A basic tune-up service once a year can go a long way towards extending the life of any bicycle. It can make an old bike run like new, and prevent minor problems from becoming major ones. The increasing popularity of bicycling during the Covid-19 pandemic has created a severe backlog in our service departments. To help keep you riding while you wait for your turn in our service queue, we are offering an appointment system for tune-ups.
Tuning up a bike might sound challenging, but, with the right supplies and know-how, you can maintain your bike.Bikes that are regularly used can easily develop less than best function in multiple systems without their rider noticing the increasing changes that occur over time during use. Even bicycles that are not regularly used can develop issues from sitting that affect their overall performance. Basic tune up can be done with a few tools, anything more can require special tools and training to ensure the best results.
If you want to maintain your bike, you’ll need some tools to get the job done properly:
Note that these supplies are the minimum tools that you’ll need to do full tune ups from home. However, some more complex problems, especially issues with your bike’s drive train, might require specialty supplies and advanced techniques that require a decent amount of experience to work and fix properly. It’s best to bring your bike to a trusted mechanic or a professional.
Quick bike tune ups and inspections should be a part of any rider’s routine. Do a quick inspection every month just to ensure that you find and fix any issues with your bike before they become a major problem. Here’s what you need to know.
Any good bike tune up starts with a full clean of your bike to get rid of any dirt and grime that might be clogging up your bike’s gears. Use plenty of water and soap and give your bike a good scrub.
Once your bike is clean fully inspect the tires to ensure that they’re in good working condition. Check your tires for flats and signs of low tire pressure so you can remove these issues right away.
For a quick tune up,you need to do to check your brakes is to give the brake levers a good squeeze. As you do this, take a look at the breaks and ensure that they engage properly and with less resistance.
Finally, give your chain a good work with a bit of lube to help keep the chain move smoothly. However, be careful not to over-lubricate your bike chain as this can cause dirt build-up as you ride. To avoid over-lubricating your bike, have cleaner so you can remove away any extra lube before you hit the road.