Schwinn Bikes Maintenance

bicycle wheel image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com

Basic bike maintenance and periodic tune-ups are crucial to avoid disaster while cycling. Even if you avoid injuries in a bike mishap, a mechanical failure with your bike can transform you from biker into a hiker, or more accurately, a porter. Caring for and inspecting a bike after each ride reduces the risk of breakdowns on future rides and allows small issues to be addressed before they become critical. Problems not easily addressed by a rider often are easily remedied by a bike mechanic. While maintaining your bike may seem a chore and visits to a bike shop can be time consuming and costly, it's better than carrying a busted bike with a scraped and bruised body.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Water
Dish detergent (or bike cleaner)
Toothbrush
Lubricant
Rag
Floor pump

Step 1

Wash the bike with water and mild dish detergent after each ride, beginning at the front and working towards the rear.

Step 2

Inspect the drive train for accumulated grit. If necessary, scrub the grit from the drive train (front chain rings, rear cogs, and chain) using a citrus-based degreaser and toothbrush.

Step 3

Coat the chain with lubricant. Rotate the pedals backwards while lubing the inside of the chain. Use a rag to remove any excess lubricant.

Step 4

Inspect the brake pads to make sure they make contact with the rim and not the tire. Also, check that the brakes are centered over the tire. If the brakes are not centered, remove the tire and re-attach. Remember that as the brake shoes wear, the location on the tire rim they contact will change.

Step 5

Check the tire pressure. Bike tires are imprinted with the maximum inflation for the tire. Check this and adjust the tire pressure using a floor or hand pump.

Article Written By David Chandler

David Chandler has been a freelance writer since 2006 whose work has appeared in various print and online publications. A former reconnaissance Marine, he is an active hiker, diver, kayaker, sailor and angler. He has traveled extensively and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida where he was educated in international studies and microbiology.

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