Getting your bike ready for the season

Spring is in full swing, which means it's time to get a bike out of the closet, from the balcony or out of the garage and open the next season. But do not rush, because immediately sitting down and driving after a long break is not the best idea. It is important to properly prepare the bike for riding, and now we will find out how to do it right.

Pre-cleaning

Messing with a dusty and dirty bike is still a pleasure, you know. In this regard, in order to facilitate the further preparation of two-wheeled vehicles, arrange water procedures for it. It is not so important to buy professional chemicals, just a bucket, sponge and detergent.



Cheap and angry option - washing at home. In the courtyard of a private house, this is unlikely to be a problem, but what should apartment residents do? As an option, wash the bike in the bathroom and then rinse it thoroughly, or roll it out into the street and arrange a wash right at the entrance.

In even a small city, cleaning wheeled vehicles is even easier - go to a self-service car wash. There is water, and foam, and everything you need. The main thing is to immediately reduce the pressure so that a powerful jet of water does not completely wash the grease out of the carriage and wheel bushings.

What should be checked?

So, the bike is clean and dry, what to do next? First, prepare a small kit with tools. You will need a Phillips screwdriver, a set of hex keys, lubricant and flushing agent. Next, smoothly go through the maintenance checklist described below.

Frame

Carefully inspect the bicycle frame for dents, cracks, or other deformations. If you see that it is cracked, get ready to fork out to buy a new design. If you do not own a welding machine at least at an amateur level, fixing the frame at home will not be easy. It is better to contact the service or order a new design in the store.

Bushings

Scroll both wheels, move them in different directions, making some effort. Normally, there should be no extraneous sounds like squeaks and knocks. If everything is good, there will be no backlash when trying to shake the wheel to the sides. Is there a big gap? Take a suitable wrench and tighten the eccentrics that attach the wheel hubs to the fork, and also change the grease.

Rims

Spin each rim and look closely to see if the wheels lean sideways as they spin. If you notice that they write out figure-eights, ellipses and other shapes other than an even circle, then the rims are crooked. Here you will need a spoke wrench. With it, you need to tighten individual spokes so as to restore the original geometry of the bicycle wheels.

Knitting needles

According to the type of strings on the guitar, go through all the spokes on both wheels, listening to the sound. It should be the same for all parts. If the sound is low and dull, these spokes should be tightened with a spoke wrench. Is the sound too high? So, on the contrary, you need to loosen the part, otherwise, due to excessive stress during the trip, it can break and disrupt the geometry of the rim.

Casings

Inspect wheel tires for micro cracks, which usually affect the sidewalls of tires. Excessively worn tires are recommended to be replaced, as they have a much higher risk of tearing or bursting on a trip. In addition, there is no longer any pleasure from riding on “bald” tires. Here the same principle as in cars - a very long braking distance and no handling.



It's likely that your bike's tubes have lost air pressure after a long "rest". Do not leave it just like that - take the pump and pump up the tires. You can use both a regular bicycle pump and a car compressor with a pressure gauge. Inflate the tires so that when the bike is fully loaded, the tires sag no more than one centimeter.

Тормоза

Pump the bicycle brakes several times by pressing the steering lever. Normally, the handles should not touch the steering wheel, and when released, quickly and easily return to their original position. Excessively soft, or, conversely, hard pressing is a sign of improper operation.

Get on the bike and ride for a bit, then apply the brake lever. If the system is set up correctly, for a complete stop it will be enough to move the handle to the position in the middle of its stroke. Do you need more effort or does the bike stand up at the slightest push of the lever? The cables need to be adjusted.

Be sure to inspect the brake pads and discs. They should not have cracks, potholes, or other defects. In case of severe wear, the parts must be replaced - after all, these are consumables. With the wheels released, the gap between the block and the tire should normally be from 1 to 3 mm.

brake cables

The brake cables should be well tensioned, and in moderation - you don’t need both sagging and excessive tension. Inspect cables for rust, breaks, or other damage. Pay special attention to the attachment points and places of greatest tension, here the cables are rubbed the most. If everything is in order, lubricate them with liquid lubricant.



Oxidized brake cables need to be replaced, and with them the “shirts” through which they are pulled. It is important to change the parts, since it will not work to completely clean them of oxides. Inside the shirts, the cables will still be oxidized, which is why they will quickly become completely unusable.

Трансмиссия

Raise the bike so that its rear wheel is in the air. Rotate it, simultaneously shifting gears sequentially from bottom to top and vice versa. Each switch should work clearly and with one click, both up and down. The front and rear levers work normally, the chain does not rub against them and does not touch the steel brackets of the rear derailleur.

Chain

A bicycle chain, like brakes, is a consumable. On average, it lasts for 4000 km, and the exact service life depends on the cyclist's riding style and operating conditions. As part of preparing your bike, make sure there is no slack in the chain. If so, increase the tension using the tools. The adjusted chain drive must be flushed. It is best to use gasoline or WD-40 for this, and then treat with a silicone-based lubricant.

Other important points

When preparing your bike for the season, be sure to pay attention to the following components:

✅ Steering wheel. Check for visible damage and play. If necessary, tighten or, on the contrary, loosen the steering column, adjust the height and centering relative to the wheel. To do this, unscrew the nut securing the steering wheel and turn the column as it should.
✅ Saddle. Adjust it for height and tilt. The saddle should be positioned so that, while sitting on it, you get your foot to the pedals at the lowest point. The distance between the front point of the saddle and the stem should be the same as from the tips of the fingers to the elbow.
✅ Fixings. Using hex wrenches, check all the bolts and clamps that are only found in the design of the bicycle. First of all, these are locks for the steering wheel, steering column, brakes, gearshift switches. If necessary, tighten them.

Do not be too lazy to set aside a couple of hours to prepare the bike for the season, and riding it will give you only positive impressions. Proper care is also important for the simple reason that it prolongs the life of the product. Provided that bicycles become more expensive every year, this plays a role.