Just like any machine or your body, your bicycle will require upkeep to ensure that your time spent riding is safe and enjoyable. Bicycles are relatively simple machines, and a grasp of how a bicycle functions is pretty accessible to any rider. There are technical things to know about repairing and assembling a bicycle; you will need to decide for yourself how involved you wish to be with those repairs. U tilizing your local bike shop is a good alternative to doing it all yourself.

To begin your relationship with your bicycle, it’s good to start on the right foot regarding preven tive care. There are a few things to do each time you ride that will make a world of difference in terms of safety and the way your bike performs. It only takes a few moments to make sure your bicycle can be stopped, pedaled, and properly steered. These pre-ride steps are where the rubber meets the road – literally.

The ABC Check

AIR – Check to ensure that your tires are properly inflated to the recommended PSI (shown on the side of the tire.) This is important to check every day to detect any slow leak that may happen as the result of a tiny puncture to your tube.

Note: Tires with low air pressure (very soft to the touch) will make your bike hard to pedal, possibly unstable and hard to steer, as if you are carrying a load of bricks. This  affects your bicycle’s safety, efficiency, and even increases the likelihood of a flat tire.

BRAKES – The brakes on your bicycle may be coaster-brake style (you reverse your pedals to stop), pads controlled by hand levers that apply friction to your wheel rim, or disc-brakes if you have a mountain bike or a hybrid. In either case, every time you ride, start by spinning your wheel to verify that it spins freely, and then apply the brakes to make sure they work. You can visually inspect the brake pads or discs, cables, and levers, for any kind of obstruction or damage that might prevent a safe stop.  Giving the levers a good squeeze will alert you to a broken cable, a cable that needs loosening or tightening, or brake pads in need of adjustment. If your levers have excessive travel, they may not have enough strength to stop you, and the brake pads may be worn beyond their limit.

CHAIN – It just takes seconds to visually inspect your chain for proper lubrication and gunk that has collected, and this provides the opportunity to quickly scan related components for any possible obstruction or damage.

Repair Toolkits

A basic toolkit is a great way to achieve bicycle self-sufficiency.  Ideally, a toolkit is compact enough to carry with you on every ride and is composed of items that will bail you out of most simple breakdowns.  Some basic components include:

  • Tire patch kit
  • Spare tube
  • 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm hex wrenches
  • 8mm and 10mm open-end wrenches
  • Small flat screwdriver
  • Phillips head screwdriver
  • Chain tool
  • Pump (usually attached to the bike frame)

Bike Maintenance

If you learn nothing else about bicycle maintenance, you will want to know how to fix a flat tire. Flat tires are very common and usually very easy to repair; some simple knowledge can save you a long walk. Check out this ‘Guide to Fixing a Flat’:  http://www.bikewebsite.com/flat.htm

If the desire to become knowledgeable and capable of completing your own bicycle repairs, take a look at the resources below.  And if bicycle repair is not for you, there are many excellent bicycle shops in Marin County – click here to see the Marin County Bicycle Coalition’s list of the local shops on their website.

Bicycle Repair Guide: 
http://www.bikewebsite.com/repair-bike-index.htm

Bicycle Tune-up Guide:
http://www.bikewebsite.com/bike_tune-up_index.htm

Some Straight Talk About Bicycle Maintenance:
http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/skills/repair.htm

Questions? Ask The Bike Mechanic:
http://www.bikexchange.com/askmech.htm


Storing Your Bicycle

One huge factor that will determine how much time or money you spend fixing your bicycle, is how much time your bicycle spends stored out in the weather. The metal parts on your bicycle will rust, the cables will seize, and the rubber will crack and fade if overly exposed to the elements. This process can be slowed down by keeping your bicycle in a garage or in your house, and finding a dry covered place to lock your bicycle when you are out and about.

Finding a way to store your bicycle indoors will also provide an extra measure of security, whether at your workplace or your home. If you live in the Bay Area, you are already used to giving extra consideration to the economy of space. There are many indoor bike hanging solutions available, including wall-racks, ceiling-mount hanging systems, etc. Your local bike shop will probably have something just right for you.

Some public transit locations in Marin have installed bike lockers for daily use. Employers are becoming more aware of the need to provide indoor rooms and storage lockers for their cycle commuters as well – don’t hesitate to ask your employer to do the same!