Bike Maintenance: A Beginner's Guide To Working On Your Bike

In this series, we will be covering bike maintenance and how to properly work on your bike. We will cover the most common repairs and things that need maintenance or are crucial to riding a bike such as replacing a flat tire, how to replace a chain, how to adjust and fix brakes, and so much more. Today's post isn't a comprehensive bike maintenance guide but more of a beginner starting point. We will be going over some of the basics of bike maintenance like pre-ride checks, tuning your bike, and a list of some reputable bike shops in Northwest Arkansas. 

Getting Started

An essential step before you move on to the pre-ride check is to make some basic adjustments that will help keep you comfortable and safe on your first ride. The first is obviously making sure you choose a properly fitted bike. A bike shop would have you sized and ensure the type of bike and size are fitted correctly. From here, you will want to check that your saddle height is correct as an improper saddle height will result in less efficient pedaling and even leg and knee pain.

A quick method for choosing the correct height is to stand next to your bike and raise the saddle height to around your hip. From there, sit down on the saddle, put your heel on the pedals, and ensure the crank is at the bottom. In that position, there should be a slight bend in your knee. If your leg is straight, your saddle is too tall, and if your knees are too bent,,, you need to raise the saddle. The angle of the saddle (flat, angled up, angled down) is primarily a personal preference, but most riders will be okay with it flat-facing forward. 

Next, you will want to assemble a tool kit. This is something you will want to take with you on rides and will allow you to work on your bike. A basic tool kit for bike maintenance consists of the following:

• Patch kit or a spare tube: If you get a flat on the trail then you will want to be able to replace your tire. 
• Tire levers: We recommend at least carrying two tire levers with you at all times. These will help you get a tire off and put it back on. For weight and usefulness, plastic is often preferred over metal ones. 
• Portable Tire Pump: We like the CO2 tire pumps as they are compact and in a pinch can get your tire inflated quickly and easily. 
• Multi-tool: A good bike multi-tool will have several different sizes of Allen wrenches, a Phillips and flathead screwdriver, and a Torx-t25 bit for working on disc brakes. 

For bike maintenance at home and doing tune-ups you will want some additional tools and cleaning supplies. Such as:

• A hand pump: Has endless uses and is less expensive to use multiple times than CO2 cartridges. 
• Chain lubricant: For keeping your chain properly running and preventing failure
• Bike grease: For lubricating mechanical components on your bike.

 

Bike Parts Guide

Pre-ride Check

Inspecting

The first step in any pre-ride check should be inspecting your bike's bolts. A bike is held together by nuts bolts and screws so it is imperative to make sure they are always in order. A quick glance over will work most times just to make sure nothing is visibly wrong. However, we recommend frequently using the multi-tool to make sure that all bolts are tight across your bike. Make sure not to over-tighten any parts and if you do find any loose bolts consult your bike's manual for torque specs on retightening. 

Follow your ABCs

A bike is still a mechanical device; over time, parts will wear down, air will leak out, and bolts will come loose. The ABCs are a simple and quick way to check your bike and make sure it is safe to ride. 

• A is for Air: A properly inflated tire will help prevent flat tires and potential disasters like a crash. Tires are made of rubber and despite their design being to hold air, they are still porous and will leak air over time. Too low of tire pressure and you have to pedal and work harder to move and risk getting pinch flats if you hit a curb on road bikes or an obstacle on mountain bikes. The correct pressure for your bike depends on several variables such as what tires you have, your body weight, and the type of biking you will be doing. The chart below is a good starting point, but consult your owner's manual and research your specific tire. While checking your tire pressure, inspect it quickly for excess wear like cracks or worn down tread, as these are signs to replace the tire. After that, if you have quick disconnect levers on your front wheel we recommend making sure those are tight as they can work loose over time. 

Bike Tire Type	Recommended PSI Range
Kid's Bike	20-40 PSI
Mountain Bike	25-50 PSI
Hybrid Bike	50-75 PSI
Road Bike	85-125 PSI (A good test for road bikes if you don't have a gauge is to press down on the tire with your thumb and if it presses in only a little then you are around 100 PSI. But be conservative and don't over-inflate).

• B is for Brakes: One of the most critical parts of your bike is the brakes. Before every ride, you want to inspect them and make sure they aren't going to fail you. The first step is to spin
  your tire and make sure the brake pad isn't rubbing against the rotor or rim of your tire. If it is it will make a noticeable noise and will slow your tire down faster and if that is the case then you will want to diagnose the issue or take it to a bike shop and have them do it. The next part of checking your brakes is to spin the tire again, squeeze the brake levers on the handlebars, and ensure they engage the brakes properly. 
• C is for Chain: The first parts on your bike that will run down and deteriorate are the drivetrain (gears, chains, and derailleurs)  and more than likely your chain. The chain is low to the ground on a bike and can get a lot of dust and debris, hurting the function and lifespan. So make sure to inspect your chain by getting down and looking to see if everything is clean and if all of your gears look normal and not damaged. A crucial part of checking your bike's chain is ensuring it is clean and lubricated. 

