BIKE MAINTENANCE
Your bicycle doesn’t run on leg power alone. It also needs a little lube, a lotta love, and a good listen. You may not know every remedy your bike needs to live a long life, but you can gain enough wisdom along the way to keep it in tip-top shape. You have the role of the primary caregiver.
"So when you need some help or you do not enough time you can leave the tough stuff to us" - Dave Preeper, Owner
Mount Forest Bicycle Maintenance
SOME HELPFUL ADVICE
* You can’t properly adjust a bicycle that is dirty and not lubricated
* Check tire pressure before every ride, especially if you’re running tubeless
* The three most important tools to have on a ride. (a multitool with a chain breaker, a pump or CO2, and a patch kit or tube)
* If your bike makes a noise, it’s trying to tell you something. Don’t ignore it
* Three signs your brake pads are worn: You hear a gritty scraping sound, the grooves in the pad have all but disappeared, or you feel stickiness when you brake
* Don’t touch disc-brake pads or rotors with your fingers. The oil from your skin can decrease their braking power
* Do not use a solvent to lube your chain
* After lubing your chain, backpedal a few revolutions then wipe off the chain with a clean, dry rag. The lube is now in the rollers and between the plates. Too much oil will attract road dust
* Even if you haven't rode your bike for some time, remember your lubricated areas will dry out
* If you have a pinch-flat, the PSI in your tires is almost certainly too low
* Never use a brake housing with a shift cable OR a shift housing with a brake cable
* Never turn your bike upside down to work on it. You could ruin cables, accessories, even your saddle. If you don’t have a repair stand, find a way to suspend it
* Blasting your bike with a high-pressure water hose forces in unwanted grit and dirt and blows out much-needed grease and lube. Use a bucket of water and a sponge instead
* When your chainring teeth start to look like shark fins (sharp), it’s time to replace your chainrings
* Regularly inspect your carbon-fiber frame for cracks, and touch up scratches with a couple coats of clear nail polish