Bicycle maintenance

Bicycle maintenance techniques

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Chain cleaning and oiling
Wheel truing
Tire repair
Tube repair
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  • Chain maintenance
  • Remove chain using a chain tool
    • Be careful and do not push chain pin to far
    • Clean chain using cleaner of your choice
    • Lube chain
    • You may use many types of lubes
      • Any good heavy oil
      • Or wax and paraffin
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  • Wheel Truing
  • Invest in a good truing stand
  • A position Indicator can be found under $35.00
  • Use this to measure run-out of wheel and will tell you when wheel is true
  • Spokes should be tight enough so that, when plucked, they emit a musical note (not a buzz) somewhere below (C above middle-C). Some variation (to pull the rim/tube/tire into concentricity) is inevitable, but a spoke that won't pluck (just buzzes) is almost always too loose, and one that's too shrill is too tight.
  • Is the above too hard? Take wheel to a bicycle shop
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  • Tire repair
  • Inspect you tire before and after every ride
  • Replace any damaged tires
    • An emergency repair can be made on a ride to get home
      • If the damage is not too bad you can
      • You and use tape
      • A boot made of tube patch material

    Tube Repair
  • Remove tube from the tire
    • Find source of leak
    • Rough up the tube in area of leak
    • Apply tube glue
    • Lets dry to a tacky feel
    • Apply patch
    • Or best way, carry a spare tube
  • Reassemble tire
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