Are you aware that modern road bikes are multipurpose tools that offer transportation, body fitness, employment as well as competition? Probably you are not mindful! Have a look.
Riding your bike provides you with a good number of health benefits. However, a fine-tuned bike is the best for competition. Why? The answer is simple. Everything is restored to its normal functioning, making the bike cruise over any terrain ahead comfortably.
Did you purchase a bike recently? If yes, before you go out for a ride, take your time! Be patient for a while and prepare your machine for the road. Provide it with a proper tune-up. Don’t get worried as the process is stress-free. It only needs time and interest. Here is a focus on how to tune up your bike to enhance excellent performance.
Read, get inspired!
The following tools of work provided are essential during the tune-up session:
1. Adjust And Replace Your Brakes:
Worn out brake pads can because you damage and probably result in loss of life.
Your overall safety when riding your bike lies on the brake system! Therefore, if you don’t frequently work on them, you are at significant risk. But here is a simple guideline on the solution:
2. Clean Your Road Bike:
All of us are after cleanliness. Just as any other clean machine lasts for a long time, a decent bike’s components last longer due to frequent cleaning.
Using a biodegradable cleaner, an old toothbrush, and a towel helps in cleaning all the parts of your bike. Remember to use little water to prevent most parts made of iron in your bike from rusting. Additionally, detach the tubes linked to your bike’s seat, which slides in the frame.
Don’t forget to grease before attaching it back to its position. It reduces friction between the attachments for a more extended period compared to conventional oil. Grease also reduces the rusting effect.
3.Have A Look At The Rims:
Rims play a significant role in providing smoothness and stability when riding your bike. They provide consistent contact between road surface and tires. Therefore, without rims, your bike cannot move.
Always clean the bike rims using a clean cloth. Scrutinize your rims thoroughly for scrapes, nick, dents and other damage. Lift one side of your bike then begins spinning the wheel. Both of them must move softy without shaking.
A damaged rim is the origin of wear to brake pads and tires. If you spot a dent in your periphery, hurry up and buy another rim. Or if you have some mechanical hint, you can fix the problem. Proper rims boost your bicycle’s speed.
4.Have A Glimpse At The Bike’s Drivetrain:
What is a bicycle drive train? It is a combination of pedals, derailleur, hind-wheel cassette, and chain. This combination is significant as it transfers the power produced by your leg during riding to the hind wheels.
The power transfer is what keeps the bike moving. Up-lift the rear wheel and rotate the wheels shift along with the gears. Regular shifting must be easy to perform and smooth.
Perform an inspection to the chain as you rotate the wheel. If the process is not soft, take your bike to a mechanic for replacement. But if you have screws, you can perform the process alone. Immediately after the repair, you will enjoy what the bike offers.
5. Fasten The Screws And Nuts:
Your road bike is a complex machinery with lots of nuts and bolts. Overtime these nuts and bolts tend to get loosen as the road bike goes along the road. Hence, it is recommended that you tighten the nuts and bolts before going on a long trip with the bike.
Using torque wrench for motorcycles will ease up your screw fastening process. Besides it ensures that all the nuts and bolts are equipped with the exact torque for optimum performance.
6. Have A Look At The Tire:
Want to make your bicycle look more attractive than how you bought it? One thing that makes an old or new bicycle look good is clean and air-filled tires. If you realize that your bike tires are flat, look for a pump and refill them. When your bike uses Presta valve, untie the lid, set the nozzle of your shoe and start the pumping task.
Tires fit the rims to improve their task and protect them, offering traction with the surface. They provide a flexible cushion to the ground resulting in a comfortable ride across any road condition.
Always check any splits, tears and cracks on your tires, majorly, on the sides. You can go ahead and check for excessive wear. Replacing your bicycle’s tires should never be a stressor as they are relatively cheap to replace. Spoilt tires can easily burst, resulting in loss control. It is easy to change tires, resulting in the positive performance of your bike.
7. Lubricating Your Bicycle:
Wait! Are you aware that lubricants help in the durability of the drive train resulting in an efficient performance to your bike? Lubricate your bike and meet the outcome. Oils are never expensive, as many people think. They are cheap, and some are for free for being a regular customer.
Apply your bike evenly with lubricant while rotating its pedals in both clockwise and anti-clockwise manner. Don’t forget to lube any part oscillating within your bike including the derailleur, and the brake levers.
A well-lubricated bike provides smooth braking and shifting during the cruise improving the cycling performance. Additionally, if you want to eliminate unnecessary rusting of your bicycle frames and gear shifters, lubricate your bike!
The Bottom Line!
Finding the best tune-up ways for your bike should never make you scratch your head and stress you up. There is plenty of tune-up processes, but this article focused on the best six ways to fine-tuning your bike’s performance.
In a nutshell, every part needs cleaning and polishing. Don’t sit and watch your bike going at a mess. There is still time for saving it. Fine-tune your bike and invest for the future.
Hello Guys! I am John Reese, a professional biker and my hobby is biking! I have been biking for last 10 years and I love using bikes while outing as well. Based on my experiences with the different type of bikes (mountain bikes, road bikes and hybrid bikes); I am sharing my opinion about various bikes so that a beginner can get started right away. Happy reading!
