subject: Keeping Your Mountain Bike In Working Order [print this page] Mountain biking can be a fun and intense form of exercise, but maintaining the workability of your bike can be expensive. Pay attention to small repairs and fixes, and you will be sure to keep it in working order.
Purchasing a mountain bike can be a very large investment. These types of machines are created for exercise and recreation.
They are built to handle tough terrain and a lot of wear and tear. However, sometimes even the strongest or most expensive bikes are subject to accidents and needed maintenance.
If you are unable to handle the upkeep that having a mountain bike takes, you may want to think about your other options. If you enjoy biking, you can still exercise on stationary bikes.
You can make use of them at a gym or recreation center for a low cost. There are still a number of different types and programs when it comes to exercise bikes, and it is possible for you to have a good time, though you are not outdoors in the elements.
If you do feel ready to take on the challenge of owning a mountain bicycle, there are a number of different things you must know and pay attention to. You must first pay attention to the saddle on your item.
Purchasing one with a comfortable and durable seat to begin with will save you a great deal of money in the future. If you initially buy a great and high quality seat, you will have to replace it less and be more comfortable with it in the long run.
You will find as you use it more and more that you need a seat that will hold up to the weight of your body and the great deal of use. The shape of the seat is very important, depending on your gender, weight, and shape.
There are definitely differences between the type of seats that are comfortable and appropriate for men and women, so pay close attention to tags and markings.
If you feel lost and like you are unable to make the correct decision, have someone at your local biking shop or sporting goods store assist you in your decision. Make sure to choose the right width for your seat, depending on your bottom half.
Also pay attention to the materials that it is made up of and the amount of padding and comfort it offers. Another part that you must pay close attention to is the headset of your bicycle.
If your headset is rattling or jarring, it will have a negative effect on your steering, making it more difficult and, most likely, causing you to veer back and forth when trying to control your direction. If you refrain from fixing this problem for a long period of time, it can ovalize your head tube and ruin the frame.
This can result in costly repairs later on and the possible malfunctioning of your mountain bike, so be sure to get this type of problem taken care of or fixed as soon as you possibly can. You can even do it yourself by loosening the stem pinch bolts and tightening the top cap bolt one turn.
Once you have done this, tighten the stem bolts once more and check for looseness. If it is still present or the headset is still wobbly and rattling, repeat the process again until the issue subsides.
To make this repair, you will need hex wrenches. It will cost you not much more than five dollars, and will prevent you from experiencing larger issues at a later date.
There are plenty of other different repairs that you can make yourself. However, to do so, you must have a good set of bicycle repair equipment.
A few different repair tools you may need are a torque wrench, a repair stand to hold your bicycle while repairing, hex wrenches, and a brake piston. You may also need a tire changer and cleaning brushes.
These items will ensure the cleanliness and operation of your mountain bike and help keep it in great condition for a long period of time. The more you pay attention to the little hitches and issues with yours, the less large fixes you will have to make.
Make sure that you know you're the way your bike works, including the chains, bolts, and overall frame. That way, you can identify things that are not right and help keep it ready for the intensity of your biking whenever you need it.
