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DID YOU KNOW?
Pequot Cyclists
Newsletter
December 2001
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Tires
lose pressure over time. Rubber is semi-porous, so all tires, even car
tires, seep air. Add air to your bike tires every few weeks. If the bike
sits for several weeks and goes flat, try reinflating the tires before
deciding to replace the tubes.
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Be sure
your tire valves and your pump are compatible. There are two types of
valves; presta and shrader. Your bike shop can be sure the pump matches.
Adapters are available for very little cost.
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A
kickstand is not a pleasant thing to tangle with in a crash. Consider not
having one on your bike. Just be careful where you rest your bike. If you
must lay it down, don’t lay it on the right side, you could bend the
derailleurs or get the chain full of dirt.
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Bike
shorts are meant to be worn by themselves without underwear. They are
designed to prevent chafing and fabric wedging leading to sore spots.
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The
grease on a new bike chain isn’t chain lubricant. A layer of light grease is
put on the chain at the factory to prevent rust. It will attract grit, so
clean it off with a citrus solvent and apply real chain lubricant.
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Replace
chains often. Chains are cheap compared to buying a complete drive train.
You can get much longer life out of the cogs and chainrings by replacing the
chain every 500 to 1,000 miles. Don’t wait too long. A fresh chain on worn
teeth will skip and grind.
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Helmet
adjustment is crucial. It should sit level on the head, not tilted back like
a bonnet. The plastic side pieces of the straps should be adjusted to fit
right below your ears. You shouldn’t be able to shift the helmet from side
to side.
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Be sure
to use chain lube and not just household oil. Although the light oil that
you use around the house may work well to fix squeaky door hinges, it’s too
thin to do the job of lubricating a chain. Definitely don’t use WD-40 as a
chain lubricant. WD-40 has a high percentage of solvent, so it does a good
job as a chain cleaner, but isn’t very good as a lubricant.
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Companies that make bicycle lubricants invest fortunes in developing their
products. It pays off; most chain lubes, cable lubes, bearing grease, and
cleaners from these companies work far better on bikes than household or
automotive products do.
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Although
you can find most of your standard tools [Allen wrenches, screwdrivers,
combination wrenches] at your local hardware store, you need to visit a bike
shop for the specialty bike tools. Take care of them and they’ll last a
lifetime and justify their cost.
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Never
use a screwdriver as a tire lever unless you like to ruin tires and inner
tubs. The sharp edges of a screwdriver can rip into the bead of a tire. Save
money, get a set of tire levers and use tools properly for what they were
designed for!
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Protect
your investment. To fin a bike that fits and fulfills your secret yearnings
takes time and money. Dust, dirt, sand, road grit, and dirty looking lube
will damage your bike parts very rapidly. Keep all areas of your bike clean.
Shiny parts should shine. Take the time to wipe it off after every ride or
two. Wax the frame occasionally and clean the “nooks and crannies” the best
you can.
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