Thinking Of Taking Up Biking? Bike Maintenance Tips For You
When you have decided that you want to spend more time biking, whether as a form of exercise and recreation or as a way to commute to and from work, you may find yourself wondering how you can and should take care of your bike to keep it up and running as well as possible. There are many steps that you can take to maintain your bike and to get bicycle repair when a problem is minor rather than serious. Get to know a few of these steps so you can get started as soon as possible.
Keep Your Bike Chain Well-Lubricated
One of the most important components of your bicycle is your bike chain, which is a part of your drivetrain system. The bike chain takes the energy generated from the pedaling motion on the bike pedals and carries it to the wheels, making them turn. Because the chain is such an important part of your bicycle's system, you will want to be sure that you take the best possible care of it.
You can do this by keeping your bike chain well-lubricated. If you notice a rattling sound or a clunking sound coming from your bike chain, for example, your bike chain likely needs lubrication as soon as possible. The rattling, grinding, or clunking sounds are caused by the metal of the bike chain and the metal of the sprocket coming into contact with one another without the benefit of lubrication.
Invest in a good bike lubricant and apply it to your bike any time the chain seems to be making unusually loud noises. Be sure you also try to keep your bike chain free of dirt and other debris as this can nullify the effects of proper lubrication.
Pay Close Attention to Your Tire Pressure
If your bike chain is the most important part of your bicycle's system, the tires are a close second. After all, you will not be going anywhere with flat tires on your bike. As such, you will want to pay careful and close attention to your tires, specifically your tire pressure.
If your tires are not properly inflated, you run the risk of having a total tire blowout which means an emergency tire replacement rather than an easy fix or repair. Check your tire pressure at least once a week, especially if you ride on a regular basis. If you do not ride your bike frequently, check the tire pressure before you ride each time. Should you find that there is not enough air in your tires, you will be able to add air before you ride, maintaining proper tire pressure.
Additionally, if you notice that your tire pressure is frequently low, you can take your bike in for tire repairs to locate the source of the air leak. This will allow you to patch your tire or replace it while avoiding damage to your wheels and other bicycle components.
With these tips in mind, you can be sure that you are properly caring for your bike as you take up biking.