Team Tamarack Mountain Bike Racing World Resouces

Basic Bike Maintenance–Before the Ride

Most people go out for a bike ride for enjoyment, but don’t give enough thought to the prevention of problems that may occur. By just taking a few minutes to make sure your bike is well-tuned before you set out, you can keep from spending hours on issues later.

One of the most important things to purchase along with your bike is a simple tool kit. If the bike salesman doesn’t offer you one, make sure to ask for it. The first time you need to use it, you’ll be happy you bought it.

So now that you have a sturdy bicycle and a good, basic tool kit, what next? The best thing to do is to perform some routine preventive maintenance before problems come up on the ride.

Some bicycles need more maintenance than others. This also depends on your style of riding. For instance, if you occasionally ride through town, your bike won’t need as much care as if you ride a mountain bike on trails. But even so, routine checks will benefit the occasional rider as much as the die-hard mountain biker.

The things that need regular checking on a bike are very similar to what a mechanic needs to check on your car.

One of the obvious things to check on both a bike and car are brakes. When you squeeze the brakes on the handlebar of a bike, it causes the brake pads to compress over the metal frame of the wheel. It won’t cause you to stop immediately, but will slow you down enough for you to put your feet down.

So regularly make sure that your brake pads are not worn down. Replace them if they are. Also check that the pads are making contact with the metal of the wheel and not the tire itself. If they connect with the wrong part, it could cause you to stop on a dime, which will most likely result in you taking a tumble over the handlebars. Not fun.

Something else that needs to be checked regularly are the wheels. Just like in a car, air pressure in bike tires can change. So make sure you check the pressure and add more air if needed. If a tire has the incorrect amount of air pressure, it will affect your ability to stop. You could also get flats more often when you drive over obstacles because the tire could get pinched around them (this is called pinch flats).

Also keep an eye on your treads. It’s very important to have good treads and replace the tire if they are too low.

Check your seat and make sure it hasn’t become wobbly. If it has, just tighten it with a wrench from your trusty tool kit.

Make sure your bike chain is not becoming encrusted with grime. If it gets too dirty, it could impact how well it changes gears. And you don’t want shifting gears to fail at a time when you are expecting them to work properly, such as when you come to a hill.

So if your chain is becoming too dirty, clean it. The traditional way is to remove it and soak it in a container of solvent. But you can also buy an on-the-bike cleaning machine which clips on the chain and allows it to pass through brushes/solvent without removing the chain first.

Also keep an eye on your bike frame and watch for rust. A small spot of rust can quickly grow and cause weak areas on your frame. To prevent rust, try not to leave your bicycle outside in harsh weather without a waterproof cover on it.

By taking just a little time to do some routine maintenance, you’ll lengthen the life of your bike and allow yourself to enjoy a worry-free ride.

About the Author

In addition to regular maintenance, Sebastian Fawne knows the importance of being seen at night when riding your bicycle, so he has a website http://www.bicycletaillights.com all about bicycle tail lights.

How To Tune-Up A Mountain Bike

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Stan’s NoTubes The Raven 29" Mountain Bike Tire $56.99 Stan’s NoTubes The Raven 29 Mountain Bike Tire. If you do the majority of your riding in hardpack to moderately loose conditions, Stan’s The Raven is your kind of tire. It’s designed to be run at low pressures and sports a bidirectional tread pattern with large side knobs that give you incredible cornering traction. The Raven is Tubeless Ready, meaning it can be used with a standard tube or tubeless with Stan’s Tire Sealant. The Raven is compatible with all tubeless or tubeless ready rims as well as standard rims converted to tubeless using a Stan’s Tubeless Kit.

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Keen Springwater Mountain Bike Shoes $99.99 Keen Springwater Mountain Bike Shoes. Get comfortable performance ON and OFF the bike in these Mountain Bike shoes from Keen.

Crank Brothers Joplin Seatpost Remote Kit $54.99 Crank Brothers Joplin Seatpost Remote Kit. Get easy remote access to your Crank Brothers Joplin mountain bike seatpost!

Adidas Berm Mountain Bike Shoes $29.99 Adidas Berm Mountain Bike Shoes. These Mountain Bike shoes offer flat pedal performance and style.

Ritchey Comp Mountain Bike Seatpost $49.99 Ritchey Comp Mountain Bike Seatpost. This mountain bike seatpost is lightweight and extremely functional!

