May 2019
Is Your Bike Ready to Ride?
Things are getting much greener, temps are warming up, and fingers crossed your favorite trails are finally drying up. Time is running out to get your bike spring riding ready! But not to worry, we’ve got some tips to get your two-wheeled steed trail-ready!
Let's Talk About Cleanliness
The first step to whipping your bike back into shape begins with a good old fashioned scrub! You’ll need a water hose and a soft bristled brush a little bit of dish soap and a bucket. Make sure to get into those nooks and crannies that haven’t seen the light of day since who knows when. You’ll want to refrain from spraying directly into your hubs, bottom bracket and cranks. Start by spraying your bike down. Mix a little bit of soap in your bucket and take that scrubber and get to scrubbing. Once you’ve got all the grime off the bike, carefully spray it down. You’ll want to let your bike dry off. Feel free to towel dry to expedite the process.
A Clean Drivetrain is a Happy Drivetrain
Chain looking a little bit grimy? Not only is a dirty chain, chainrings and cassette annoying, it also creates unnecessary wear and tear on your entire drivetrain. We suggest investing in cleaning tools so that you can keep your bike happy all year long!
Give your bike some Lube
A good dose of lube to those creaky joints and your bike will be back to life in no time. If you don’t know what kind to use give us a call or stop by and we can make a recommendation depending on the type of riding you’ll be doing.
Check those Tires!
Tire pressure can change over time, leaving those tires squishier than you remember. Find your pump, dust it off and get that pressure up to the recommended psi which can be found on the side of your tire. If you don't own a floor pump with a gauge on it, you'll want to have a pressure gauge tool handy. We recommend pumping your tires up midway between the minimum and maximum recommendations. Remember, if you’re wheels are set up tubeless you may be able to run a lower pressure, but you’ll probably need to make sure your sealant is at an appropriate level (2-3 ounces per wheel is optimal).
Did We Mention Suspension?
If you can’t remember the last time your suspension was serviced we highly recommend you bring your bike in for a suspension tune. If you don’t know your preferred settings, make an appointment and we will get you dialed in. These settings assure that your bike rides, handles and performs like a dream.
When in Doubt, Bring your Bike to the Pros
If you run into a problem that you can’t seem to fix or you’ve got a race creeping up on you, call us and let one of our mechanics handle things. A tune-up in the spring will get your bike up and running and could prevent future problems down the line. We know there is nothing worse than missing out on an epic adventure because your bike isn’t running smoothly.
Get out that hose, lube and pump and get to it, or give us a call to make an appointment with us ASAP! We’re looking forward to seeing all you lovely humans out on the trails soon.