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8 Simple Ways to Keep a New Bike New

  • Posted May 6, 2001

Take a photograph of the brand-new bike and attach the snapshot to the fridge. It would serve as a constant reminder of how the bike looked when it was new.

  1. Store it. Parking your bike inside is the easiest way to keep it looking like new.

  2. Inflate it. Most bike tubes are made of butyl rubber, a porous material that allows gradual loss of air. If you ride on soft tires you risk damaging them and the rims should you hit a pothole. Buy a good floor or frame pump with a gauge and check tire pressure before each ride.

  3. Clean it. All it takes is dishwahing soap, warm water, and a couple of sponges and brushes. Wash entire bike from top to bottom, including the tires and rims. If the chain is grimy, clean it by brushing with a citrus-base solvent and wiping with a rag. Finish the job with soat and water. Rinse the bike with a hose or pail of clean water, but don't direct it at the headset, bottom bracket, hubs, or pedals because water can enter their bearing and cause damage. Look at the faces of the brake pads, too, and pick out any pebbles or deposits.

  4. Inspect it. Bikes last longest if you keep an eye on the components and replace things before they become to worn. Start with the frame. Look for rippled pain or bulges near the tube intersections. These are signs of damage or impending failure, usually caused by a crash. Check the tires and brake pads. Check the grips or bar tape for slipping, cracking, or peeling. Study the cable housing where it enters the brakes, derailleurs, levers, and frame stops. Squeeze and hold the brake levers to see if the cables are rusted or frayed anywhere along their run. Also measure the chain. Replace anything that's worn or damaged.

  5. Lube it. Clean bikes are pretty, but they'll corrode and work poorly if not lubricated. Use a drip or spray lube on the chain, derailleur and brake pivots, levers, and adjustment barrels. Wipe off any overspray or excess. If you have split cable stops, you can also oil the gear and brake cables. Dhis to the former by shifting onto the largest cog, then moving the lever back to its starting position without pedaling. For brakes, open the quick-release to create cable slack. To minimize dirt's adherence to the frame, use a bike-specific wax or one made for cars. Most bike waxes pevent chalky build-up in tight areas, such as arond lugs.

  6. Adjust it. Most bikes relay on cable-operated brakes and gears. In time, these cables stretch, reducing quickness and precision. Most brake and derailleur systems have barrell adjusters, so you can re-tension cables without tools.

  7. Tighten it. Components may loosen with use, which can lead to premature wear or even an accident. Every month, check the tightness of the pedals, crankarm bolts, chainring bolts, stem and handlebar binder bolts, seat and seatpost binder bolts, toe-clips, suspension attaching bolts, derailleur and brake cable anchor bolts, and accessory mounting bolts. Overtightening a bike's small bolts can cause them to strip or break.

  8. Baby it. Like all machines, a bicycle will work best and last a long time if it's used with some respect.

    Jim Langley
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