IOWA CITYBICYCLE TUNE UP

What Does A Bicycle Tune-Up Consist Of?

Bicycle Tune Up Service near Iowa City IA: If your bicycle has been lying in the garage for a while and you want to start riding again, or you’ve been using it and it needs a service of sorts, you have to make sure that what you do is right to keep the bike in good shape.

A bicycle tune-up may  be just what’s needed. And while a bike mechanic may possibly be best placed to do this for you, a bicycle tune-up is a procedure that you can actually do yourself with the right guidance.

A Bike tune-up consists of:

• Cleaning any dirt, oil and old grease off the bicycle.
• The gears and derailleurs are checked for damage and alignment
• The drive chain is checked for stretching or kinking
• Brakes are inspected for wear and grip
• The tires are checked for wear, cracks or swellings
• All and any tension adjustments needed are made to the various cables
• The wheel and frame alignments are checked
• The wheel spokes (if any) are checked and tightened if needed
• Headstocks and seating poles must be checked for unwanted movement
• Every nut and bolt must be tightened to ensure that the bike is stable while riding.
• Appropriate oils and greases are applied to moving parts where required

A bicycle tune-up basically means getting your bike into the perfect shape for you to use. And while the level of tune could range from a basic tune to a complete overhaul.

The right type of tune-up for your bike will depend on the state it is currently in, the extent to which different components are worn, and how you are planning to use the bike.

Cleaning the Bike

Before you start the tuning up procedure, you want to make sure that your bicycle is clean. This will ensure that you get a better look at the bicycle during inspection.

Besides, cleaning the bike helps to prolong the life of its components. You want to use any basic biodegradable cleaner, an old toothbrush, and a dry towel to help you with the cleaning.

Dip the towel in water and wipe down the entire length of the bike; for more stubborn stains, use the toothbrush to scrub off the dirt smudge.

Try to use as little water as possible and make sure all the components from the seat, brakes, pedals, derailleurs, frame, drivetrain, chainrings, etc are dirt-free. Remember to remove the seat post and apply a little grease before reattaching it back to the frame.

The chain and other crucial parts of the drivetrain should also be treated with a quality lubricant after drying.

Tools required

To carry out a comprehensive and successful bicycle tune-up, you need to have the right tools for the job. Make sure you have the following tools before you start:

• Mini-pump
• Screwdrivers
• Tire levers
• Pliers
• Chain tool
• Wrenches
• Bike stand
• Chain whip
• Grease
• Multi-tool

Check the Cables

Cables are made using tightly coiled metal wires inside a plastic housing. They connect brakes and gear shifters on the handlebars to the derailleur and brake pads.

Those connected to the brakes help to stop the bike whereas those connected to shifters aid in moving the chain between gears via the derailleur.

You want to examine the cable and its rubber coating for any crimps, cracks, rust, and looseness. Replace any worn out cables with new ones. If the brake cables are loose, adjust them to the right length and tighten them as required.

If you don’t have special tools, you can ask a friend for assistance so that one person holds the calipers in place as the other one tightens the cable with a small wrench.

Once you are sure the cables are tight, squeeze the lever to check for play in the line. A brand new cable is likely to stretch a bit and may require some readjustment.

Check the Wheels

The wheels on your bike should spin freely with no signs of wobbling and there should be no contact with the brake pads as they spin.

Most wheels have quick release levers situated at the hub that makes for easy wheel removal. If there is sideways play of the wheel you will have to adjust the external tension on the wheel bearings.

Run your fingers across the bike spokes to check for any loose, broken, or missing spokes. Replace the broken spokes with new ones and tighten the loose ones so that the rims are straight.

Don’t forget to inspect the tires for cracks, tears, or flat spots, replace them if worn. If the pressure is not right, use your bike pump to get the tires to the correct pressure.

Check the Gears and Brakes

Gears and brakes are an important part of the tune-up. You need to spend time coaxing the gears into a smooth adjustment. Make sure the chain is moving smoothly up and down the gears.

• Make sure also that the brake pads are aligned so that there is no squeaking from contact with the rims. If the pads are worn out I suggest you have them replaced.
• Adjust the tension of your brake cables and the position of the brake arms so that both the brakes stop the wheels firmly. If the brakes are making a grinding noise after alignment, you may need to sand them down to the right size.
• The noise is an indicator that the pads are either hitting the rim too high or too low. Sanding them down ensures they hit the right point. You can use fine sandpaper or steel wool to do this.

