Maintain Your Bike
When it comes to having a safe bike, “safety doesn’t happen by accident!” You may not have been using your bike as much over winter but it’s time to get it ready for Spring and Bike North’s Activ8.
The easiest, and often most cost-effective, way to be sure your bike is ready to get going again is to book it in at your local bike shop and get it properly serviced. A basic service may cost as little as $95, plus parts, but it’s still cheaper than a taxi home if your bike breaks down. There are a few things you can do to check your bike out first.
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Wheels
Wheels that are out of “true” can cause issues in braking, especially on a rim-brake bike. A simple test is to raise the wheel off the ground and spin it. If it rubs on your brakes, there could be a problem needing attention.
Going downhill is not the time to find your brakes need attention.
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Spokes
While you are there, test that the spokes are all of uniform tension and none are broken. Uneven tension can cause a significant failure out on the road so is best attended to early. Possibly, just a few spokes need tightening.
Wheels Tightly Locked
Check your wheels are firmly fitted using the cam lock system. When tight, the lever should be either against the frame or pointing to the rear so that it cannot accidently catch on something and release whilst riding.
Tyres
Yes, tyres do wear out but also, if they’ve been sitting, unused, they can perish and crack. Have a good look at the side walls for cracking and the tread, to ensure there is no canvass coming through. If in doubt, a new tyre can cost as little as $50, and it’s a worthwhile investment.
A tyre failure is inconvenient, but, if it deflates while riding, could cause a major fall.
Tyre Pressure
If your tyres are looking good, pump them up to the recommended pressure shown on the side of the tyre. A good floor pump, with a pressure gauge is essential for all riders.
Check the pressure the following day to ensure there are no leaks. Just as new tyres are a great investment, so are new tubes, if there is a leak. For as little as $15 you can gain the reassurance of tubes that will see you through a ride. If you are not confident fitting a new tube, have a look at YouTube. Every Bike North rider should be able to replace a tube, should they get a puncture out on a ride.
Brakes
When you are riding as part of a Bike North group, you will be travelling closer to other riders than if you are doing a solo ride. Good brakes are essential. If you have a rim brake bike, remember that the rubber brake blocks can harden with age and so may not be as efficient as they could be. It only takes a few minutes to change brake blocks and they are relatively inexpensive, at around $10 a set.
Small adjustments can be made to rim brakes by simply turning the cable adjuster, then locking it in place.
Checking disc brake pads is a little more difficult, but definitely a skill worth developing. Again, YouTube is a great resource, and it only takes a few minutes to check if you have a decent amount of brake pad wear left. Check that your discs are not thin and needing replacement.
Before finishing with your brakes, check their operation by pulling in the brake handle. The brakes should be fully on before the handle touches the handlebar. Adjusting the brake at the brake handle is simply a matter of turning two cable adjusters.
Good brakes are essential for safe riding.
Drive Train
The drive train is comprised of front chain rings, connected to your pedals, a gear “cassette” on the rear wheel, and a chain connecting them. A chain that is dirty or rusty will not change as smoothly as one that is properly maintained. There are a number of different lubricants that can be used but, if you are unsure, talk to your local bike shop and buy the one that suits your riding.
Test how your gears are changing. You can put your bike on a work stand, if you have one, mount it on a bike rack, or turn the bike upside down, however this can make it difficult to change the gears. With the pedals turning, change gears and observe if the chain moves smoothly across the chain rings, then the cassette. If it skips, jumps or is hard to move, it may need attention. A bike shop is often the best option if you are not experienced in this area.
Frame
Frames can crack, no matter what they are made of. Have a good look over every part of the frame, especially in joints to ensure there is no cracking. If so, it’s off to the bike shop. Most manufacturers of quality bikes warrant their frames for a significant period of time so any issues may not be costly. Still, you don’t want the frame to fall apart when you are enjoying your favourite descent.
There are various mounting bolts that can come loose over time. Things like bottle cages and even handlebars need to be checked. If you have a torque wrench, you can do these, ensuring the maximum torque is not exceeded, but otherwise, it’s a job for the bike shop.
Bottle cages can fall off if not secure, creating a hazard for other cyclists.
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Cameras, Lights, Action
Just because you can see a car, or another bike, doesn’t mean they can see you. It is a legal requirement to have working lights around dusk and beyond, but even during the day, front and rear flashing lights can improve your visibility and, if they save you once, the cost was worth it.
Some Bike North members operate combined video camera/light but they are quite expensive. Check that you have lights and they are working. If not, head to your local bike shop and specify that you want lights to increase your visibility.
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Seat Height
Check your seat height. You should have around 5 degrees of flexion in your knee at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Too low a seat height can cause pain in the front of the knee and inefficient pedalling. Too heigh a seat can cause pain in the rear of the knee. If in doubt, enlist the help of your bike shop.
If you are getting serious about riding, there are specialist “bike fit” services available that will ensure you are properly set up on your bike.
The wrong seat height can cause excess fatigue and contribute to accidents, so this is an important safety issue.
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Test Ride
It’s better to find a problem whilst riding around your neighbourhood than it is when you are 30km from home, and not a railway station in site. Listen for grinding, repetitious noises and anything that sounds “abnormal”.
Do some test emergency stops. If the bike doesn’t come to an abrupt stop, your brakes need attention.
If you use cleats, use these during your test ride to ensure they disengage when required. More incidents are caused by riders not un-cleating on time than any other cause.
If you don’t know what the problem is, or how to fix it, you are well advised to book your bike in for service.
A well maintained bike is a safe bike and enjoyable to ride.
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