How to Maintain Your Mountain Bicycle at Home?
-
While we're all exercising social distancing and staying at the house during these crazy pandemic times, capitalize on the extra hours in your home to obtain your mountain bicycle ready for the period with these 6 bike maintenance jobs you can do in your garage.
1. Bleed Your Brakes
If you have actually discovered that your brakes are really feeling 'soft' or 'squishy' although there's plenty of life left in the brake pads after that it's probably a sign that they require to be hemorrhaged. What does that also indicate? Bleeding brakes include removing air bubbles from the brake lines by pumping brand-new brake liquid into and through the lines. These bubbles develop after typical usage and they need to be 'hemorrhaged out' so that the brakes feel firm again as well as aren't contaminated with air.
2. Clean & Grease All Pivots
Pivots-- the points at which the bike frame is bolted along with bushings as well as bearings to allow for flex and activity-- can obtain filthily and also gunky after a season of riding or perhaps a few rides with wet and also sloppy surfaces. Pivots are designed to be secured against dirt and also crud, yet they do need to be cleaned up as well as greased every so often. If you listen to creaking when you ride, that's probably because your pivots are filthy and also require excellent clean and also grease. This is just one of the most fundamental bike maintenance tasks you can do on your mountain bicycle.
3. Rear Shock Suspension Solution
If you do a reduced fork leg service you might also do a back shock service as well, right? Right, this is a bit a lot more tricky than a fork service, but definitely still manageable if you have the right tools and see a couple of videos.
Why solution the rear shock? For the exact same factor, you intend to service the front fork: normal upkeep maintains the shocks really feeling smooth and also effective as well as guarantees that your flight feels as fluid as possible.
4. Reduced Fork Leg Suspension Service
Like mountain bicycle brakes, the front fork shock requires to be serviced from time to time to maintain it working smoothly and also effectively. Dust and also gunk can make it through the seals and also the oil that keeps the shock lubed ultimately leaks out or runs out. Every front fork shock has a suggested service maintenance routine which is around every 50 hours of riding, yet check your shock solution manual for actual referrals.
5. Replace The Chain
Last, yet not least, it might be time to replace your chain. If you seem like your equipment is sliding or you're hearing a great deal of chain put as you bound down the path it could be time to load a brand-new chain onto your drivetrain.
You can check the wear by using a chain wear sign or if you track your rides, a brand-new chain is needed around every 2,000 miles.
6. Change Tires
How long has it been since you've replaced those nubby tires on your bike? If they're looking a little worn after that it's possibly time to exchange them out for brand-new rubber. A couple of quick things to seek when deciding if you need a brand-new tire:
Are the side knobs split and also unsteady when pushed? These are your cornering knobs as well as if they do not stand up directly when you wiggle them to and fro you might find yourself face down in the dust ...
Just how worn are the facility treads? If they are smooth and also almost flat to the tire after that it's most definitely time to change them
Is the rubber cracked as well as completely dry? If you have not taken your bike for a spin all winter months make sure to examine the condition of the rubber.
Tires look good? You may still need to include a bit of sealant (if you're running tubeless) if it's been a couple of months because you last topped it off. Sealant dries up in the tire and an ounce or 2 needs to be included every 3-4 months.
We are a mountain bicycle supplier, please feel free to contact us if you need them.