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optical control
Christian Berra (50), a bicycle mechanic and owner of the Chez Velo store in Basel, says that the first thing to do after winter is to approach the bike again. “Unlike cars, bikes don’t have warning lights.” First you look after the bike and remove any coarse dirt. You often notice that something is broken. The best thing to do is to pick up the bike and look at it from below. “This makes it easier to check if the chain, bottom bracket and sprockets are still working,” Berra says.
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cleaning
Berra advises against harsh cleaning products and recommends using water with all-purpose liquid soap to remove grit. A wet sponge is usually sufficient. The chain as well as the control and bottom bracket should also be left out. “It needs to be oily in there for the bike to work.” There is always one point to consider in the spring: any road salt remaining in the winter must be rinsed with water to prevent corrosion on the bike. As an alternative, Berra says you can ride your bike in the rain.
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Checking tires and hoses
To check the tires and tubes, the tire must be inflated. “If the rubber is brittle, you can’t see it most of the time when it’s flat,” says Berra. You can tell if a tire is brittle by visually checking and feeling it. A hard tire that feels plasticky or has cracks will need to be replaced. “This is important for safety. Hard tires have less grip.” You should also remove the tires and tubes from the bike every year, pull them apart and put them back together. “Otherwise they’ll stick together. The bike then becomes more susceptible to flats or valve damage and becomes more troublesome to maintain.”
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Checking the brakes
Many bikes now have disc brakes. These need to be tightened manually over time. Most of the time you can do this with a hex wrench. Hydraulic brakes are usually self-balancing. Berra says this is an advantage. However, such brakes can lose fluid and will need to be taken to a workshop. As disc brakes get hot, they start to make noise when braking for a long time. However, they should not make any permanent noise when cooled. “If you hear a constant rubbing noise, the pads may need to be replaced,” says Berra.
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Checking the chain
“Chains can grow up to five centimeters during their life cycle,” says Berra. This makes shifting more difficult or the chain falls off more quickly. A worn chain is difficult to see with the eye. That’s why Berra recommends all regular cyclists check the chain gauge every six months. “This involves pressing the tooth of the gauge between the chain links. If it fits snugly into the gap, the gap is too much and the chain needs to be replaced.”
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Tighten the screws
It is recommended to check all screws and brackets on the bike and tighten them if necessary. For most parts, all you need is a small hex wrench. The position of the seat and handlebars may change in winter if the bike is in a shared area with other bikes and falls several times. “The greater the load, the faster the screws will loosen,” says Berra. Critical areas are the handlebars, seat, pedals and luggage racks.
Source : Blick
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
