After being discharged, when I tried to ride my bike, it naturally wasn't rideable as it was, and it needed maintenance.

So, this time, I'd like to introduce what I worked on, titled "Maintenance Needed to Make a Bicycle Rideable Again After Being Left for a Month."

Also, some people might take their bikes to a bike shop, so I've compiled some tips for that as well.

First, wipe down the entire bike.

■ Wiping

Above all, if it's dirty, you'll be reluctant to do maintenance.

Let's start by wiping down the dirty frame and other parts.

I've mentioned maintenance several times in other articles, so the convenient tools for maintenance are all familiar items.

If I had to add something, I prepared a "thin rod" and Kure 5-56 as a lubricant.

Black greasy stains couldn't be removed with water, detergent, or Kure 5-56.

When I have a bit more energy, I'd like to try a slightly better detergent.

For narrow areas, a rag and a rod to push into tight spaces are useful.

With just detergent and a rag, even very narrow places that my fingers couldn't reach became clean.

The rims and spokes were also quite dirty.

These became fairly clean with just detergent and a rag.

Rims are relatively smooth, which is good, but dirt on spokes seems to stick quite firmly and become difficult to remove if left as is.

This time, I had a plastic cover like a straw attached, so I could wipe it off easily.

You might have personal preferences, but I think it's effective for improving maintainability.

Now, let's look at the checkpoints.

■ Tire Pressure

The most obvious point was that I had to increase the tire pressure.

The air had decreased so much that the tire would indent when pressed with a finger.

You need to add air to the correct pressure with a pump.

If you don't have a pump at home, you should definitely buy one.

From experience, I recommend one with a gauge (tire pressure gauge).

■ Brake Cables

Whether the brakes work is very important for safety.

Please check not only if the brakes engage when you squeeze the brake lever, but also for any rust.

■ Chain

It seems the chain didn't rust in one month, but if the oil has run out or if it's been left for a longer period, caution is required.

If it was already deteriorated before being left unused, you'll want to check it before riding again.

■ Rust Removal

If there's rust on the frame or other parts, it's a good idea to remove it yourself.

Rust remover creams are sold at home centers.

Using them can remove rust surprisingly well.

Depending on the type of rust, the cream might not be suitable and may not be very effective, but in such cases, trying multiple products can potentially solve the problem.

Bike shops do not offer rust removal services.

While no shop officially posts "We do not remove rust," they won't be too happy if you ask them to.

The reason is that the results cannot be guaranteed.

For parts replacement, if the part is available, it can definitely be replaced.

If screws or similar are corroded, they will likely explain the risks first and then proceed with the work after obtaining your consent.

On the other hand, even professionals can't tell what will happen with rust until they try.

There are two main methods for rust removal.

The first method is to remove rust mechanically or physically.

This involves using tools like grinders or buffing wheels, which are soft cloth-like materials, and rubbing with great force.

It's mainly used for finishing, and where it's effective, materials like stainless steel can become mirror-like.

However, on parts where the rust doesn't come off, a stain-like mark remains, and no amount of polishing will remove it.

The other method is to remove rust chemically.

Simply put, since rust is a chemical reaction called "oxidation," the calculation is that a reverse reaction called "reduction" will restore it to its original state.

However, there are many types of rust, so the expected effect may not always be achieved.

Even professionals will test it in an inconspicuous spot before tackling the entire area.

Once it rusts, it's difficult to restore, so it's best to avoid rusting as much as possible.

It would be ideal if you could do all the maintenance yourself, but sometimes you lack the tools, equipment, knowledge, or experience.

In such cases, it's best to leave it to a local professional.

Here are some things to keep in mind when doing so.

■ When Requesting Maintenance at a Bike Shop

When requesting maintenance at a bike shop, it's a good idea to wipe down and clean the entire bike as much as possible before bringing it in.

Bike shop staff are human too.

When they see a dirty bike, they might think "This is a lot of work" and add more and more items to the work order, resulting in a higher estimate.

On the other hand, if you bring it in clean, it conveys that you "take good care of it," so work on parts that are likely already maintained will be excluded from the estimate.

Even for the same bicycle, just 10 or 15 minutes of effort can make a big difference in the estimate, so there's no reason not to do it.

Next is how to communicate.

If you say "I want cheap maintenance," they will cut down on the items worked on, meaning you'll pay for maintenance that is essentially meaningless.

By consulting them with specific points in mind, such as "Considering safety, I want the brakes checked, and since I don't want a flat tire, I want the tires checked, along with the chain and all movable parts, but I want to keep it as cheap as possible," the bike shop's proposals will change significantly.

They might offer proposals that balance cost and content well, such as "The tires still have tread, so how about just replacing the inner tube?"

External writer: Koichi Okuno