How to Maintain Your Bicycle for a Long-Distance Cycling
Are you a cycling enthusiast who travels a great distance on a bike occasionally? Or maybe you just recently took cycling as a hobby in your spare time? Either way, bike maintenance is an important part that needs to be done regularly for every cycler. Making sure your bike is in good condition can make you cycle effectively and avoid any damage to your bike.
Things to Look Out for When Maintaining Your Bike
There are several things to check when it comes to bicycles. Each part of the bicycle must be cleaned regularly and fixed when it’s already felt uncomfortable when riding. Don’t hesitate to consult the bike shop and replace any parts that are already aged or broken.
Tires is the bike part that needs an often checkup. When riding your bike into an off-road area, your tires will most likely be covered with mud and could leave a dirt track when you take it back home. So, always remember to clean your tires every time you cycle. Use a hose to wash it with water then scrub it to clean the dirt stains.
Aside from being dirty, your tires are also vulnerable to deflate after a long ride. It’s not an unusual case when you accidentally ran into a sharp object and got a flat tire in the middle of your bike trip. Depending on the damage, you can either fix it yourself and inflate it with your own pump or you may need to bring it to the shop. Your tires can also deflate because of long usage, so always check your tire before you go bicycling.
Brakes are also another important thing that are often forgotten by some cyclers. Remember, almost every accident that involves a bike is because of a faulty brake. Keep in mind that you don’t need to replace your brake when it starts to feel a bit loose. You can actually fix it yourself by cleaning and adjusting the pads and rotors or make the hose shorter. It’s important to consult with a professional first if you don’t know what you’re doing.
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Lube your chain is another thing to consider for your bike performance. If the chain is not lubed well, it can impact the paddle rotation and makes the bike harder to ride. When this happens, buy a good quality lube with a well-known brand to make your bike in perfect condition. You can do this every week or two, depending on how often you use your bike. Listen to the squeaky noise to know if you need to lube your chain or not.
For other parts, I recommend you take a regular service in a trusted bike shop every couple of weeks or a month. Getting your bike in top performance is really important to ease your exercise and ensure your safety on the road. Remember to also obey the traffic and keep focus during your bike ride. Being responsible for your surroundings is also what makes a good-natured cyclist.
