Keeping Your Bike in Good Condition

May is National Bike Month, and it’s a great time of year to give your bike the care it deserves. A well-cared-for bicycle can last for years, giving you an inexpensive and reliable transportation option. Riding a bicycle to work, school or on errands can save you gas money, help you get more fit and reduce your carbon footprint. Not taking care of your bicycle, however, puts you at risk of injury and can lead to expensive repairs for your bike. Check over the list this month to be sure that your bicycle is up to the task of carrying you to wherever you need to be!

Here are some tips on keeping your bicycle in good shape:

• Store your bike properly. During the months that it’s not in use, overhead storage in your garage can keep it out of harm’s way. When you are using it regularly, a bicycle rack will allow you to access it easily without leaving it propped against a wall, just waiting to topple. Good bike storage will make it less likely that your bike will get dinged and dented, and it can keep your car, which is also stored in the garage, from getting scratched as well. Call your custom garage company to discuss having a good bicycle storage system installed.
• Keep your bike clean. Don’t just hose your bike down, though; leaving water on the bicycle can cause rusting and other damage. Instead, periodically wipe down all of the parts with a damp rag and bike wash cleaner. You could also use watered-down dishwashing liquid (the kind you use for hand-washing, not dishwasher detergent). Use a brush of some sort to get into the nooks and crannies. You might need a mild solvent on the chain if it seems sticky. Dry the bike well after washing. You should do this a minimum of once per month, or more often if you ride the bike daily or in dirty conditions.
• Keep your bike tightened and lubricated. Check all bolts occasionally, and tighten them as needed. You could also bring your bike into a bicycle repair shop to have this service done by someone trained to look for and fix issues, which might be helpful, especially the first time that you do it. You’ll also want to lubricate the various moving parts with bicycle oils and greases. This is another job that is good to have a bike repair professional show you how to do.

Every time you ride, do a quick once-over to make sure that the tires are properly inflated and that nothing seems loose or out of the ordinary. Following these tips will keep your bicycle in good working condition over the long haul.