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Published on 5/16/08
Published on 5/15/08
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1. Pump up the tires: No surprise here. If you have a floor pump, you can check the pump gauge to make sure you’re in the right pressure range. If you have a simpler implement without a gauge, visit your local bike shop and pick up an inexpensive tool that will do this (it should cost around $5), says Chris Brunson at Recycle-a Bicycle (55 Washington St at Front St, Dumbo, Brooklyn (718-858-2972); 75 Ave C between 5th and 6th Sts, 212-475-1655. recycleabicycle.org). As a rough guide, tires should be hard but not verging on explosion. Charlie McCorkell at Bicycle Habitat (244 Lafayette St between Prince and Spring Sts; 212-431-3315, bicyclehabitat.com) says that pumping the tires “is the single most important thing you can do” to bring your bike out of its winter hibernation. “Most of the time, when customers come in with flat tires, mechanics end up replacing the tube,” he says, which would set you back around $12, when really all you needed was to give those wheels some air.
2. Spin the wheels: Walk your bike around a bit and check that your wheels aren’t out of alignment. What you're watching for is any rubbing on the break pads or the frame. If you see this, it needs to be addressed. You could attempt your own repairs if you're comfortable, but any major rubbing should probably be taken care of by a professional. Frank Arroyo, owner of Frank’s Bike Shop (553 Grand St at Lewis St; 212-533-6332, franksbikes.com) also urges riders to consider “reseating” the tires, which means “making sure they are sitting properly on the rim.”
3. Give it a cleaning: You want your ride to sparkle, right? It's easy; just use a simple household surface cleaner to wipe down the frame, tires, seat, pedals, etc. Brunson uses rubbing alcohol on the sides of the rims, which “takes care of unsightly soapy residues” so that they'll gleam like Flavor Flav's smile.
4. Rehab your chain: Unless a link is missing, you needn't replace a chain just because it's aged worse than Michael Douglas. “It’s fairly easy to rehabilitate a rusty chain yourself,” Brunson assures us. You should scrub it with a degreaser and a hard wire brush—the type you might use to clean your hibachi. Now to the lubing…
5. Apply lube: Before you begin, Arroyo emphasizes that it is important to oil only a clean chain (see step four). When you're ready, rest your bicycle upside down against a wall, making sure that the pedals are clear of any obstacles (because you'll need to rotate them). Another idea is to have a friend or roommate hold the handlebars steady, while you kneel to the side. With the lube bottle in one hand, begin spinning the pedals backward with your free hand; while spinning, drizzle the bike grease onto the chain until you can see that the entire chain is covered. Wipe off any excess goo with an old rag.
Bike tune-ups range from $40 to $60 at Recycle-a-Bicycle, range from $60 to $90 at Bicycle Habitat and are roughly $35 at Frank’s Bike Shop.
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