Tune up time!
It’s spring (almost! – wait, 70 degrees this week?!!) and your bicycle is calling!
and your bicycle is saying two things…
Ride me!
and…
Give me a tune up!
Need a tune up fast? Call Mobilebikeman.com. We come to you!
We will tune up your bike and make sure it’s safe and ready for you to ride this year.
We’ll assess the condition of your bike and recommend any repairs or replacements to help you keep rolling strong.
Whether it’s a road bike, commuter bike, mountain bike, cyclocross bike, tandem bike, recumbent bike, Ebike, kids bike, or even a bike like this:
We service all types of bicycles!
New to Colorado? Have you heard about goatheads?
Goatheads
Goathead thorns bear a remarkable resemblance to their nickname. Tribulus terrestris is an annual that adapted to grow in dry climates and otherwise tough conditions. This makes Colorado an ideal spot to find this invasive plant. Goatheads can be found all over Colorado, but especially in brush and prairie terrain.
A sound strategy for dealing with goatheads is (T)hreefold:
- Terrain – If road biking, stay on paths / street (versus grass and field)
- Tires – Quality tires will help resist goathead punctures
- Tubes – If your tire has slime, the slime helps to keep a puncture from deflating your tire. Some riders opt for tubeless tires. In a tubeless tire, the tire and the rim of the wheel form an airtight seal by adding a liquid sealant.
We can help you prepare your bike to lessen the impact of goatheads.
Tune up time – who, me?
But, you say, I haven’t really been riding my bike – it’s been sitting in my garage/balcony/storage area.
Well, we can help you with that, too!
Often times, bikes that have been in storage need a little love. Perhaps some chain lube, new brake pads if they’re worn down or dried out, and some slime for the tires (or thorn resistant tires) to help prevent goathead damage. These little things can go a long way.
Perhaps you’ve an avid rider. You’ve mastered some bicycle maintenance yourself (good for you!). We can check over your bike and make sure the wheels are straight, check out the parts that get more wear and tear, and get you all set for another year of riding.
Best of all, you get back the time of hauling your bike back and forth to the shop, so you can get done all of those other things you need to get done. So when your bike arrives back to you, you’ll be ready to ride!
Once you’re gotten a great tune up, a little maintenance will go a long way to maintain it. Here’s a handy guide from bicyclehabitat.com that breaks it down.
Bicycle Maintenance Guide
| EVERY RIDE (a safety check) |
MONTHLY (or every 500 miles) |
EVERY 6 MO. (or 2,500 miles) |
YEARLY (or every 6,000 miles) |
|
Check tire pressure. If it’s low (if the tire feels squishy), fill to the correct PSI – which is listed on side of your tire. |
Wipe down bicycle frame with a cloth. Inspect frame and parts for signs of wear, such as cracks or dents. |
Clean the frame to protect the paint/finish. Once it’s clean, inspect bike frame and fork for any cracks or dents. |
Check all bearing systems: hubs, bottom bracket, headset and pedals. Adjust and/or overhaul as needed, based on their condition. |
| Glance over the tire tread on both tires for embedded debris, to avoid getting a flat. |
Wipe the chain and cassette cogs clean with a rag + earth-friendly degreaser. Re-lube chain. |
Check tires for wear such as dry rot or areas where tread is too worn. Replace if cracks or wear are significant. Check your spare tube and patch kit: make sure the spare still holds air and the patch kit has glue + patches. |
Check all brake and gear cables + cable housing for fraying, breakage, rust, corrosion. Replace if necessary. |
| If you have quick release parts (such as wheels or seatposts), check that they are tight and that the wheels are secure. | Check the wheels for loose spokes. If the spokes are loose, the wheels may have to be re-trued. | Check the condition of hubs, bottom bracket, headset. adjust and/or overhaul as needed. | Replace brake pads, and rubber brake hoods and handlebar tape if necessary. |
| Spin wheels to check for wobbles. If the wheel wobbles, this indicates that you need to have your wheel trued | Using a wrench, test the tightness of the moving and connecting parts: crankarms, pedals, chainring bolts, seat bolt, seatpost bolt, stem bolts, handlebar bolts and all accessory mounting bolts/screws. | Check all cables and housings for fraying, breaks, rust, and corrosion. Replace if necessary | Clean and check wheels carefully for signs of wear such as worn sidewalls or cracks where the spoke touches the rim or hub. |
| Squeeze brakes to make sure they’re grabbing and that the pads touch the rims, not the tires. | Lube the pivot points of the brakes, derailleurs, and pedals. | Check for worn brake pads and replace if needed; also replace worn handlebar tape or grips. | Check the hubs, bottom bracket, and headset: adjust and/or overhaul as needed. |
| If you have a mountain bike, push down on and release the suspension to be sure that it’s responding properly. | Lube the brake and gear cables to prevent binding. Check the cables for fraying and rusting. Replace if necessary. | Check for chain, cassette, and chainring wear and replace worn parts as needed. | Overhaul the pedals to check the bearings and add fresh grease (this can be tricky!). |
| Look over the bike chain. Add chain lube if it looks dry. | Check clipless pedals and cleats for loose screws/bolts. | Clean the drivetrain (chain, chainrings, cassette, front and rear derailleurs) with biodegradable solvent and rags. | Maintain and lube your suspension components according to the advice in the owner’s manual. |
| Make sure you are prepared with tools (spare tube and/or patch kit, tire levers, pump), in case you get a flat while riding. (Or that you know where your closest bike shop is.) | If you have a mountain bike, maintain and lube your suspension. | If you have a mountain bike, maintain and lube your suspension components. | Check basket, racks and accessories – be sure attachments and bolts seem in OK condition. |
Ready to get your tune up done? Contact us at Mobilebikeman.com. We come to you.
Request Service
Happy Riding 🙂