Our other advice is to take some classes and workshops on bike maintenance. This will give you hands-on experience with the things mentioned in this blog and help you practice working on your bike. UREC Outdoors at the University of Arkansas offers introductory bike maintenance courses, making it a great resource if you are in Fayetteville.  

Cleaning & Lubricating 

Cleaning

Having a clean bike isn't only for showing off to your friends. A clean bike is essential in bike maintenance to ensuring it stays in good working condition and has longevity. Critical components like the drivetrain are often well lubricated and can attract dust and grime even if you are riding in dry non-dusty conditions. We recommend washing your bike after any dusty or muddy ride at home or at one of the bike wash stations around Northwest Arkansas. Some quick easy steps to cleaning your bike are as follows:

1. Rinse off your bike with a medium-pressure hose or washer. 
2. Apply a degreaser onto your bike to help remove grime and lubricant. The most important area is your drivetrain. But make sure to NEVER spray or wipe degreaser onto your brakes (pads, rotors) as this can make your brakes less effective and squeaky. 
3. If you have brushes use the brush to scrub the degreaser on the frame and drivetrain. 
4. Next, rinse off all of the degreaser using the hose or washer, still keeping it at medium to low pressure. 
5. Wipe off your bike and dry it out. Leaving a bike wet can cause bolts to seize and rust to form on areas like your crankset and brakes. 

 

Lubricating

After cleaning your bike through your bike maintenance you will want to make sure you re-lubricate since you most likely scrubbed off all the grease and lubricant through your bike maintenance. The first part you will want to lubricate is the chain. There are many different types of chain lube so once again, consult your owner's manual or ask what the local bike shop recommends. To apply chain lube add little drops of it to the top of each link as you slowly spin the pedal backward. This works the lubricant into the chain as it moves. Too much lube can actually attract more dirt and grime and hurts more than it helps, so after applying lubricant wipe off any excess using a shop rag (preferably something that won't get a lot of fibers into your chain, like a paper towel).

The next vital part to lubricate is the derailleur. The derailleur is what makes the chain move up and down the cassette and changes gears when you shift. The easiest way to lubricate the derailleur is to pedal the bike, shift gears, take note of the moving parts on the derailleur assembly, and apply those areas with a bit of chain lube. Again, excess lube can attract more dirt and grime and cause failure so be sure to be conservative. From there spin the pedal and shift gears. This will work the lubricant into the assembly and make sure all the areas are evenly lubricated. 

Part of the brake assemblies also requires occasional lubrication. However, due to the different types of brakes, it is best to watch a video or take your bike to a pro shop for this part. Getting lube on your rims or tires can dramatically reduce your bike's stopping power, so it is important to avoid getting lubricant in those areas.

Bike Shops in Northwest Arkansas

If you have any mechanical failures or do not want to tackle bike maintenance on your own then taking your bike to a tech at a local bike shop will be your best bet. Here are a few highly-rated shops in Northwest Arkansas. 

Fayetteville:

• The Bike Route in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is a local favorite and trustworthy shop for work on your bike. They even have a comprehensive 5-step check process to make sure your bike is in excellent working condition before you ride. Located off College near Joyce Boulevard. 
• Highroller Cyclery, another highly rated and trusted shop in Fayetteville, is located off of School Avenue between Spring and Dickson Street. 
• UREC at the University of Arkansas is a full-service bike shop that offers everything from tube changes to complete bike overhauls. Parts prices and labor is found through a quick visit to the shop. We highly recommend going here if you are a student at the University or live in Fayetteville. 

Rogers:

• Magnolia Cycles in Downtown Rogers is a new shop for riders in the area. It is located close to the Railyard Bike Park in Rogers, making it perfect for a test ride after your bike's tune-up. 
• There is also another Phat Tire and Highroller Cyclery in Rogers as well. 

Bentonville:

• Mojo Cycling off Walton Boulevard in Bentonville is a trusted bike shop in the area, especially in the mountain biking scene. 
• Phat Tire Bike Shop is a local favorite and has several locations across Northwest Arkansas in Rogers, Fayetteville, and more. However, the most well-known is their downtown Bentonville shop. 
• Meteor in Bentonville is a crazy combination of bike shop meets cafe with wine and coffee. Thus the slogan "Espresso, Champagne, Chain Lube" makes a lot of sense. The bike shop at Meteor has great service and fast turnaround and is a really cool atmosphere to have your bike worked on.