Three Tips For Avoiding Problems With Your Bicycle

Your bicycle can be both an essential means of transportation and a source of recreation. However, it is a reality that many people may not be fully informed about the type of care that these machines require. A poorly maintained bicycle will be far more susceptible to experiencing malfunctions, but you may be able to avoid some of these problems by following these three bicycle maintenance tips.  

Keep The Chain Clean

The chain is one of the most important components of your bicycle, and it can sustain tremendous amounts of wear and tear over the course of riding the bike. If you make the mistake of failing to keep the chain clean, you may have a harder time pedaling, and the chain may be more likely to become jammed.

When cleaning your bike chain, you will want to make sure to thoroughly wipe it down with a damp cloth. This will remove any excess dirt and grease that may be on the bike. When you are doing this step, you should also closely examine the chain to make sure that sticks, rocks and other debris are not lodged in the chain.

Dry The Bike After Each Wash

Washing your bike can be an excellent way of removing dirt, grime and other substances that can negatively impact the appearance of the bike. Unfortunately, water can contribute to bike corrosion, and for this reason, you need to make sure that you thoroughly dry the bike after you wash it. While this may add a few minutes to the time needed to clean the bike, preventing rust can be more than worth this additional work and time.

Inspect The Tires Before Each Use

A flat tire can quickly cause your bicycling experience to turn sour. To help protect yourself from this problem, you should closely inspect the tires before each time you ride the bike. When performing this step, you should attempt to squeeze the tire with your index finger and thumb. If you find that you are able to easily compress the tire using these fingers, you will likely need to add air.

Sadly, while you are riding your bicycle, you may develop a flat tire from running over a sharp piece of debris. To help prevent encountering a situation where you are stranded, you should consider keeping a tire repair kit in your backpack or your bicycle's storage compartment. This kit will contain everything needed to patch the damaged tire so that you can get home. In addition to this kit, you may also want to keep a can of compressed air as this can be used to reinflate your tire after you have repaired it. 

Contact a local bike shop, such as Sarasota Cyclery Inc, for further assistance.