Introduction
Welcome to Bike Repair & Maintenance For Dummies, where the often confusing and complex world of caring for your bike just got a whole lot easier. We’ve written this book to tell you not only what your bike needs to stay in great condition but also how to take care of the repair and main tenance yourself. It doesn’t matter if you’re planning to work on your kid’s single-speed bike or overhaul an expensive road bike, the same repair and maintenance principles found in this book apply.
Maybe you picked up this book because you’re planning on making biking a larger part of your life. With the price of gasoline these days and the health benefits from exercise, riding your bike makes a lot of sense. Or maybe after biking for a number of years, you’ve decided that your trusty two-wheeled companion could use a little better care. Good idea. You don’t want a wheel or something coming off the next time you round a tight curve. Whatever the case, if you’re interested in attending to the health of your bike and you want a simple and easy-to-understand guide to do it, you’ve found the right book.
Yes, working on bikes can be challenging — but it doesn’t have to be. A lot of books written on the topic are thick, technical manuals written by hard-core bikers for hard-core bikers. Peel away the jargon and the arcane discussions and you’re left with some basic procedures that anyone with a little hand-eye coordination, the ability to follow simple directions, and a willingness to get a little grease under the nails can do
Channeling Your Inner Grease Monkey
J ust as you’d bring along a map if you were heading off for a trip on your bike into an unfamiliar area, you should have a roadmap for your venture into the world of bike repair and maintenance. The journey you’re about to take or have already started can be fulfilling and bring lifelong rewards as long as you have a guide to help you get where you’re going. We’ve written this book to be your guide — to take the mystery out of bike repair and maintenance
Starting down the Road of Bike Repair and Maintenance
When it comes to bike repair and maintenance, the starting point is knowing the various parts of a bike, their function, and how they work together (see Chapter 2). When you know the various parts of the bike, you know
How bearings reduce friction when you ride
How to tighten threads an appropriate amount
Why cables for brakes are different than shifters
What combination of gears is best for your bike
How springs drive derailleurs
How to make sure a quick release wheel doesn’t become dangerous
When you’ve figured out all the parts of your bike and how they work together, you’re ready to get started on your journey. But wait! First you need a shop where you can work (see Chapter 3). Working on a bike doesn’t require a lot of space, but it helps to have a location where you can operate comfortably. You’ll want enough space for tools, a drop cloth to protect the floor, good ventilation, and lighting
If you’re serious about bike repair and maintenance think about two major additions to your shop:
A workbench with a flat surface where you can work
A bike stand that will hold your bike off the ground
Good news! You don’t have to run out to the store to start your tool set. Many of the tools you need are probably in your house. If you have a variety of wrenches, Allen wrenches (hex keys), screwdrivers, pliers, and a hammer, you’ll be able to perform a number of basic procedures on your bike. As you move into more advanced procedures, you’ll need some specialized tools.
You may want to wait to buy a specialized tool until you have to actually per form the procedure it’s used for. For example, you may need a crank extractor to remove a crank arm. Instead of running out to the store and buying a crank extractor right now, wait until you do your annual maintenance on your bike and actually need that tool.
When you do decide to purchase tools — such as a chain tool, chain whip, freewheel tool, or spoke wrench — you need to decide whether to buy them on the cheap or invest in a more expensive brand that will likely last longer than your bike. In Chapter 3, we give you some options.
Finally, to keep the moving parts of your bike in good working order, pur chase an all-purpose lubricating oil. Focus on lubricating your chain and the pivot points in places like the brakes and derailleurs. Having a cleaner around when you’re working on your bike is just as important. Look for an environmentally friendly product, such as a citrus degreaser
Before, During, and After Your Ride
Bike repair and maintenance involves more than caring for your bike while you have it stowed away at home. It’s an ongoing process that’ll involve action before, during, and after your ride
Before you ride
The before-you-ride part of the trilogy deals mostly with the preventive main tenance steps you should take, which not only help your bike but increase the safety of each ride.
One of the best things you can do to improve your safety is to do a pre-ride inspection and maintenance check
Using a gauge, check that your tire pressure is equal to the recommended level on the tire’s sidewall. (See Chapter 6 for more information on tires.)
Inspect the brake to make sure the pads are not worn and they tightly grip the wheel when you squeeze the brake levers. (See Chapter 8 for more on brakes.)
Look and listen for looseness in the handlebars, headset, wheels, and other part. (See Chapter 16 for more information on inspecting your bike.)
Whether you have a brand-new bike or a 20-year-old clunker, things go wrong when you ride. Your best bet is to be prepared and bring a toolkit along with you to help you if you get into a jam. Here are some steps you should take to prepare your toolkit (see Chapter 4 for more information)
✓ Have a small tire pump mounted to your frame.
✓ Include everything you need to repair a flat, including a patch, glue, tire levers, and spare inner tube (in case you blow a tube).
