A Basic Guide To Keeping Your Bicycle Clean

Saturday, August 29th, 2009 at 11:22 pm

Tony B asked:

A clean bicycle will be a well tuned bicycle and will serve you much better than a greasy, grimy bike that you rarely have time to wash. Everything on your bike is open and easily attacked by dirt and grime and if you do not regularly clean it off, you risk not only losing performance, but endangering yourself with shoddily performing parts.

Cleaning Chains

The most complex and actively moving part on your bicycle is its chain. It is here you should devote the most attention regularly, cleaning every time you go out. There are options to buy expensive, all-in-one chain cleaners, but you rarely need those if you have a good cleaning routine already in place.

First, make sure you have a chain that is easily removed for cleaning - a Wippermann or Sachs preferably. The Wippermann in particular is stainless steel, immune to the effects of rust and corrosion. You still need to clean it regularly, but it will not succumb quite as easily to small problems that other chains might.

After removing the chain, place it in a tub and cover it in self cleaning lubricant. Use a basic degreaser if the chain is especially dirty and scrub it clean. You should do this every time your chain or bicycle gets wet or dusty.

Cleaning Cassettes

Place degreaser on a toothbrush and clean these thoroughly with the brush. Get inside every little crevice you can find. However, do not spray the cassette directly as it will get the degreaser into the bearings and remove the grease that you actually want to be there. Afterwards, rinse lightly and let it dry.

Cleaning Wheels

Use some luke warm water, a sponge and plain old dishwashing detergent to clean your wheels. Sponge off the tires, rims and spokes while being careful not to get the detergent into the bearings. Rinse it carefully and dry the wheels off manually with a towel.

Cleaning Chain rings

First, take the chain rings off of the crank - this might require a special tool - and place them in a tub or sink. Cover them with degreaser and brush them thoroughly. Rinse them afterwards and give them time to drip dry and then take a towel lightly to them to finish the job.

Cleaning the Frame

You will need a lot of additional help for the frame cleaning. Don't take a pressure washer to your frame because it looks easy - you will only get stuck replacing shocks or other parts because of it. Clean the frame carefully and by hand and look for any other indications that you might need to clean other parts of the bike - such as the pulleys.

Finishing Up

When you are finished, check over every part for any signs of wear or damage, including chipped paint, dings or cracking. Now, lubricate your bike thoroughly with the right viscosity of lubricant for each moving part and ensure everything is well placed and put back together properly.

If you regularly wash and lubricate your bicycle, it will run like a brand new machine every time you take it out of your garage. Make sure you follow the right steps provided for your specific bicycle in its manual and that you take it to a professional shop if any major work needs to be done.

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Know your bike inside out

Saturday, August 29th, 2009 at 8:57 am

Comments (18)

Kathleen Chester asked:

The bicycle is probably one of the oldest forms of mechanized transportation used by man. It’s simple yet intricate structure has not undergone any radical change or transformation but is being steadily upgraded and diversified with technological advancement.

Commonly referred to as a bike, it is basically a vehicle powered by mechanical energy. The Penny-farthing is probably the oldest known kind of bicycle which has evolved over the years into something more sophisticated such as the mountain bike. A bike is made up of several assembled parts which facilitate its smooth functioning.

Parts of a bike:

Chassis or frame: As the skeleton is to the human body, so is the frame to a bike. The frame is a network of tubes which support and integrate the exterior parts of the bike. Bike frames that are lightweight yet sturdy provide optimized usability. The seat tube upholds the saddle or seat of the bike. Check your present chassis for any fractures or damage and make sure you replace it immediately to ensure smooth functioning.

Drive train: The drive train consists of the crank arms, pedals, chain rings and bracket which help the wheels to rotate when force is applied. We come across difficulty in cycling when the chain slips much too often. You must consider rectifying this for your own safety purposes. In more advanced versions of bikes, several gears are also present. Shifting gears allow the cyclist to maintain the same pace at which he is pedaling throughout, irrespective of the nature of his track or path.

Handle bars: The handlebar is the navigating tool of the bike. The brakes are for the front and rear wheel are attached to the handle bars. Simple bikes have upright handle bars whereas racing bikes or mountain bikes have sleek, dropped handle bars.

Suspension: Suspension is synonymous with shock absorption. This provides a smooth and comfortable ride to the biker. It also protects the other parts of the bike from damage due to bad road conditions.

Wheels: Bike wheels consist of a metal hub. There is a rim around this hub through which the spokes of the wheel pass. The outer covering consists of a rubber tube and tire.

Apart from the above mentioned, mud guards, rear view mirrors, lights, backpack hydration system and rear or front bike racks are used to further accessorize a bike for practical purposes. Bikes can be broadly categorized as road bikes, mountain bikes and hybrid bikes.

You will find a vast range of specialized bikes and related products on the internet. So take the time out and make the right choice not before having considered all the options available.

Bike riding is more of a pleasurable activity when one has in-depth knowledge of its various parts and mechanism. So next time you are out biking do remember that without those itsy-bitsy parts, all working harmoniously, this experience would not have been possible.

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How Bmx Bicycles Have Matured Through the Ages

Monday, August 17th, 2009 at 11:35 pm

Comments (17)

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:

Motocross bicycles were conceived in the U.S state of California. First, curious youth were concerned about imitating the real thing and used the wheels they had to create a very loved sport in the world today. Having advanced so much in design and make, motocross bicycles have matured to a very high level, thanks to the dedication and time of not only European companies but, companies all over the world. This has led to a great awareness and demand for these products. Motocross bicycles come in very light varieties since they function better when they are low in weight. Due to the swift mobility, the lighter the bicycles are, the more expensive they get.

Motocross bicycles are designed with smooth paddles and rollers so that they can save time. By saving time, a rider will be in a position to save energy. This is not the case in ordinary bikes and that is one sure characteristic that makes them unique. There is a danger that a rider could fall off from the seat due to the very soft nature of the motocross bicycle seats. When attempting to conquer heights, riders should consider bikes with special gadgets that make the seats more firm. When it comes to the wheels, there are very many ranges of tires and the diameter should be 20 inches. This is however not obvious, therefore one who wishes to buy it should make sure they have the right range.

Apart from strength considerations, a good frame should be rust-proof and affordable. This kind of description only fits aluminum and it is therefore the material used to make the frames for the motocross bicycles. Also most important, aluminum is very light, making it perfect and suitable. Breaks are a very vital component for the bikes, they work in a vertical pull mechanism and are able to immediately stop or halt the bike maintaining a good control. They are constantly being reviewed and made better by manufacturing companies.

There are two major kinds of motocross bicycles which are the free style and the racer bikes. Free style bikes are stronger and heavier than the racer bikes and have very different functions. All have almost similar safety features including good handle pads for the efficient control by the rider. Some are reinforced with lizard skin elbow guards, demonstrating how far good manufacturers will go to improve safety of their bikes. One can also have a choice of what kind of helmet they would be best suited for. With a good display on the internet and a heavenly sales pitch, one can actually land on a worthy product.

Most people go to great heights for the love of the sport. Some people resort to remodeling their bikes to resemble motocross bicycles. It is not advisable for people with limited knowledge to make their motocross bicycle versions and take them to as far as racing. This can pose a very great danger to these users. Cases of fatal accidents have been reported and shoddy workmanship blamed on low performance. Reputable manufactures have invested so much in quality, so let us leave the creation business to them. There is no doubt that motocross bicycles will be around for a long time to come.