Bicycle Tune Up Tips

All bikes require attention at some time whether you use it frequently or not. If you do not use it, it almost certainly needs more attention than if you do, but if you do use your bicycle much some aspects will need attention too. In this article we will discuss some bicycle tune up tips that ought to put you ahead of the competition.

The first thing to test is the chain. If the chain is not right, it will not convey all your leg power to the wheels - it will be inefficient and you will have to work harder. Not just that, but if the chain is not correct, it can wear down the teeth on the cogs and they are a lot more expensive to replace than the chain.

So, test the tension of the chain by moving it up and down from its regular place. It should move around a centimeter (less than half an inch) up and down from regular. If it is more than this, slacken the wheel nuts off and tap the wheel back to increase the chain tension. If the wheel will not go back far enough, you need a new chain. Chains do stretch over time.

Next, check the bearings in the pedal mechanism. Do this with the chain off to reduce background noise. Turn the pedal arms and wiggle each one from side to side. Listen and feel for friction. The arms ought to not move from side to side at all, although the pedals may.

If the bearings are just dry, shame on you, oil them, but if you have let it go too far and some bearings are damaged, replace them.

Take the wheels off and holding each one in tun by its spindle, spin them. Listen to the bearings in the hubs. Do they sound OK? Oil or replace the bearings. With the wheels in place, place the front wheel between your legs and hold it tight between your knees. Rock the handlebars from left to right and back again a few times. Is there any play? If so, tighten the locking nut, oil the bearings or replace them.

Check your brake handles and cables. Replace anything that is cracked, broken or showing signs of rust. Check your brake pads. If they are worn out of shape, replace them and fit new ones so that they will wear more uniformly.

If the pads are deformed then they were not fitted in the correct manner so your brakes were not working well for a time which means that you were fortunate that you did not need them in an emergency situation.

When the brake pads have been installed properly, recheck the tension of the cables operating them. Tighten or slacken them as needed.

If you are still growing, check the height of the saddle and raise it if needed. If you have stopped growing upwards, check that the saddle nut is tight enough to hold the saddle in place even if you hit a pothole.

Last but not least, make sure that your lights and reflector are working.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently concerned with London Olympic dates. Click a link to find out more 2012 London Olympics Volunteers.