✓ Include some hand tools, such as Allen wrenches, screwdrivers, a spoke wrench, and pliers. These will allow you to make adjustments as you ride.
✓ Pack away a rag to wipe the grease off your hands when you’re finished.
If you’re planning an extended trip, you’ll want to add some tools to your kit. These include a spare foldable tire, a chain tool, chain links and rivets, extra spokes, spare cables, lube, and the all-purpose MacGyver tool, duct tape. (See Chapter 4 for more information.
While you’re preparing for a possible roadside emergency, don’t forget the following:
✓ Cellphone ✓ Identification ✓ Money ✓ Energy bars ✓ Rain jacket ✓ Sunglasses
While you ride
Although you may not think about riding as a time for bike maintenance, there are things you can do while you ride to care for and maintain your bike. If you get into the habit of doing these things, you’ll extend the life of your bike and stay safer:
✓ Keep your tires properly inflated while you ride to improve rolling resistance and absorb shock.
✓ Pay attention to the road in front of you.
✓ Walk your bike over curbs and other objects.
✓ Raise yourself out of your seat and use your arms and legs like a horse jockey to absorb an impending blow.
✓ Shift into lower gears before you reach the steeper sections of inclines to put less strain on the chain and derailleurs.
✓ Look out for any creaks or loose parts on the bike before they’re in need of repair
After you ride
The trilogy of maintenance activities is completed with the after-you-ride phase. Dirt acts as a major abrasive against your bike and, as it works its way into the internal parts, it starts wearing out bearings and other compo nents. After you ride is a great time to combat this enemy by washing your bike. Wet it down — but make sure you don’t spray water directly at the hubs or bottom bracket. Use a brush and soap to scrub down your bike. Use degreaser to break up any difficult-to-remove grease.
Remember to always lubricate your bike after drying it — particularly the chain, derailleurs, brakes, and cogs. When you’re finished, wipe off any excess grease so that it doesn’t attract additional dirt.
Making Repairs
If you’re lucky, you’ll never have to repair your bike anywhere but in the comfort of your own shop at home. But nobody’s that lucky. The fact is, if you ride long enough, sooner or later you’re going to break down on the side of the road and have to make a repair, like one of the following:
✓ Fixing a flat tire: A flat tire is the most basic of emergency repairs (see Chapter 6). Practice patching a tire before you have to — that way, if you get a flat on the road, you’ll be able to fix it without stressing out.
✓ Dealing with your wheels: If you hit something with your wheel, the rim may bend or a spoke may break. You can repair both issues on the side of the road, depending on the severity of the damage (see Chapter 7).
✓ Coping with the chain: Your chain may act up on you while you ride. In some cases, a chain may jump off the smallest chainring and become jammed between the chain stay and the chainring. Worse, the chain may even break. To fix the chain, you’ll need to have a chain tool and an extra link or two available, or else you’ll be walking home (see Chapter 10).
✓ Dealing with the derailleur: The fact that derailleurs stick off the side of your bike make them vulnerable to being hit or knocked as you ride, which may bend or damage them. Depending on the situation, you may need to adjust the derailleur, reposition it, or remove it (see Chapter 14).
Some repairs you won’t be able to make when you’re on the road — mainly because specialized tools are needed. These include a loose crank, loose pedals, problems with the bottom bracket, or a bent frame. If any of these hap pens while you’re on the road, your best bet is to call it a day, because riding could cause greater damage to your bike or lead to an accident.
Emergency repairs are the ones no one wants to deal with. Much more pref erable are all the repairs you can do in your shop at home. Some of these repairs are simpler to perform than others. If you’re new to bike maintenance and repair, try these basic repairs before attempting the more advanced ones:
✓ Repair flat tires. Flat tires are the main source of problems with tires and tubes, and you’ll have to learn how to remove a tire, find the punc ture in the tube, patch the leak, and reinstall it. After you’ve done it a few times, it’s pretty easy. (See Chapter 6.)
✓ Overhaul hubs. Central to maintaining your wheels in good working order is caring for the hubs. Overhauling them at least once a year will keep your wheels spinning smoothly. (See Chapter 7.)
✓ Change brake pads. Few things are more important than being able to stop on your bike when you need to. Learn how to adjust your brakes and changes the pads, and you’ll be in good shape. (See Chapter 8.)
✓ Adjust saddles and seat-post position: This is where you can make adjustments that your butt will thank you for. Choosing the right saddle and then adjusting it to the right fit will make riding a more enjoyable and comfortable experience. (See Chapter 9.)
✓ Replace chain. The hard-working chain is one of the most exposed parts of your bike and, as a result, it needs a lot of care. After it has given you a few thousand miles, you’ll need to replace it. (See Chapter 10.)
✓ Replace cassettes and freewheels. Over time, the teeth on the cogs of cassettes and freewheels will wear out causing your chain to skip gears. With a couple of tools and a little bit of effort, you can replace them yourself. (See Chapter 11.)
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