Yep - most of us are into cycling for many reasons, and chief among them is getting/keeping fitter. But, if your bike isn't healthy then it isn't going to be good for your mental fitness (if it breaks down on you), nor your physical fitness (if it stays broken you can't get out on it, and a poor bike-fit may actually injure you over time!) Think of your car - you do some regular things for that too. (Oh... and just like your car, it's a good idea to get your bike serviced every once in a while. And a word of warning, the month leading up to ATBiaD is prime season for bike servicing - book in early!)
So....Here are some tips, partially sourced from this month's Ride On
, the free magazine that comes with a Bicycle Victoria membership. (Hey, did you know you get free insurance with them too!? Pretty good deal!)
1. Tyre Pressure - It's a fact. Most bike tyres are underinflated. If you ride a road bike, you need to pump them up at least once per week - and for many of us, that means the morning of (or the night before) a ride. Look at the sidewall of your tyre for the minimum pressure. If you have very expensive tyres, you might be surprised to note that the minimum pressure is actually quite high. For ATBiaD, my personal opinion is that anything above around 95psi is a bit excessive. We aren't Lance Armstrong so you just increase your risk of getting a blowout, as well as decrease the comfort of your ride as you feel each and every bump.
Oh... and don't rely on the accuracy of the petrol station air - get yourself a gauge and/or a floor-pump that has one built in.
2. Tyre Rubber - Every few weeks, give your tyres a once-over. Look for any nicks, or embedded stones/glass etc. If you pull them out now, you may actually cause a hole - but better at home than out there on the road - and if it is embedded in your tyre it's only a matter of time before it will work its way through to your tube. Check your sidewalls too - if your bike is stored outside, they can deteriorate quite quickly and you wouldn't want a blowout.
3. Chain lubricating - If you don't already have any, splurge out and for $5-15 you can get some great chain lube. Most of the good ones out there are wax-based (not oil based) so they are less-likely to pick up dirt, and also last longer. However, they will all wear off - particularly in wet weather. And you don't want your chain's squeaking to be the thing to let you know you need some lube. You don't need to add much, as it will work its way around the chain. And you'll feel it on your ride too - all nice and slippy!
Depending upon how often you ride, every month or so, you should give your chain a thorough clean. Grab your Sunday Age (after you've read it, of course) and stick it under your bike, then go nuts with the citrus cleaner. Chain, jockey wheels and your chain rings and rear cassette (all the cogs the chain runs on). Then dry it all with a rag (hold a rag loosely around the chain and spin the pedal backwards with your hand). Then clean it again with the hottest water possible (that's where citrus-based cleaner is good, as it is water-soluble).
4. Clean and polish - If you have been riding in the rain, you'll be amazed the amount of crud that gets flicked up on your bike. Give the frame and rims a gentle clean (don't get any cleaner on the part of your rim where the brake pads hit - you still want your brakes to work!)
If you're really keen, you might want to put a drop or two of your chain lube into your cables, so they slip easily too.
Cory.
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