Saturday, July 11, 2009

Mountain Bike Maintenance - The Basics

If you are a mountain bike owner is a great help to make your own mountain bike maintenance, it will increase your enjoyment of riding and save you money.

If you know you can repair any breakdowns you will feel more confident that occurs, the more remote trails, but you are less than with breakdowns if you maintained your bike properly.

Making your own mountain bike maintenance will save you money because you are not required to pay a mechanic to maintain it for you at the last part is that you need and change frequently lower.

The first important thing to do if you are going to do your own maintenance is to get yourself the right basic tools. Over time you will probably get more specialist tools as you learn more about your bike and it is part.

You must also bring a tool kit with you when you ride and you get complete basic tool kit to bring you more compact than regular tool you can use at home. Remember to try all the furniture before you take it with you.

Before even thinking about the tool though, the most basic maintenance to keep your mountain bike does not require any tools, it requires only regular keep it clean.

Get the habit of cleaning your bike after each ride, either by wiping or washing it in a bucket of hot water and soap. Ensure rinse it or wipe it and then will prevent any dirt getting in these places should not sit and help to keep all the moving parts move!

The next step in basic mountain bike maintenance including the occasional lubricating the chain. It is important to keep it functioning properly and there are lots of good lubricants available, including some self-cleaning ones. Get in the habit of applying any lube the night before you ride it to work with the chain properly.

Another important essential to check the air pressure in your tyres as this will protect them and give you a better ride. You should also change the tyres occasionally as part of your maintenance activities, and make sure you know how to repair a puncture.

The next things to check regularly the gear and brake cables that they stretch over time and become less effective. They must be replaced every 6 months or more, depending on how often you ride.

Essential for maintenance of the other to think about these issues is to check your brake pads regularly to their quick wear and obviously they are important for your safety. Check the alignment of the brake pad against the wheel rims, as they must sit squarely on the side when the brakes are applied. If not used they should be free of the sidewall of the tire.

Finally check all nuts and bolts on your bike in your regular maintenance activities and use an Allen key or a spanner to tighten any loose bolts can find.

Remember breakdowns will always occur, even the best Riders and the most expensive bikes, so the type of work, but it is better to be prepared and be able to deal with or avoid them where possible with good maintenance.

Be pro-active in your approach to mountain bike maintenance and care of your bike. Remember maintenance is usually better and cheaper than repair, and armed with a little knowledge can difficult for the rider that.

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