Inspect, Clean and Lubricate the Drive chain

If you use your bike a lot or have cheap components, you might find out that some components on the drivetrain particularly need to be constantly replaced. For instance, no amount of lubrication can restore the functionality of a worn out chain.

In fact, a worn out chain leads to excessive wear on the rear derailleur cassette, gears and sometimes the front chainrings. The drivetrain plays an important role in the transference of power generated by the rider to the rear wheel. (We have an article here that looks at and compares Shimano and KMC chains)

If you have one place your bike on a stand for this part of the tune-up. Raise the back wheel and spin as you shift through gears to make sure the shift is smooth and easy.

Inspect the drive chain for any damage; dents, scrapes, dirt, or excessive wear. Clean any smudge on the drive chain and lubricate with grease to eliminate any friction during movement.

Apply the lubricant evenly on the chain while slowly rotating the pedals in an anticlockwise direction.

Don’t forget to lubricate the pivot point on the brake levers, derailleur, and any exposed cables. Wipe off any excess oil that you are using as a lubricant. Remember that smaller chainrings wear out sooner than larger ones and chains are the most constantly replaced parts of the drivetrain.

Please use recommended oils, greases and other lubricants where necessary.

NB: If the shifting of the gears is not smooth, it may be better to take the bicycle to a repair shop for adjustments to the derailleur.

Tighten Everything Up

Make sure that all the nuts and bolts that are holding your bike together are properly tightened.

Even a correctly tensioned bolt may loosen itself over time. Use your torque wrench if necessary, to confirm that every bolt on the bike is okay; pay close attention to the stem bolts. Consider also the bolts on the seat post, handlebars, pedals, etc.

Benefits Of Regular Bicycle Service Tune Ups

Bicycle Tune Up Service near Iowa City IA: Bicycles are refined pieces of advanced engineering. Like any precision machine, bicycles benefit greatly from regular service and maintenance.

Bikes that are regularly used can easily develop less than optimum function in multiple systems without their rider noticing the incremental changes that occur over time during use. Even bicycles that are not regularly used can develop issues from sitting that affect their overall performance and their owner’s enjoyment of them.

While much of the basic maintenance can be done with a few tools, anything more can require special tools and training to ensure the best results. Why invest in a high quality bicycle unless you are going to provide the care necessary to keep it in prime working condition?

Gears to Wheels- Power Input and Output

Caring for your bike’s drivetrain involves much more than just making sure that the gears are shifting properly and the tires have enough air. While these are essential to proper operation there are many more moving parts that need to be considered.

Ensuring that all of the components are functioning takes special tools and know-how. The difference between a well maintained drivetrain and a poorly cared for, worn one is obvious in function and power output efficiency. The well maintained drivetrain will function smoothly, put power to the ground efficiently and quietly do its job without you thinking about it.

To ensure optimum function you need to assess every bearing, gear and pawl between your pedals and the ground. This involves work outside of the scope of the average home mechanic. Regular bicycle service tune ups can be the difference between recording a PB or a DNF. A well maintained properly functioning drivetrain ensures that as much of the power you input is felt in the bicycle’s output as possible.

Tires and Wheels- Ride Quality, Traction and Handling

Everything changes gradually on your bike. Not only from riding, but also from age which causes rubber to dry, lose elasticity and grip, and can cause greases and oils to break down. This can be very hard for many riders to sense causing them to ride components till they are well past their prime.

Tires are consumable components which need regular replacement and wheels need basic maintenance to help ensure that they function properly and have a long life. They should be inspected before every ride to make sure that they have sufficient rubber, are inflated to the right pressure, have no cords showing, and no visible cracks. There is nothing you can do to your bike that will as profoundly alter its handling for the better as having the right tires for your riding type, style and conditions.

Properly trued wheels with clean and greased bearings and drivers are one of the most important pieces of maintenance you can have done. It will help improve performance while saving you money on replacement parts by improving your ride quality, reducing rolling resistance and improving handling.

Why is regular bike tune up important?

Bicycle Tune Up Service near Iowa City IA: All the different components of the bike serve one end: to transmit all the force you apply to the pedals to the tires as smoothly and efficiently as possible to get you to work and home. With a recently tuned up bike you can achieve this easily and the ride will be fun.

It is especially important to tune up your bike if you use it regularly. The more you use it the quicker its parts wear out. Mud, grit and gunk penetrate between the parts of the bike where only oil and grease should be.

If you are a year-round commuter  your bike is probably dear to you. The tune up is important not only because of the fun factor, but also because of the maintenance of the bike. If the bike is not tuned up in due time it can damage the components and in extreme cases even destroy the frame too.