5 tips - how to prepare your bike for the season?

Spring has already begun, the cycling season has already begun for some, while others are just pulling "two wheels" out of the garage and set off on their first recreational route. Cycling is pleasant, environmentally friendly, economical and has a positive effect on our health. When going for a spring walk, you need to remember the right preparing your bike for the season... How to do it right? We have prepared 6 tips for you.

1. Remove dirt and grease

Every bike needs to be inspected after the winter. In addition, it is not necessary after the winter - if you haven’t traveled for a month or two, then Take a close look on your bike before setting off. Probably, he was lying somewhere in the corner of the basement or garage, and all possible dust had already settled on him. It's time to take some tools and "hug" him. First, get rid of dirt, dust and grease. Don't miss a single detail of your bike - clean toothed pulleys, chain, hubs and any other places where dirt can be seen. After cleaning, it's time to lubricate - during cleaning, you got rid of the old lube from sensitive areas, and now you need to coat them with new, fresh lube. We are talking about such elements as: carriage, hubs and headsets. We do the same with chain (this part must be lubricated with a thinner substance than the hubs) and remember that the chain must be wet on the inside and dry on the outside... So, to properly lubricate the chain, you need to apply a drop of oil to each link in the chain, wait a few seconds for it to drain into all nooks and crannies, and then wipe the outside with a dry cloth.

2. Check the curtain awning.

When talking about preparing your bike for a ride, let's not forget about bus. Let's take a look at the tires on our bike - sometimes tires wear out or deform. The latter happens most often when the bike has been sitting for a long time without air in the wheels. In both cases it will be necessary to replace tires with new ones. The correct tire pressure for a bicycle is determined by the tire manufacturer's requirements - for example, a pressure between 2.5 and 5 bar. It is worth following the recommendations that can be found in service book or instruction... Generally, less pressure means better traction, as well as more comfort when driving on uneven surfaces. Higher, in turn, reduces rolling resistance, but, unfortunately, makes pits on the road more visible.

3. Brakes under control

As with any vehicle, this is extremely important in a bicycle. condition of brake pads... When preparing your bike for the season, check the degree of wear. And when cleaning the car, it's worth it get rid of dirt and dust from rims (for rim brakes) and brake discs (for disc brakes).

4. Lines and armor without rust

Also worth checking out after winter lines and armor... If the bike has been in a dry place, everything should be in order. However, if you look at the lines and notice rust or feel like they are working hard, they need to be replaced (lines and armor need to be replaced). Driving with rusty cables will be unpleasant as they will resist braking and shifting, which in turn can give the (often wrong) impression that the gears need to be replaced. For sure just replace the links to get everything back to normal. If you don't want to replace them right away, try spraying the cable with bike lubricant or applying some chain oil to the cable. However, remember - for a long time such a procedure is not enough.

5. Headlights - the main thing!

Checking the condition of the bike is also checking it. lighting... Bicycle lights are usually battery powered. After a winter shutdown, the batteries may simply be discharged or even discharged. It is best to remove them from the lamps before winter, then we will not have the unpleasant need to scratch the lamp. It is worth emphasizing here that bicycle lighting is a very important issuewhich can greatly improve our security. When modifying the bike for the season, let's invest in some decent bulbs. Best solid, LED lightswhich will provide long-lasting shine, for example from the Osram LEDsBIKE series.

If you ride a bike, it's a good idea to put the above advice into practice. Think about this as you prepare for the season bicycle transport Are you planning further trips? Are you going on vacation? Active pastime is a great offer, especially if you are leaving with your family. With the safe transport of bicycles in mind, the company Thule released a series of bicycle racks. Depending on your preference, we can choose a luggage rack attached to a hook, on the roof or at the rear of the vehicle. 

You can learn more about Thule products in our other post - Thule is a brand that activates!

Additional articles:

Roof, sunroof or hook bike mount - which one to choose? Advantages and disadvantages of each solution

How to transport a bike by car?

Transportation of bicycles 2019 – have the rules changed?

Is Thule ProRide 598 the best bike rack?