Mountain Bike Spring Tune-up Tips
Your mountain bike probably spent the winter months hanging on the garage wall. With Spring, a new season of mountain biking will begin. Before you hit the bike trails and hills, check your bike’s components for wear and tear and adjust them if it’s necessary. These tips will help ensure that your bike is in good riding condition.
Start with your bike’s chain.
If you haven't replaced your bike chain in a year or more, it's time to do so. Over time, the individual parts in the chain will get worn out, increasing its effective length. As this happens, the chain is no longer able to conform to the cog and the teeth of the chain ring, so it wears those teeth out to fit the new profile of the chain. If you can replace the chain before it stretches too much you'll save yourself from having to replace high priced cogs and chain rings.
Check the bearing surfaces.
Check the bottom bracket, hubs, and the headset. Each should turn without a problem and with no play in the system. Before checking the bottom bracket, make sure each cranking arm is snugged tight. Next, hold on to the crank arm (not the pedal) and wobble it back and forth. If you hear any clicking or if the crank arm binds, the bottom bracket needs to be adjusted.
Check the hubs.
Take the wheels off the bike and spin the hub axles. Feel for any free play or binding. If you feel play or binding, you need to make an adjustment. To check the headset, start off by putting the newly adjusted wheels back on the bike.
Check the front end.
Inspect the front brake and pull and push the handle bars back and forth. There shouldn't be any play. When you lift the front end off the ground, the fork should turn very smoothly. If it feels rough, it needs to be either adjusted or replaced.
Check the condition of your cables and housing.
The cables should be rust free and the housing shouldn't be cracked or kinked. If you see any of this you should replace the offending device. If you don't replace the defective parts your shifting and braking will be sluggish.
Inspect your brake pads.
Most pads will have ridges or indicator marks that will let you know when they need to be replaced. Brake pads that are worn out will compromise both safety and braking ability.
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