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Five Preventative Maintenance Checks
You should always make sure your bicycle is in good condition
before starting on a ride. This way, it is less likely that
something will go wrong on the trip. Preventative maintenance
will go a long way to making sure your bicycling experiences
are enjoyable and without incident. At a minimum, perform
these checks before riding.
1. Brakes: This is a critical
check. A faulty braking system can lead to injury and if
you find a defect, do not attempt to ride the bike until
it is repaired. First check the pads to see if they are
too worn. The brake pads need to be replaced when the pads
are worn more than 1/8 inch. If so, replace them. Note that
if you don’t install brake pads securely, there is
a danger that they come loose and fall into the spokes,
and this may cause you to fall off the bike. If you position
them too high, they will rub through the tire and may cause
a blowout. If you position them too low, they will soon
lose their grip. Next check the mechanism. The pads should
be fully down on the tire when the brake lever is halfway
closed. If not, adjust the cable. Finally, check the cables
to see if they are in good condition.
2. Steering: Check to see if the
handlebars are tightened and correctly aligned.
3. Next check the chain system. Is the
chain clean? Are any links damaged? Are the cogs worn so
that the chain slips when pedaling? More is written about
the chain below.
4. Gear Cables: Improper adjustment
of the gear mechanisms is the main cause of unreliability
on most bikes. Check to see that there is a quick reliable
change between the gears. If the chain jumps off, adjust
the derailleur.
5. Seat: Make sure the seat clamp
bolt and the seat post binder bolt are tightened. They do
not have to be real tight, but just tight enough to prevent
the seat from slipping.
References
1. Langley, Jim. Bicycling Magazine’s Complete
Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair or Road and Mountain
Bikes. Emmaus: Pennsylvania. 1999.
2. Milson, Fred. The Bike Book: Complete Step-By-Step
Guide to Choosing, Maintaining, and Repairing Your Bicycle.
Des Moines: Iowa. 1995.
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