Basic Inspection and Maintenance Information that Cyclists Should Know?

Bicycles are riding tools, and daily inspection and regular maintenance of bicycles are important tasks. Let's learn about the basic testing of bicycle consumables/factory maintenance/anti-rust suggestions for steel pipe cars.

1. Daily basic inspection of bicycle consumables
Unlike cars, bicycles do not have a dashboard or automatic detectors, and they will not notify or remind the car. All daily inspection items need to be checked by the owner or the car shop. Establishing the habit of daily basic inspection will help to find and replace the consumables that affect safety before the vehicle breaks down. Bicycles are more critical to our riding safety. Before riding, we must pay attention to checking the condition of bicycles to reduce the risk of riding.

Consumables consumption speed of bicycles in order: Chain > Tire > Brake Pad > Freewheel > Bearing > Chainring

• Chain: The structure of the chain, simply put, is that the steel sheets on both sides rotate with the pins sandwiched between them. During the rotation, the thickness of the pins will be slowly consumed. When the pins on one side are ground too thin, they may break. Generally speaking, the chain needs to be replaced at about 3,000km. For riders who often run mountain roads or like to start in heavy gear, the chain may need to be replaced at 1,500~2,000km. The service life of the chain depends on the riding intensity and maintenance method. Please avoid extreme shifting gears when riding, and it is recommended that you check the chain condition every 500km after a mileage of 1,000km.
• Tire: The tire is the only part of the vehicle that touches the ground, and it is critical to life safety and rolling performance. The key to grip is not the tread, but the tire material. Several factors can accelerate tire wear: low tire pressure, heavier weight, frequent mountain trails, or bad braking habits that only brake the rear wheels. Usually, because of the weight on the rear wheel and the braking habit of riding a motorcycle, most riders wear the rear wheel faster than the front wheel. During normal maintenance, the front and rear tires can be reversed, so that the average consumption of the tires can extend the mileage. For the detection of wear status, some tires will be designed with reference arrows or small dots for wear indicators. But if you find that your car's tire skin has a ring width of more than 1cm, it means it's time to change the tire. If you grind further, the tired skin will be exhausted, revealing the underlying braid/puncture layer, or similarly exposed braid below, please replace the tire immediately.
• Brake pads: Do brake pads need maintenance? It is recommended to remove the brake pads every once in a while to pick out the metal chips or small stones on them, and then remove the oil to clean the surface to protect the rim, especially after riding in heavy rain, the thrown-up rain will bring the sand and gravel. If the wheels and brake pads are not removed and cleaned, the life of the wheel frame may be consumed quickly. When will the brake pads be replaced? If you find the drainage pattern is flat, it is time to replace it as soon as possible.
  

Other bicycle components and consumables also need to be inspected regularly, but they may involve professionals, and it is recommended that they be checked by professionals regularly.

2. Regular bicycle maintenance service
It is recommended that you carry out complete maintenance for your bicycle at least once a year. Maintenance is not just a car wash. Maintenance services include testing consumables/disassembly and cleaning of flywheels/chains / large plates/front and rear derailleurs/brake calipers/body cleaning and waxing.

During the cleaning and waxing process of the frame and front fork, the frame will be inspected for any abnormality. During the maintenance process, the technicians have professional skills. During the process, they often found cracks in the corners of the frame that were not easy to see. Before an accident occurs, check the safety of the rider's bicycle.

The cleaned parts will be added with various special mechanical lubricants according to the parts. During the process of re-installing the parts on the car, the technician will help the car owner to check whether the parts need to be replaced. Such as BB bearing/guide wheel bearing/wire resistance... These are items that ordinary car owners cannot check during equipment maintenance at home. If the parts are abnormal or damaged to a state that affects safety, the technician will also inform the car owner, and the car owner will decide whether to replace them or not.

3. What to know before buying a steel pipe truck - rust problem

Before you choose a steel tube bike, you need to know that it will inevitably rust. Rust refers to a change in the oxidation of metals and oxygen in the air. Generally, the so-called rust means that the rust changes the original form and texture of its material, such as rust or patina. Although it is inevitable to face the rusting problem of steel pipe trucks, it can be effectively delayed by regular attention and correct maintenance.

• What if the frame is scratched and the paint layer is worn and see the bottom layer? It is recommended that you repaint and isolate as soon as possible.
• What should I do for the anti-rust maintenance of the steel pipe frame? It is recommended to do the anti-rust treatment at least once a year for the inner tube of the steel pipe, but because this part needs to be disassembled before it can be oiled, it is recommended that the anti-rust and major maintenance work together. It saves time and effort. If you have no experience or time for car body disassembly, assembly, and adjustment, it will be more appropriate to leave it to the car shop.

​Reference: Bikefun