Bicycles SALES, SERVICE & BIKE RENTALS
What Does A Bike Tune-Up Consist Of?
If your bike that has been lying in the garage for a while and you want to start riding again, or you’ve been using it and it needs a service of sorts, you have to make sure that what you do is right to keep the bike in good shape.
A Bike Tune-Up consists of:
-
Cleaning any dirt, oil and old grease off the bicycle.
-
The gears and derailleurs are checked for damage and alignment
-
The drivechain is checked for stretching or kinking
-
Brakes are inspected for wear and grip
-
The tires are checked for wear, cracks or swellings
-
All and any tension adjustments needed are made to the various cables
-
The wheel and frame alignments are checked
-
The wheel spokes (if any) are checked and tightened if needed
-
Headstocks and seating poles must be checked for unwanted movement
-
Every nut and bolt must be tightened to ensure that the bike is stable while riding.
-
Appropriate oils and greases are applied to moving parts where required
A bicycle tune-up basically means getting your bike into the perfect shape for you to use. And while the level of tune could range from a basic tune to a complete overhaul.
How to Tell When Your Bike Needs a Tune-Up
Whether you’re dusting off your bike after a hiatus or you’ve been riding hard throughout the winter, it’s a good idea to bring it to your local bike shop for a spring tune-up. Think of these visits as preventative maintenance, just like your annual health check-ups!
Regular tune-ups once or twice a year can help your bike and its components last longer and catch minor issues before they become more significant problems. In addition to regular maintenance, here are some red flags that will let you know if your bike needs some TLC.
BRAKES
If your brakes feel sluggish, don’t have good stopping power, or you find yourself squeezing the levers down to the handlebars, it’s time to take your bike to the shop. Brake pads wear down, and brake cables stretch with use and can impact your ability to slow or stop your bicycle.
TIRES
Rubber degrades over time even without use (especially in hot, wet, or sunny conditions), and the tread can get worn down as you put miles on your tires. Look for these signs of decay (AKA’ dry rot’) and wear: cracks in the tire, worn sidewalls with threads visible, faded tread pattern, and bald patches.
A “squared-off” tire with a flat spot running down the middle also hints that time might be up. A fresh set of tires can prevent a potential blowout.
SPOKE
Evenly tensioned spokes are the hallmark of a healthy wheel. Check for loose spokes by squeezing two together at a time – you should feel resistance – and keep an ear out for rattling spokes when you give your wheel a spin.
Wheels that look wobbly when you spin them might need to have their spokes re-tensioned by your mechanic in a process called “truing” the wheel.
SHIFTING
If your bike has gears, it should shift smoothly up and down without hesitation or skipping gears. Note any issues while shifting to help your mechanic diagnose the problem. Are you having trouble with your front or rear gears? Does the problem occur when you shift to a hard or easy gear?
CHAIN
Chains should be cleaned and oiled regularly, especially in winter, and replaced periodically to keep your drive train happy. Bring your bike to the shop for an assessment if your chain is falling off (aka “dropping”) or slipping, or it’s been a very long time since you’ve replaced it.
RUST
UNUSUAL NOISES
A quiet bike is a happy bike! Clicking, grinding, knocking, squeaking, rattling, or other unusual noises coming from your bike might signal that something needs adjusting, replacing, or servicing.
YOU BOUGHT A NEW BIKE
New cables stretch, so you might encounter changes to your shifting or braking after putting on some miles. Bring your new ride back to your bike shop for a tune-up.
In addition to your regularly scheduled maintenance, it pays off to pay attention to any changes in your bike: Does your steering or pedaling feel different? Do you hear new noises?
Do you just have the feeling that something is off? Have your local bike shop give your bike a once-over. A tune-up will get you back to pedaling smoothly and safely.
