3 Tips To Help Break In A New Mountain Bike And Do The First Maintenance Routines
Posted on: 22 September 2016
Whether you are an experienced cyclist or a beginner, routine maintenance is important for your new bike. With mountain bikes, there are several components that need to be cared for, such as forks and frame shock absorbers. You may also need to do some adjustments to your new bike when it starts to get broken in. Here are a few tips to help you with the first routine maintenance tasks for your new mountain bike:
1. Checking The Wheels And Quick Release
One of the first things that you will want to do with your bike is remove the wheels. This is something that can be done easily with the quick release bolts that are on most modern bikes. First, change the bike gear so that the chain is on the smallest sprocket. Once the chain is in place, loosen the wheel and lift the derailleur to remove it. Check the wheel for balance and that the quick release bolts are in working order.
2. Adjusting The Play In Handlebars And Checking Pedals
The front handle bars of your bike are also important. If you are taller, you may want to have a bike repair shop upgrade the bars with a riser and wider bars for more comfortable riding. You also want to check the pedals and make sure that they are comfortable for you, and have them changed if they aren't. In addition to the bars and pedals, check the brakes to make sure they do not need adjusting. If you have disk brakes on your bike, a repair service can help you with making brake adjustments.
3. Making Adjustments To Shock Absorbers After The Bike Is Broken In
With mountain bikes, shock absorbers are important for a smooth ride. If you are just beginning riding, you may want to have fewer moving parts with a solid frame or forks. If you do have forks with shocks, these will need to be adjusted after they have been broken in. This can include adjusting the spring and adding oil for your weight. You can also adjust frame shock absorbers to optimize performance of your bike.
These are some tips to help you with the first of routine maintenance for your new mountain bike. Some of these parts require special tools and experience to work on, so read more here and contact a bike repair shop to help with the maintenance routines for your bike.
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