If you’re one of the millions of women who’ve taken up bicycling in the past year, you’ve probably learned that your ride isn’t always smooth and easy. From time to time, adjustments or bike repairs will need to be made to keep your women’s bike in top shape. Learn about five common bike fixes that are easy to make on your own.
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Flat Tires
If you’ve been riding for a while and have somehow avoided getting a flat tire, congratulations! For most riders, they are a fairly routine occurrence. To get the hang of quickly fixing a flat, check out online videos that lay out the steps that will get back on the road. It’s a smart idea to ride with a bicycle inner tube repair kit so you’re prepared to make a fast fix when you’re out and about.
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Bent Rims
Visibly bent bike rims can be a fact of life for city and trail riders alike. Everything from potholes to rocks and debris can ding up your wheels, so to keep your ride safe you’ll need to perform some bent bike rim repair. As soon as you notice a problem, remove the tire, find a hard surface on which to leverage it, then apply pressure to work out the bend. This should get you safely back on the road.
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Slipped Chains
When you take a spill, you might find that your chain has slipped from its cogs. In most cases, you should be able to slip the chain right back onto the gears; a pro tip is to flip the bike over to make reattachment a bit easier. Once the chain is back on, move the pedals forward a few rotations to ensure the chain has gotten back into place.
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Loose Bolts
Everything from your seat to your handlebars can become a bit wobbly over time. Most bikes are held together by bolts and screws that can loosen as you put more miles on your bicycle. After every few rides, take a few minutes to grab a set of pliers and give your bicycle a once-over. Tightening things up before you hit the road will make for a safer and more comfortable ride.
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Worn Brake Pads
According to bike maintenance Adelaide, although excessively worn pads should be replaced, your bike likely has a built-in mechanism for tightening up pads that are slightly worn or feeling loose. Most bikes have a barrel adjuster or screw right on the brake lever or on the brakes themselves; simply turn this a bit to push your pads closer to the rims. If you’ve tightened too much, just turn in the reverse direction to loosen the pads.
Although you’ll likely want to bring your bike into a repair shop for an occasional tune-up, you can make any repairs on your own. Whether you’re in the market for a sweet new ride or need to find a bicycle inner tube repair kit, search online for a bike retailer that can hook you up with everything you need to ride the roads in safety.
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