Being a bicycle enthusiast, it makes me happy that so many people in Eugene ride their bikes. But oftentimes my joy is tapered by the sorrow I feel for my bicycle brethren (of all genders) whose ride is in a somewhat desperate state of disrepair.
When I hear people discussing problems with their rides, I frequently hear, “I can’t/don’t know how to fix it.”
Fixing anything mechanical is such a complicated and messy task. You’re going to get grease on your hands, probably realize you don’t have the correct tools as well as piss off your roommates when you find out that your two-hour quick repair is actually a two-week bike rebuild that will leave your ride and tools strewn about the house.@@Wuss@@
Ninety-nine percent of bike issues stem from one central problem: Hardly anybody actually maintains their bicycle anymore. As soon as you’re at the point where you have to fix something, you’re really screwed; some shit is broken. Avoid the trouble, headaches and bills associated with bike repair and instead focus on a simpler, cheaper and (generally) more useful skill set: bicycle maintenance.
Love your chain
Mechanically speaking, the chain, crank set and rear cassette are the heart and lungs of your bike’s drivetrain. Of these three things, a well-maintained chain is the easiest and most effective way to ensure a smooth ride.
Once a week (or more) put your bike on a stand and spread some newspapers underneath. If you don’t have a stand, just flip your bike over (Don’t forget the newspapers).
Next, take a dirty rag and wipe all the grime and grease from your chain. If you have a chain scrubbing tool (I like Park Tool’s version), you can use that, but if you don’t, a rag covered with some Simple Green — or any other grease remover — should work fine.
Once you’ve gotten the chain relatively clean (It should only take a couple of minutes), it’s time to lubricate the chain. There are many brands of chain lubes, but in Eugene I’d recommend asking your local bike shop for something more viscous, as the thinner lubes get washed off sooner by the rain.
If you’re meticulous and have the time, put a tiny drop of lube on each link of your chain, but if you’re in a hurry, a faster and nearly as effective method is to pedal your crank with your hand while keeping the nozzle of the lube bottle (which you are squeezing slightly) in contact with the running chain. Once you’ve done the whole chain one time through (Watch for the oily vs non-oily links), take a rag and gently wipe the chain to keep excess lube from dripping to your floor.
Voila! This three-minute maintenance task will keep your bike from randomly shifting gears, your chain from falling off and the components of your rear derailleur happy and rust-free. Additionally, regular maintenance of the chain will elongate its life (by keeping it from getting too elongated) and thereby extend the life of your front cog set and rear cassettes (expensive things to replace).
Check your tire pressure
Extremely low tire pressure is probably the second most common problem with bikes found around the University. Just because your rim isn’t hitting the ground, it doesn’t mean that you have the necessary tire pressure. Like the chain, this is one of those maintenance things that is super easy to do and will make a humongous difference in the way your bike rides.
The correct tire pressure is posted on the side of your tires (Continental Contacts are some of the best tires out there in my opinion). Most mountain bikes will generally have lower tire pressures, and most road bikes will generally want a bit more pressure in the tube, but just pump whatever amount your tire says. If your tire lists a range, like 55 psi to 85 psi, and you use your bike for general commuting, fill your tire to the upper limit.
You will be amazed at the difference the correct tire pressure can make in a ride. It’s much easier to get around.
Know your resources
I’m a serious cyclist and have put in close to five digits of mileage on my bike in the past three years. I have done numerous bike builds and complete overhauls and am still regularly surprised how much these simple maintenance practices improve the performance and handling of my ride. Eventually you may have to do some more substantial work on your ride.
Starting today, the Emerald and the University’s Outdoor Program (located on the corner of East 18th Avenue and University Street) are working together to put out a series of short, informative bicycle maintenance and repair videos.
Additionally, as a University student you have access to stands and every tool you’ll ever need at the Outdoor Program’s Barn@@http://www.uocycling.com/uo-bike-program/@@. The Bike Program’s shop (a subsidy of the Outdoor Program) also is a do-it-yourself shop that has plenty of how-to manuals and knowledgeable staff to help you with any questions. The maintenance shop is currently open Monday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m.
Although there are many decent bike shops in Eugene (something that’s harder to come by in most places than one would think), there is one shop that is head-and-shoulders above the rest: the Life Cycle Bike Shop.@@http://www.lifecyclebikeshop.com/@@ Next door to Starbucks and across the street from Safeway at Pearl Street and East 18th Avenue, its staff and mechanics are the best in the business. Not only do they take good care of University athletes (the club triathalon cycling teams), but they also are super-aware of the budgetary constraints of most students and will never try to sell you something you don’t need.
There’s no reason to have a crummy ride. With a little bit of maintenance and help from the right people when needed, you can make your ride fit for the peloton in no time.