Having worked in major bike shops as a bike technician for the past 6 years, I have built a reputation for my expert problem-bike maintenance solving skills and attention to detail on every job I undertake. I am writing this post to inform many cyclists on what is a bike really, and my top tips for maintaining your bikes.
Bikes are one of the best inventions known to man both in terms of the enjoyment of using it and the practical nature of it. Bikes are physics in action, efficiently converting the power our bodies produce into kinetic energy. They are the most efficient transportation machines developed so far. Harnessing the power from your muscles in an efficient way, a bicycle can convert almost 90 percent of the energy you supply at the pedals into kinetic energy that powers you along. The bike then is like a work-horse using all that energy and forces acting on it from every angle like a drag, friction forces, gravity, forces from uneven surfaces just to name a few. Plus with all the moving components on a bike, it can take a lot of punishment. This is why effective bike maintenance will prolong its life. I sometimes hear people say, they will serve their bike when it falls off from underneath them. So here are 15 easy tips on maintaining your bike throughout its lifetime.
- A dirty bike cannot be tuned properly
- Check tire pressure before every ride
- Periodically check for bearing play in your headset, hubs, and cranks.
- Always use a torque wrench
- Don’t ignore noises from your bike
- If you remove a component, take a picture/s to document it before
- if you don’t have the expertise and proper tools take your bike to a shop
- Always check for brake pad and rim wear
- Don’t use solvents on your bike components
- Check for chain wear after 3000 miles to prolong your cassette and chainring life
- Always check frame especially carbon ones for cracks
- Keep all moving parts well lubricated
- Make sure the tire pressure is correct. This reduces wear and tear and makes cycling an awful lot easier.
- Keep it clean. Dirt eats away at your bike and wears out moving parts.
- If you don’t have the expertise take your bike to a reputable bike shop at least twice a year, this can save you a lot of money