Hello, this is ICAN!

"I've looked up bicycle maintenance methods, but I still don't understand them."

"Are there other things I should check daily besides maintenance methods?"

Many people probably feel this way.

In this article, we'll first introduce the points you should check daily, not just for road bikes.

After that, we'll look at specific maintenance methods!

In the [Daily] section, we will delve deeper into the points that should be checked daily, not just on days when you ride your bike. The reason to check the air pressure every day is to prevent your bicycle tires from deteriorating.

Even if your bike doesn't look dirty, wipe it down every day. 

For example, let's say dirt accumulates on your wheels and you leave it.

 It's common for this to unknowingly affect your brakes. 

If you feel your brakes aren't working as well, it might be due to dirt on your wheels.

 It's also a good idea to wipe down your wheels when it rains.

 Furthermore, it's good to keep the entire bicycle clean, not just the wheels. 

Bicycles made of carbon material are quite expensive. 

Therefore, for those who want to take good care of their bicycle and use it for a long time, wiping down the entire bicycle with a cloth is a good idea. 

 By cleaning it every day, your bicycle's material will definitely last longer!

Please check the air pressure in your bicycle tires daily.

 This is for those who ride road bikes or are planning to.

 When discussing why to check daily, it's easier to compare cross bikes and road bikes, so I'll explain each.

 The biggest difference between road bikes and cross bikes lies in their "tires".

 Cross bike tires are generally thicker, such as 26-27C.

 However, road bikes typically have thinner tires, like 23C. 

Cross bikes have thicker tires (26C), while road bikes have thinner tires (23C) compared to cross bikes.

 In other words, cross bikes, with their thicker tires, can hold more air. 

Since road bikes have thinner tires,

 - the amount of air that can be put in is limited accordingly

 - the air pressure is lower. 

Therefore, please check as often as possible, preferably daily, that your road bike tires have adequate air pressure.

In the [Regular] section, we will delve deeper into the things you should do for regular maintenance when you have time.

 We will look at where to apply oil and, conversely, where not to apply oil.

When inflating bicycle tires, the first thing you want to check is the type of valve.

 There are three types of bicycle valves, and each has a different way of inflating them. 

 The three types are:

① English valve (Woods) 

② American valve (Schrader) 

③ Presta valve (French) 

 is.

① English valve (Woods):

 ・Used on "mamachari" (city bikes).

 ・Used for daily use because tire pressure cannot be measured. 

② American valve (Schrader):

 ・Used on mountain bikes. 

 ・Heavy, strong, and durable.

 ・Can measure air pressure.

③ Presta valve (French):

 ・Used on road bikes, cross bikes, and generally all sports bikes.

 ・Less durable than other valves, so handle with care.

 ・Allows for precise air pressure adjustment. 

For English valves (Woods),

 - Remove the valve cap and attach the pump head.

 For American valves (Schrader),

 - Remove the valve cap and attach the pump head. 

- Inflate (cannot use a standard (English) pump).

 For Presta valves (French), 

- Loosen the valve nut. 

- Press the tip of the valve to release air.

- Attach the pump head. 

- Inflate. 

- Remove the pump head and tighten the valve nut.

 - Cannot use a standard (English) pump.

There are various types of saddles.

 Some saddles are adjusted with an Allen wrench, while others are adjusted with an attached lever.

 If you are currently riding a road bike or cross bike and prioritize

 - speed 

- making it easier to transfer power to the pedals, it is best to set your saddle at the same height as your hips. 

However, if setting your saddle at the same height as your hips feels too high, it's a good idea to set it slightly higher than its current position.

For more details on this section, click here ↓ 

Thorough Explanation of Road Bike and Carbon Wheel Brakes!

Also, for those who feel "I need to replace my brake pads," I've included some recommended brake pads!

Bicycle chains are also the parts most prone to getting dirty.

 If you leave dirt on them, you might not be able to shift gears smoothly, and it can shorten the lifespan of your gears.

① Apply cleaner

② Clean the chain and derailleur

③ Wipe with a rag or cloth

④ Apply oil to the chain

⑤ Rotate the pedals to clean

While turning the pedals, spray the cleaning agent onto the derailleur and other parts. 

Also, apply it to the chain.

Pinch the chain between the brushes and rotate the pedals to clean it.

A toothbrush will work just fine.

After cleaning the chain and derailleur, wipe off any cleaning solution from the chain with a rag or old towel.

Be careful not to forget to wipe it with a rag or towel here, as any remaining cleaning solution on the chain could wash off the new oil.

The most important thing to watch out for when oiling the chain is to avoid getting oil anywhere else.

If oil gets on the wheels or frame, it can damage them, so please be careful.

If your gears are shifting on their own, or you can't shift them quickly,

・Front derailleur adjustment

・Rear derailleur adjustment

・There's a high possibility that there's an issue with lubrication.

In addition, a twisted chain might be the cause.

Road bike brakes and derailleurs operate by tensioning cables.

And when you shift gears, the cable is pulled, making the gear lighter.

This means that if there's a problem with gear shifting, there's a problem with the cable.

If you want to know how to tighten the cable, a video would be easier to understand, so you might want to look it up yourself.

When riding long distances, or when you haven't cleaned your bike and want to maintain it, it's a good idea to have a bike shop do the maintenance.

Because doing everything we've mentioned so far would take too much time.

When you take your bike to a bike shop, in addition to cleaning, some places will also check for chain issues, brake abnormalities, and various other things.

However, it's not a good idea to always have a bike shop do all your maintenance regularly.

This is because if you encounter a problem with the brakes or other parts while riding long distances, you won't be able to handle it yourself.

Therefore, it's better to try to do all the bike maintenance yourself as much as possible.

Thank you for reading this far.

This time, I specifically explained what you should check daily for bike abnormalities and how to perform regular maintenance.

If you want to use your bike for a long time and take good care of it, frequent maintenance is essential.

Related Road Bike Wheel Articles (Recommended)

Chinese Carbon Wheel Buying Guide

Basic Knowledge of Bicycle Wheels

Are Cheap Disc Brake Wheels Good? [Reasons to Avoid Cheap Ones]