger problem in the future.

Although, it is most often overlooked this is an easy step on the bike maintenance checklist. You need to give each tire a spin so you can visually check them for any type of foreign object that may be stuck in the treads. You can remove small pieces of grit or debris in the treads, while using a tire brush. You can also check to see if any of the tires are misaligned and wobbling and simply requires a quick adjustment.

Check your Chain

Your bicycle chain has to be periodically tightened as well. This should occur after each ride; and to be safe you should check it prior to taking it out on the road. Check the chain to see if it is loose and also be diligent about oiling the bicycle chain.

Bicycle chain oil is specially designed for the chain; it is a thin, non-greasy type of solution. You only need to apply a few drops as needed. In order to work properly, chains, gears and other movable bike parts need a particular amount of lubrication. You will find that when it comes to the various safety features of your bike as well as knowing basic bicycle maintenance will come in handy to keep your bicycle in the best riding shape.