Every cyclist knows how important it is to prepare the iron horse for the summer season after a long winter. However, not everyone knows that a damp cloth and lubricant are not enough for this. It takes skill, a careful approach and a little cunning.
Egor Berkut, Thule brand expert, tells how to get your bike back in shape without contacting professionals:
“Before embarking on a rescue operation, remember or photograph the location and attachment of all parts in case they need to be removed. While this advice seems obvious, many people neglect it and end up surrounded by "extra" parts. And after a careful study of the bike, you can safely start working. "
Wash away all unnecessary
The layer of dust and dried grease that has accumulated on the bike during downtime is at least not presentable. In addition, you may not notice cracks, scuffs and other problems behind it, which sometimes turn out to be more serious than it seems. Therefore, the first thing to do is to wash your bike.
In this case, a high-pressure washer will not work: there is a possibility that under the pressure of water, dirt will scratch the paint, and a strong jet will lead to deformation of small parts. Better to use a garden hose or a regular bucket of warm water and a sponge. In any case, try to avoid liquid getting into the carriage and bushings to avoid flushing the grease out of them.
Process chain
First, check the condition of the chain: whether it has lengthened over time, whether there are knocked out or strongly worn teeth. If such problems are found, the bike will meet with the master, and the chain, most likely, will be replaced. If everything is in order, treat the chain with a brush (an old toothbrush will work too) and degreaser. Wait for the product to work and dry. After that, you can apply lubricant, and preferably on the inside for greater efficiency. Instead of the usual machine lubricant, it is better to take a special one, based on silicone - it repels dust and dirt well.
Don't forget about cassette and stars
The cassette and stars also need cleaning. Moreover, in the event of a circuit malfunction, you should not immediately go to the store for a new one. The chain links wear out together with the cassette teeth, which means they must be changed together, otherwise the chain may not "sit" on the cassette. The same goes for the stars: they usually last longer, but it does not hurt to check the symmetry of the teeth.
Extend the needles
A great way to check if the spokes are locked correctly is to loop them like the strings of a guitar. All spokes should make the same sound, loud and clear. If too low frequencies are heard, the spoke needs to be tightened; if too high - weaken. And make sure that the wheel does not take the shape of the "eight", which appears when uneven tension of the spokes.
Check tires
Since it comes to the wheels, immediately assess the condition of the tires. If a network of small cracks is found, it makes sense to replace the tires, because they still cannot hold pressure. By the way, about the pressure. The wheels will most likely have to pump up.However, first you can still check the pressure using a bicycle pump with a pressure gauge or a car compressor. However, it is quite possible to do without tools. Just sit on the bike and see how much the tires sag: if it's less than 1 centimeter, you can ride, if more, you need to pump up.
Soften rubber
Over the winter, the tires must have hardened, so the final touch in working with the wheels is to return the softness to the tires. An ordinary lemon will help to cope with this task. You need to take a half, wrap it with a rag, squeeze out the juice and wipe the tires with a wet cloth. This trick will increase the tire grip.
Take care of safety
A separate item for preparing a bike for the new season is brake inspection. With mechanical ones, everything is quite simple: any damage is in plain sight. The main thing is to check that the brakes do not wedge, because most likely the cables will sag over the winter and, therefore, they will need to be tightened. With hydraulics, things are a little more complicated. Leaking brake fluid can often cause braking problems. So, we recommend that you carefully examine the pads and disc. In addition, air could enter the mechanism, and the brake fluid, especially when storing the bike in a damp room, could absorb moisture. To diagnose problems, press the brake levers and observe the "response" of the brakes. If problems are still identified, pumping the system will help solve them.
Inspect the entire system
The important parts of the brake system are cables and pads. The cables should be well taut and free from tears and rust. It is also worth additionally applying liquid lubricant to them so that the brakes and switches work more clearly. As for the pads, on disc brakes, their thickness should be more than 1 millimeter, and on the rim, wear is indicated by the erasure of grooves. If such defects are found, there is only one way out - replacement.
Prepare the seat
It's time to take care of the comfort. If you have a leather seat, like the rubber on your tires, it probably hardened over the winter. You can restore the saddle to its former softness by smearing it with a special skin care product. Just do not overdo it, otherwise the material will lose some wear resistance.
Tighten all screws
For the decisive test, lift the bike and rock it from side to side. In this case, the parts should not dangle and make any extraneous sounds. Usually, such violations indicate that it is necessary to tighten the loose bolts. At risk are the handlebars, steering column, speed and brake switches, and the saddle and seatpost clamp. However, the problem can occur with other parts of the bike as well.
Finally, I would like to remind you that any problem is easier to prevent than to solve. Therefore, when closing the season, try to provide your bike with everything you need for a comfortable winter. In a warm, dry room, protected by a protective cover, he will feel much better and will be much less of a hassle with the beginning of summer.