Fitness For Sure

If you own a mountain bike you can save money and improve your enjoyment of riding it by performing your own mountain bike maintenance.

Knowing that you can solve problems and fix breakdowns will give you the extra confidence to ride for longer on more remote and difficult trails, and you’ll feel safer in the knowledge that you have maintained your own bike.

You can save money by performing your own maintenance as you won’t need to pay someone else to do it, and your parts should last longer if you’ve looked after them well.

The first important thing to do if you’re going to perform your own maintenance is to get yourself the right basic tools. Over time you’ll probably get more specialist tools as you’ll learn more about your bike and its parts.

When you go out on rides you should always take a tool kit with you, either a compact tool kit that you can get that is lightweight and small to carry, or a multitool. Check all tools at home before you rely on them out on trail.

Before rushing out to buy any tools, one of the most important elements of basic mountain bike maintenance is keeping your bike clean.

Make it routine that you clean your bike after every single ride, either wipe it with a wet cloth or wash it with hot soapy water. Always rinse it afterwards with clean water, or wipe it down, as this will stop dirt getting into places that you don’t want it to get into.

The next stage of basic maintenance includes lubricating the chain as this is vital to keep it functioning efficiently. There are many good lubricants available, including some self cleaning ones, and you should get into the routine of applying it at least a few hours before you ride, even the night before.

Another important basic thing to check is 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 routine, and make sure you know how to repair a puncture.

The next elements to remember to check as part of your regular maintenance routine are brake and gear cables. These can stretch over time and won’t work as well, so they also need to be replaced every 6 months or so, depending on often they are used.

Another very important maintenance issue to think about is to check your brake pads regularly as they wear out fast and obviously they are imperative for your safety. Check the alignment of the brake pad against the wheel rims, as they should sit squarely on the rim when the brakes are applied. When not applied they should be free of the sidewall of the tyre.

Lastly on your basic maintenance list check all the nuts and bolts on your bike and tighten any loose ones with an Allen key or a spanner.

Even with regular maintenance breakdowns will happen, even to the best bikes and most experienced riders. It is just part and parcel of mountain bike riding but it’s better to be able to fix breakdowns or prevent them whenever possible through regular maintenance checks.

Look after your bike with regular maintenance and it will look after you. If you are proactive in your approach you can prevent some breakdowns, although not all as they are an inevitable part of mountain biking.

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Tags: biking, Cycling, Exercise, Fitness, Health, mountain bike cycling, mountain bike maintenance, mountain bikes, mountain biking, recreation and sports, sport, sport and leisure, sports and recreation