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Bike Basics
You don t have to be a mechanic to
commute by bike, but you should make sure your bike is in working order
and safe to ride.
1) Air:
Tires lose a little air every day. If your gauge says a tire is more
than five pounds under the needed pressure (printed on the side of the
tire), add air. No gauge? Push each tire hard against a curb. If you can
flatten it, add air.
2) Chain:
A dry chain can lock up or break suddenly. If your chain
squeaks when you pedal or it hangs up when you pedal backward, lubricate
the chain. Oil will do, but it attracts dirt; a greaseless chain
lubricant is best.
3) Wheel Spin:
Lift each wheel up and give it a slow spin. (Spin the back wheel forward
so the pedals don t move.) If the wheel won t spin by itself or stops
suddenly, see whether it s rubbing against the brake pads, frame, or
something else. If the wheel s not rubbing, the problem might be the
axle or hub.
4) Tires:
Turn each wheel very slowly and look for big cuts, bulges,
bubbles, or places you can see the inner casing. If you spot any,
replace the tire. Remove glass or other debris. If the valve stem
doesn't point straight at the middle of the wheel, the rim might cut it;
let the air out and straighten the valve.
5) Shifting:
Try all of your gears, shifting each gear lever from high to low. You
have a problem if the lever sticks, you can't shift to all gears, the
chain rubs the derailleur, or the chain jumps off the gears. These are
usually caused by worn or dirty cables, or a derailleur that needs
cleaning or adjustment.
6) Handlebars:
Hold the front tire between your legs and try to turn the handlebars. If
they're loose, tighten the stem bolt.
7) Brakes:
You should adjust or replace the brake cable or pads if you have any of
these problems:
(a) when you apply the brake on
each wheel, one or both brake pads
don't touch the rim
(b) you can squeeze your brake lever all the way to the handlebars
(c) on each wheel, the brake can’t stop the tire from moving on dry,
clean pavement.
8) Loose
Parts: Pick up the bike and shake it hard. Check and fix
anything that rattles.
Excerpted from “Urban Bikers Tricks and
Tips” by Dave Glowacz. Order a copy at (800) 888-4741 or
click here
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