Below you will find some tips on maintenance and repair of your bike as well as suggestions on what to take on a ride. Where you live and ride dictates how often you should wash your bikeand this varies with seasons. Here are ten top tips to keep your bike in tip top shape. Bicycle maintenance made ridiculously easy london cyclist. Many bike riders are certainly guilty of neglecting this. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Get extra cardboard boxes to reinforce inside of box and protect the bike. For more detail on bikes maintenance visit our official hero motocorp website. Bicycle maintenance guide and riding tips this little manual is intended as a summary of what i have learned over the years. Dirty rims interfere with stopping power, so first clean the rims with a slightly abrasive pad, or just scrub hard with a rag soaked in dish soap, and then rinse and dry. A daily, weekly, monthly and yearly bike maintenance checklist.
Its full of useful tips and will guide you through adjusting the brakes to your personal preference as. We recommend carrying out these periodic maintenance suggestions and basic checks prior to riding your bike. Contemporary specialist advocates an alternative method which separates learning the skills to ride a bike so that the learning doesnt have to master everything at once. File download download file lekkerbikesownersmanualsportiefseries. Torx t10, t25, and t30 are common sizes on modern bikes. Hopefully many of us will learn a few things from looking at it. If there is one thing you can do to prolong the life of your bike, it is keeping it clean. We have a whole playlist of official maintenance videos for your dahon that include hinge adjustment, removing wheels, fitting fenders and more. Please read your owners manual before riding your new bike.
Rain can rust gears, levers, and cables when riding try not to hit potholes, or drop off gutters to save denting wheels top tips reflectors check your that your reflectors are still intact. Helpful tips to keep your bike clean and running correctly. You may decide to go to a bike shop for everything. Every brake has its own routine, but here are some general tips on what not to do from epic bleed. Packing tape, sandwich bag, rag, bubble wrap or newspaper optional. Bike repairs and maintenance bike chain bike tips for kids. For more general maintenance tips and advice, read on. The following list of necessary maintenance items and recommended frequency of maintenance is designed to give a recreational or club cyclist or a commuter an outline for a schedule.
Also, dont overlook regular maintenance by a bike mechanic. Theyll be able to take the chain off, remove the cassette and clean everything in a way that cant be done with all the bits still on the bike. Keeping it clean on a consistent basis is a surefire way of doing so. Bike mechanics basic repair on the road regular upkeep advanced diagnosing and repair on all components of preventative maintenance a bicycle outreach learn and teach others exploreways to help the cycling community at cal and in the bay area. Bike maintenance tips, bike maintenance, bikes maintenance. Not taking care and bumping against hard things will crack plastic. The article covers the entire bike from saddle to brakes, to help. With folding bikes, there is a tendency to set the seatpost a little on the low side. It can keep you from getting stranded on the side of the road and maybe even prevent you from getting injured. For road, mountain, and commuter bicycles this is a very well written and illistrated manual.
But if youre on your own, there are a few basic bike maintenance tipsboth preventive and remedialto reduce the frequency of those expensive and annoying trips to your mechanic. Complete mountain bike maintenance pdf for free, preface. Cycling uk has produced five guides on bike maintenance, designed to. Top 10 bike maintenance tips bicycle touring guide. Still, bikes, like any machines, require maintenance to keep them running. For bikes that are regularly ridden, a simplified version of this bicycle maintenance checklist can be used, and is often called the abc check. In general, you dont need to wash your bike after every ride.
The first step after riding in the rain is to get your bike clean. Bike maintenance is a wideranging topic, so in this article we start with the. Bike maintenance is a wideranging topic, so in this article we start with the basics. If you ride regularly, bring your bike in for twiceyearly tuneups to ensure that complex, hardtoevaluate. The seat should be level front to back, and the height should be adjusted. Scratches in carbon like this could be catastrophic. Keep these tips in mind, and you will get more out of your. This sounds obvious, but cleaning is often overlooked. From puncture repair to bike cleaning and brake adjustment, this is your diy guide for all things bike maintenance. Your frame needs to be cleaned regularly, and the components require cleaning and servicing as well. This guide covers the routine maintenance needs of the 4stroke dirt bike to help you move quickly and efficiently through the process so you can get out of the garage and back on the track or trail. Complete bike maintenance new and expanded edition. National highway traffic safety administration s fitting your bike helmet. No fancy cleaning kit required a bucket of soapy water, a sponge and an old toothbrush is all you need, though a.
