Surely you like to take care of your bicycle with care and that if you could, you would pay why I always looked as well as the first day you took home. That is why you give so much importance to its cleaning and maintenance.
But, wait a moment ... what if we told you that the maintenance you do can be harmful to her? It may be inexperience, or by simple ignorance, you are doing a skinny favor to your two -wheeled friend. In this article we will review some of the most common errors in maintenance and we will teach you how you can avoid them.
Although it would be easy to describe many trips made with the best intention by many bicycle owners, we will focus on 5 of the most common. Take note, because even the most expert has ever fallen into one of them.
1. Tighten the screws too much
We could also call it
excess of jelous. We do not need to mention that almost all parts of your bicycle are tight with screws. You must adjust them in moderation, so that you circulate safely but do not damage them.
The risk of tightening them in excess, in addition to not being able to move them later, is that you damage the picture or some other part of the bicycle or that they pass from thread, with what they will leave their function fulfill you.
In some components, to guide you, the torque is even marked (if you do not find it with the naked eye, consult the manual).
2. Wash the bicycle with water or pressure
Neither the bearings, nor the cables, nor almost any part of our bicycle will thank you for applying an intense water jet. Quite the contrary.
As much as the mud has taken over our bike and that it is tempting to remove everything at once, it is not a good idea to resort to that shock treatment that represents the use of water under pressure.
He turns to the traditional but effective wet cloth, then dry each part with another dry cloth. It will take you longer, but you will take care of all the components as they deserve.
3. Gate the chain without cleaning it before
Go out to do a few kilometers with the bicycle and before it grease the chain a little is, for many, all one. However, if we grease the chain without cleaning it before, we are reducing its useful life and worsening the performance it offers us.
Liffly before, and even do the same with the dishes and pine nuts. And remember not to fall at the other end, to clean too often and lubricate in excess.
To do this, after making sure that the lubricant has entered the bolts and rollers, uses a cloth to remove the excess by moving the pedals in the opposite direction to the usual.
4. Lubricate the brakes to correct a squeak
Lubricant and brakes should not even be in the same sentence. In the case of using traditional brakes, observe the brake and gathering shoes, almost certainly the problem comes from there. If they are well placed but still the noise is maintained, the use may be spending, so plant your substitution.
If you carry disc brakes, clean the rotors and replace the pads.
5. Ignore the wear of the tires
The tires give us good clues of their wear thanks to these slots or small holes that many manufacturers include in them. When they disappear due to use, it means that they have finished their useful life and it is time to look for replacement.
If our tires do not have those brands, we must be attentive to not presenting a concave braking surface. If they do, the time has come to change them for new ones.
Do you use the right accessories?
What, if you go to the doctor, would you not trust one that uses out of use tools, or inappropriate? Having the correct accessories and tools will help you do good maintenance.
Eye, having the necessary equipment does not mean disburseing a lot of money in the latest of the latest. Investing in a toolbox and in adequate materials will be profitable in the medium term, but buy only what you are really using.
Equipate with tools such as pliers, different types of keys (Allen, Torx, Cones, for pedals ...), degreaser, oil, screwdrivers, scissors, a nylon hammer, trchachacadenas, chain meter, closing pins, scissors, Assembly, a cassette extractor and cleaning brushes.
