The Cars

If you don’t ride in the winter, you’ve probably spent the winter months on the couch eating chips and watching television. Before you know it, spring will be here and a new season of mountain biking will begin. Your body may not be in shape, but at least these tips will ensure your bike is.

Before you take your bike out, check the wear and tear on your components and adjust them if its necessary. Start off with your chain. If it’s not been replaced in a year or more, then it’s time to do so. Over time, the effective length will increase when the individual parts in the chain gets worn out.

The teeth is worn out to fit the profile of the chain because the chain no longer conforms to the cog and the teeth of the chain ring. Before the chain stretches too much, replace it in order to avoid replacing high priced cogs and chain rings.

Now, check the bearing surfaces. The bottom bracket, headset, and hubs are included in these. Each of these should turn without a problem with no play in the system. Before checking the bottom bracket, make sure each cranking arm is snugged tight. Don’t hold on to the pedal, but rather to the crank arm and wobble it back and forth. If you hear any clicking or if the crank arm binds, the bottom bracket needs to be adjusted.

Do the exact same thing with your hubs. You can do any free play or binding once you’ve taken the wheels off the bike and spun the hub axles. You need to make an adjustment if you feel play or bind. To check the headset, start off by putting the newly adjusted wheels back on the bike.

Now, grab the front brake and pull and push the handle bars back and forth. Play shouldn’t be there. If you lift the front end off the ground, the fork should turn very smoothly. It needs to be replaced or readjusted if it feels rough.

While looking, the condition of your cables and housing should be checked. Make sure the cables are rust free and the housing doesn’t have cracks or are kinked. Replace the device if you see any of this because your braking and shifting will be sluggish if you don’t.

Inspecting your brake pads is the last in your to-do list. Most pads will have ridges or indicator marks that will let you know when they need to be replaced. Safety and braking efficiency will be compromised because of worn out brake pads.

When the tune ups are done, you can go for a ride. You’ll have loads of fun if your mountain bike is running better than ever.

When you’re looking for auto repair near me Apex, try Vital Automotive. We offer the best in automotive repair and diagnostics. Our rates are competitive, with no hidden fees.