Spin Doctor Essential Tool Kit $39.99 Spin Doctor Essential Tool Kit. Updated for recent advances in Road and Mountain Bike components, the Spin Doctor Essential Tool Kit comes with 24 commonly used tools inside a custom-molded case. This entry-level kit is perfect for most maintenance and repair challenges.

Clarks Pre-Lube Universal Brake Cable Kit $5.99 Clarks Pre-Lube Universal Brake Cable Kit. This silver braided, pre-lubricated brake cable system from Clarks provides frictionless and maintenance-free performance for Mountain Bike, hybrid and road brakes.

Shimano SH-MT31 Mountain Bike Shoes $29.99 Shimano SH-MT31 Mountain Bike Shoes. These mountain bike shoes are designed for a wide range of riding styles such as commuting, touring or casual off-road cycling.

Shimano SH-MT60 Mountain Bike Shoes $99.99 Shimano SH-MT60 Mountain Bike Shoes. On-road commute or off-road escapade, these Mountain Bike shoes handle any cycling adventure you put in their path.

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Clarks Zero-G Derailleur Cable Kit $24.99 Clarks Zero-G Derailleur Cable Kit. The premium-quality, maintenance-free derailleur cable kit from Clarks features exclusive Dirtshield all-weather technology that seals out dirt, moisture and grime to keep your mountain bike or hybrid shifting efficiently in all conditions.

Shimano PD-M520 SPD Mountain Bike Pedals $44.99 Shimano PD-M520 SPD Mountain Bike Pedals. Economically priced mountain bike pedals with great durability!

Sidi Giau Mountain Bike Shoes $99.99 Sidi Giau Mountain Bike Shoes. Perfect for Mountain Bike club riders, amateurs or casual racers, these mud-shedding, mountain bike shoes go the distance in training and racing. Molded heel cup, padded tongue with fit relievers and three Velcro straps for a power-enhancing fit.

Geax Street Runner Mountain Bike Tire $22.99 Geax Street Runner Mountain Bike Tire. Run the streets on your mountain bike with the Geax Street Runner Bike Tire, also great for the trainer.

Lake MX235C Mountain Bike Shoes $139.99 Lake MX235C Mountain Bike Shoes. Boasting a lightweight carbon sole, full-grain leather upper and rubber tread with Mudstuds, the MX235C Mountain Bike shoes are perfectly equipped for cross-country riding.

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Fort CM220 Mountain Bike Shoes $49.99 Fort CM220 Mountain Bike Shoes. Lightweight, traction-hungry and ready for the trail. These dual-strap CM220 mountain bike shoes are equipped with all the high-end features you need without the high-end price tag.

Continental Mountain King Mountain Bike Tire $49.99 Continental Mountain King Mountain Bike Tire. Ready for cross-country races, marathons, tours and mountainous trail weekends, the all-around Continental Mountain King Mountain Bike Tire is the perfect pick for your next extreme ride!

Adidas Marathon Mountain Bike Shoes $34.99 Adidas Marathon Mountain Bike Shoes. This mountain shoe will let you test your endurance on your next epic trail ride.

Fort Team Mountain Bike Grips $9.99 Fort Team Mountain Bike Grips. These comfortable and long-wearing grips provide excellent support, control and shock absorption.

2010 Mavic Pulse Mountain Bike Shoes $59.99 2010 Mavic Pulse Mountain Bike Shoes. Is your finger on the pulse of all the local mountain bike races? Then these race-ready Mountain Bike shoes are exactly what you need to get started.

Chris King Mountain Bike Bottom Bracket $134.99 Chris King Mountain Bike Bottom Bracket. Ready to take on the most challenging conditions you can deliver on the mountain bike, the Chris King bottom bracket with external cups bring unparalleled quality to the Mountain Bike world!

Fort Comp Mountain Bike Grips $7.99 Fort Comp Mountain Bike Grips. Increase your comfort and control while mountain biking with Fort Comp Mountain Bike Grips. The rubber compound is lightweight, cushiony and super-durable, so you’ll get miles and miles of comfort on the trail.

Sidi Sierra Mountain Bike Shoes $99.99 Sidi Sierra Mountain Bike Shoes. Perfect for cruisin’ down the trail or pedaling around town, the Sierra Mountain Bike shoes are a favorite of mountain bike enthusiasts. Three Velcro straps, shaped heel cup and higher volume last give you a great fit. Fiberglass-reinforced sole with mud shedding tread provides excellent traction on or off the bike.