Do it yourself

Thursday, February 26, 2009

If your bike has been out of commission—or worse, outdoors—for the past few months, it probably needs a little work before it’s ready to ride.

“Leaving a bike outside is not a really great idea,” says Nick Gardner, manager at Cycle Works, 2121 Kasold Drive. “It’s like leaving your car with the windows down all winter.”

Photo by Becka Cremer

Ready, set, bike: Your bike’s probably been MIA for winter, so make sure to inflate, lubricate and tighten your ride.

The best way to guarantee your bike is safe to ride, Gardner says, is to take it to a professional bike mechanic. However, Gardner offers this advice to students who want a quick fix before riding their bikes to class.

1. Inflate

Look at the sides of your bike’s tires and add air to the maximum pressure indicated, Gardner says. Tire pressure naturally decreases by about five psi a week, Gardner says, so chances are your bike’s tires are in need of some air. If you don’t have a bike pump, head to a gas station or a bike shop.

2. Lubricate

Use a bike chain lubricant on the chain, cables and housings, Gardner says. He cautions against using an all-purpose lubricant like WD-40. Bike-specific lube is designed to repel dirt, Gardner says, but WD-40 can just attract it. For about $4.50, bike chain lubricant is a good investment.

3. Tighten

If you have access to tools, Gardner recommends tightening all of the accessible nuts and bolts on your bike.

If these three steps don’t seem to be enough, and your bike needs a little more TLC, both Cycle Works and Sunflower Outdoor and Bike, 804 Massachusetts Street, offer basic tune up packages and free estimates for other repairs.

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