Gearing up for spring

During this blustery time of year, most of us take our yard equipment into the maintenance shop so that it will be ready for us in time for spring, but did you know that now is also the best time of year to bring your bike in for its yearly service?  Yes, now is the time to get those bikes out of the shed, and bring them in for a lube, a tune and maybe a new set of tires.

Bicycles are machines, the carry us on our way to work, and out for a day of fun, but bicycles still need to be cared for in the same manner as your mower or car.  Inspection of the frame, chain, wheels, brakes and shifting, should be checked at least once a year by a qualified technician for cracks, wear, and fraying, for your safety and for those around you. 

The chain connects the rear wheel to the pedals and usually has the most wear of all the components involving the drivetrain.  The chain constantly rubs against the cogs and chain-wheels as you pedal on your ride, and if not properly lubricated your chain will wear down quickly, becoming thin and eventually braking under pressure.  Yearly replacement of the chain is common and inexpensive, and will save you money by not having to replace more expensive components later.

The wheels of your bike are not only important for your bike to roll, but are also important for supporting your weight, and the spokes in your wheels need to be inspected for tension and the wheel for “True”, to preform this task. This is easily done by spinning your wheel to see if it moves in a side to side motion as it spins, if there is movement, then the wheel is considered to be out of true and is also probably rubbing on your brakes and adding friction as you ride.  Truing your wheels is done on a “Truing stand”, and takes a short period of time to make the corrections to them.

Your braking system is a lot like your cars, without them you can’t stop.  And proper maintenance is important for your safety.  For most of the brakes on today’s bikes are made up of a system of pads, cables and levers;

1)    Your brake pads are made of a rubber like material that is compressed against the wheel to cause friction and slowing you to a stop.  The pads can become hard and brittle with age, or they can become worn by use and do not have enough surface area to cause the friction needed to slow you properly.

2)    The brake cable is made up of steel wires that move within the cable housing and connects the brake pads and calipers to the brake lever.  The friction between the cable and the housing causes the cable to wear over time and can create rust and fraying of the cable, preventing the brake pads to freely release.

3)    Your brake levers connect your hand to the brake cable and one should be present for each set of brakes.  The levers are supposed to be free of cracks and arrant bends that are caused from being dropped or bumped.

Finally, adjusting your shifting system is like getting a tune up for your car.  The cables that actuate the shifting for the derailleur’s, has the same problems as the brake cables, fraying and rust accumulations in the housing will create a delay in the shifting and cause mis-shifts between gears. These cables should be replaced yearly to prevent more costly repairs by the cable braking inside the shifter.

A smooth and safe bicycle ride will always bring you a smile and a sense of accomplishment. In time, you will find that your smiles will get bigger, your rides longer, and your self esteem and fitness level will grow proportionally.  Getting a professional tune up is not only good for your bike but for you, because you are also a machine.

For the month of February, Carmichael Cycles is offering a discount on our Standard Tune-up which is normally $69.99, and will cover all of the adjustments and more that we discussed (sorry but parts and fitness not included).  Our coupon will be in the Inside Arden publication, found in most the newsstands around the Carmichael-Arden area, or at Inside Arden online.