To help you in your bicycle maintenance endeavors, weve included a few tips below to keep your bike in working order. Tips for your bike maintenance cleaning your bike will stay in better shape if you give it a good wash every couple of months. Even if you prefer traveling on four wheels, its a good idea to take advantage of a minirefresher course on sharing the road with cyclists. Those who often ride in rain and mud, or who put on very high weekly mileage, will need to perform routine maintenance more often to keep their bikes in optimal.
In fact, it could be detrimental because you will continually expose your bottom bracket and hubs to water and soap, wearing them down faster. Before you hit the road on your bike, put together an emergency tool kit for unexpected repairs and give your bike a preride maintenance inspection. Complete mountain bike maintenance pdf with images. Keeping your chain clean and lubed will prolong your drivetrain life and save you a great amount of money in the long run. It is important to check your bike tyres regularly a thorough look at the condition of your bike and the air pressure. I own a trail bike and a road bike and this book helps me keep them in great condition by doing the maintenance stuff myself. Here is some advice to help you keep your mountain bike in peak condition it is a good idea to try to follow these steps after every ride. By keeping your bike in good condition it will be more reliable and you will need fewer replacement parts, so saving money. Your guide to a longer life for your bicycle and gear donate to help vulnerable communities cope with covid. Combining basic, regular upkeep, along with following service. Quick, easy, post bike maintenance tips after riding in.
Bike maintenance and repair for dummies cheat sheet. Your manual has a section about this for more complete advice. Obtain a bike box and plastic fork protector from a local bike shop. With folding bikes, there is a tendency to set the seatpost a little on the. Lean your bike against a wall in an area where the ground can. Bicycle mechanics and repair decal mechanical engineering. Bike maintenance below you will find some tips on maintenance and repair of your bike as well as suggestions of what things you should take on a ride. Stay alert while riding your bike and practice some basic road safety rules to stay safe and enjoy your ride. You can maintain your bike on your own or you can give it to a bike shop.
Having your handlebars snap on a landing could kill you. As a rider, maintaining your bike should be your top priority. The best way is to perform regular mountain bike maintenance. That means spending a couple of hours a month yes, thats all it takes checking that everything is working and keeping it all clean and lubricated. Keeping your bike in leading condition requires routine protective and preventive upkeep, a few of which can be done by you. If youre on a backroads trip youll have guides and mechanics on nearby to resolve any issues. Bicycle mechanics and repair decal mechanical engineering 98. Here are some tips on basic maintenance to do before and after every ride, and throughout the season, to protect your investment. Any avid bicyclist knows that bicycles are perhaps the most reliable, efficient mode of transportation available. Your bike will stay in better shape if you give it a good wash every couple of months. May 23, 2016 obviously, it wont be necessary to meticulously check each of these items before every ride, but theyre good to look out for if you buy a used bike or remove one from longterm storage.
On a bike tour, i once met a skinny, fit young man who mounted his bicycle by standing on its left side and then, without leaning the bike at all, swung his right leg up and forward over the handlebars and down to. Its worth taking your bike to a bike shop for a really thorough job. Mountain bikesmaintenance and repairhandbooks, manuals, etc. Also, many people, for various reasons, buy cheap ebikes. Ken hart basic bike tools for home floor pump american vs. Mountain bike maintenance tips a big asset for many, its worth looking after your new mountain bike to ensure it performs well and is safe to ride at all times. Whether you just pop down to the shops once a week or cycle miles every day, its important to make sure youre safe and you know what to do if something on your bike goes wrong. Basic bike maintenance performing bike maintenance can seem intimidating, but with a bit of knowhow, lots of practice, and the tips in this article, youll be well on your way. Keep in mind, its not just the tube size that matters, but also the length of the presta valve, especially for medium and high profile carbon rims. Here are a few simple things that anyone can do to improve your bikes performance. There should be 1 to 2 inches between the rider and the top tube bar if using a road bike and 3 to 4 inches if using a mountain bike. Therefore, it is significantly cheaper and easier to maintain. With the proper maintenance, your bike will last longer, provide you with peaceofmind on the trails and reduce your risk of injury. Sep 24, 2017 bicycle maintenance is essential to the performance and conservation of your trip.
