How do you prepare your bike for the riding season? Dealing with a bike mechanic

The thermometer is gradually crossing the 0 mark and moving from negative to positive. This means that it will soon be possible to ride your bike from your balcony straight out onto the street. But first, let’s see if your bike is ready for everyday use or if you need to postpone your starts a bit.

Victor Pavlov

bike mechanic of the triathlon center, eh-mechanic of the cycling team “Katyusha”.

Tells what to pay attention to when preparing your bike for the summer season.

Checking the condition of the chain

Different people have different riding styles, which affect chain wear in their own way. People with aggressive riding styles should inspect the chain more closely. I’ve had chains with 10k miles on them and they were fine. And there were some that had run only a thousand kilometers and were very worn out.

You have to look at the condition, change it or strictly follow the recommendations. The chain should be replaced after 2-3 thousand kilometers, but it happens that even a new chain can be defective. I have also encountered this, a link broke in half.

Lubricating parts

It is necessary to lubricate all running units, bushings and carriage. The steering column should also not forget to look, sometimes the bearings fail. This is especially true for those who spin the bike at home on machines – constructions that allow you to “ride” on the spot. In this case, it is important to consider that from salty sweat, the upper bearing rusts and the steering wheel does not move well. It seems like a small thing, not such a moving part, but it also affects safety. When the steering wheel is tight, it’s almost impossible to ride without hands and you can feel the bike steering in the corners.

Inspect the rubber

Be sure to inspect the rubber. The tread may be new, but there may be a cut on the side. It’s best to check these little things thoroughly before you ride. In general, the rubber is changed by feel.

Inexperienced riders are better not to ride a new tire in the rain. In such weather, the new tire will feel especially good. Old rubber is more reliable and stable in this regard.

Running-in the bike after the service

It is not superfluous to run-in the bike. New rubber is more slippery, the top layer is more oaky. Or take a saddle, for example. If you change the model of the saddle, because the old one no longer fits, it is also undesirable to go “into battle” at once. You have to get used to it. When I was involved in cycling, our coach used to tell us: “At least two weeks before you put on a new saddle, so that you have time to get used to it a little”.

Professional service or in-house maintenance?

A bicycle requires attention like any technical device. Just like a car or our body. Maintenance can be done by yourself, if you are well versed in the subject. Or you can take your bike to a workshop. But it is necessary to maintain it in any case. This is both safety and, to some extent, savings.

There are various breakdowns that seem insignificant at first glance, but they can lead to something more serious. For example, a bicycle “cock” is bent – you put the derailleur on the lightest gear, it jumps behind the spoke. Eventually, both the “cock” and the derailleur break, and several spokes can fly out. One thing flows smoothly into another, and then the cost of repair increases many times over.