Tips on Keeping Your Mountain or Road Bike in Good Condition
Routine maintenance on your road or mountain bike is fairly easy but it is important that you have the right tools for the job. You will need to carry them with you so that you can easily change a flat tyre or do other repair jobs on the road. You do not want to have to cut short your ride and go home because you forgot to take a few simple tools with you! So what should be included in your everyday bike repair kit? Below is a list of the essentials.
- Patch kit for tires
- spare inner tube
- bike pump
- assorted wrenches
- tool for the chain
- screwdriver
For more extensive repairs and routine maintenance you should also include cleaners for the chain, lubricants and chain solvents.
Routine Maintenance
- Before you go on a long trip make sure you do all of the following to ensure your bike is in the best condition and won’t let you down on the road.
- Degrease the chain with the cleaning solvent and then re-oil it. The sprockets should be cleaned with a brush.
- Check the cables and the derailleur gear
- Check the brake pads and replace if they are worn. Not only will this prevent you from stopping properly but worn pads will also result in damage to your rims.
- Check the handlebar and stem and tighten if neccessary.
- Check the pedals and tighten the bottom bracket iof it is loose.
- Adjust the seat and check that there is no damage to the frame.
- Check the tire pressure and inflate if neccessary. For quick release forks tighten if required.
- Make sure wheel spokes haven’t come loose and that the wheels align properly.