Properly lubing a bike chain is one of the most underutilized skills of bike ownership, next to knowing how to change a flat tire. Failing to grease and clean components can result in a noisy ride at best. Folding bikes by dahon maintenance tips for your dahon. I had a few times when brakes failed me and well lets just say that was a. Click on a bike part or tag to see related diy video tutorials. The information given above is also provided below in two pdf files. Doing this task at least once a month will really help keep your bike running smoothly. Bike maintenance tips december 1, 2014 barry 4795 views 1 comment bike maintenance here are a few simple things that anyone can do to improve your bikes performance. Keeping your e bike in great condition is fairly easy and very important so dont neglect it. On a bike tour, i once met a skinny, fit young man who mounted his bicycle by standing on its left side and then, without leaning the bike at all, swung his right leg up and forward over the handlebars and down to the right pedal in one smooth motion. Jul 06, 2010 dirty rims interfere with stopping power, so first clean the rims with a slightly abrasive pad, or just scrub hard with a rag soaked in dish soap, and then rinse and dry.
Completing pre and postride maintenance checks can make all the difference between a bad ride. Your bike will stay in better shape if you give it a good wash every couple of months hose the bike down first, then wipe down the frame, handle bars, seat and all. Without correct upkeep, your bike will quickly go from a lean, mean, twowheeled machine, to a squeaky, rusty, pant leg chomping mess. Many bike shops dont have the experience of dealing with ebikes so they would hesitate to take the risk. Make sure that the tyre air pressures are maintained at the levels. Properly lubricating your chain helps extend the life of your drivetrain. Bike maintenance tips december 1, 2014 barry 4795 views 1 comment bike maintenance. Basically, an electric bike has fewer components than a typical gas vehicle.
Every bike needs a little tender loving care to ensure you get a smooth ride. This is the simple way to keep a bike clean without any special tools. Choose a solvent that is easy on the environment and you. Please see for more details and a downloadable pdf. File download download file maintenancemanualsportiefwomensbikelekker. The first step in bike maintenance tips is get it clean. Bike maintenance tips during the coronavirus consumer. Dirt and grime corrode both the frame and the components. The city of lawrence also has installed several maintenance stands at key locations along trails and next to city facilities. If unsure see a bike mechanic keep your bike covered or inside overnight. Motorcycle maintenance tips posted on 6th september, 2015 by mark hinchliffe this motorcycle maintenance advice was provided by the racq to help riders keep their bike in good condition which is perhaps the most important factor in safe riding. I dont care how good a mountain bike is, if the brakes dont work well the whole bike wont ride well.
Hose the bike down first, then wipe down the frame, handlebars, seat and all other parts with soap and water. These tips will help to keep your bicycle running as it should bit if problems do occur, always remember that your local brompton dealer is on hand to assess and. Bicycle tires naturally lose air over timeyour tires are likely to be completely flat if the bike hasnt been ridden in a year or longer. Bike maintenance 101 a few bits of knowledge can help increase your safety and save some money, too. This booklet will guide you through basic bike maintenance, detailing parts of the bike, how and why to keep your bike clean and safe and how to fix a puncture. Preventative bike maintenance the city of portland, oregon. They are marked on the bicycle rideability map pdf. They assume that if they add electric components to a conventional bike, then the other parts are not as important as if the bike wasnt. With all of this amazing warm weather lately, were sure youre ready to break out your bike and go for a ride. Bike fun and maintenance for kids a2z homeschooling. The bike maintenance tips and tricks you need to know to keep your bike rolling smooth.
A bikespecific degreaser avoid kerosene or turpentine will clean up gummy parts like your bike chain. The best way to ensure your dirt bike operates effectively and starts every time is to take the time and conduct routine maintenance. Before you ride, its important to take a few minutes to look over your bike to ensure your bike will be running properly. If you would like to learn all of the basics of bike maintenance for safety and performance. Road grime, mud, and other muck that has accumulated on your bike will hold moisture and encourage corrosion.
Moving down to what i consider the most important part on a mountain bike. Bike maintenance guide if you want your bike to last and you want to get the most out of it funwise, you need to look after it. Its quite easy to maintain your own bike, and it can mean the difference between riding all day or walking home. The maintenance schedule for a bike can vary somewhat on how often its ridden and what condition its in to begin with. If you have disc brakes, when cleaning your drivetrain, spray degreaser away from the rotors. With a little bit of practice and education, you can complete basic maintenance on your bike from home, and save a few bucks while youre at it. Bikes that are ridden offroad or in the rain will need a little more tlc than one that ventures over the brooklyn bridge once per month. The beginners guide to essential bike maintenance skills.