A FEW TIPS TO MAINTAIN YOUR NEW (OR OLD) BIKE WITH VELO CYCLES
So you’ve just gone ahead and bought yourself a new bike.
Cool!
Or gone ahead and pulled your old one out of the shed after a long, dark season of stay at home work?
Even cooler!!
All bikes need regular maintenance to keep them going, and to keep you safe. The point of this blog is to answer the most commonly asked questions, to help identify what maintenance may need doing on your current bike and (hopefully) fill in any gaps in your bicycle knowledge.
Inflating Tyres
Bike tyres and tubes require certain different components to keep them functional.
Depending on how often you ride, tyres will need to be checked every 2weeks to once a month.
The most common valves you will find on bikes are – Presta and Schrader.
The Presta Valve is commonly found in higher pressure tyres – like skinny road tyres and some high pressure mountain bike tyres. However, they’re beginning to become more common on gravel bikes and commuter bikes. They’re identified by their skinny design and removable valve core which twists open at the top.
The Schrader Valve is a wider valve – commonly found on cars and wider bicycles. You are able to find pumps at petrol stations and a variety of other locations.
If your pump at home doesn’t let you pump a Presta Valve – adaptors are widely available at most Cycle Shops.
Find some discussions below about what valves serve what purposes:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/presta-schrader.html
I Think I’ve Got A Flat Tire – What Do I Do?
Go back to bed.
No – just kidding. If you’re confident to do it yourself, all you’ll need to know is what size your tyre is.
To find out this information, look around the bead of the tyre until you see some numbers that look something like this:
700×23
26×1.75
Your local bike shop will be able to advise the right tube if you have your tyre size.
There are hundreds of “how to” videos on You Tube.
https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/tire-and-tube-removal-and-installation
If you’re not confident to do it yourself, pop into your local bike shop for them to fix it.
What PSI Should My Tyre Be?
It really depends on what tyre you have. It’s worth having a look at what PSI your tyre manufacturer recommends or ask your bicycle mechanic. You can keep various different tyres at various levels of PSI, to serve a variety of different terrains.
Check out some advice below:
https://spokester.com/blogs/news/bike-tire-pressure-quick-guide-to-the-right-psi-for-bike-tires
Lubing Your Chain
Like the rest of your bike, lubing your chain varies depending on how often you use the bike. It also, depends on various external circumstances like weather, where you store the bike, climate and so much more.
There are different types of chain lube for different purposes. In our store for example, we might suggest a choice between a Dry Lube and Wet Lube.
Wet Lube is more heavy duty and will last longer, but is more likely to catch dust and dirt and make you chain/cassette dirtier. It’s great for the avid commuter or road rider, who’s riding to work 2-3 days a week and doesn’t want to have to spend too much time lubing.
Dry Lube is great for Mountain Bikers, Tourers and adventurers alike. It’s the lube if you plan to get dirty! It’s dry so stuff is less likely to stick to it but just be aware, it won’t last as long as wet lube and will need to be continually applied.
To lube your chain, check out some blog posts below:
https://www.wikihow.com/Lube-a-Bicycle-Chain
What Do I Clean My Bike With?
There’s so much information out there to deal with cleaning your bike. Check out some of the links below:
https://www.bikeradar.com/features/clean-your-bike-in-7-simple-steps/
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/video/how-to-clean-your-bike-221294
https://www.roadbikerider.com/10-bike-washing-don-ts-and-do-s-d2/
How Often Should I Get My Bike Serviced?
The honest answer is it really depends on how much you ride it.
If you’re an everyday commuter, riding somewhere in the realm of 10-20km’s a day, we’d recommend servicing your bike every 6-8 months. It is your mode of transport and regular servicing will keep it running smoothly, just like a car.
If you haven’t used your bike in awhile, it’s always worthwhile having a mechanic look over it to keep you out of danger, and riding smoothly.
Your chain, cassette, brakes and tyres are all consumable parts. They will deteriorate at different rates depending on how often you use your bicycle.
I’ve Booked In For A Service – What Can I Expect?
If you’ve booked in for a service, you can trust your bike to be assessed and worked on by a qualified bicycle mechanic. They will ensure that your bike is in the best possible condition for you to ride safely.
If possible, they will look over the bike while you are still there and advise of any work that will need to be done and what cost you can expect. If you have any questions or queries in changing up your style of riding with new accessories or components, this is the time to share your ideas, if you haven’t already.
There’s a comprehensive description of what Velo Cycles and Velo Electric provide in terms of servicing. Keep in mind two things:
E-Bikes and your ordinary Bicycle are priced differently due to E-Bikes needing diagnostics and software analysis alongside it’s service.
And;
Parts and accessories are not included in your servicing costs.
We are happy to answer any other questions you may have about your bike and look forward to seeing you instore soon.
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