After a winter of hibernation for most bikes being locked into the turbo trainer with occasional release into the wild for some real outdoors action it is time to start thinking about race season and regular summer rides. Spring is nearly upon us and the warmer weather brings more scope for donning your Lycra in public. Our blog this week gives a few tips getting your bikes ready for racing season with things to think about as you shift to embrace the great outdoors.
Tips for getting your bike ready
Bike meet world
1) Give your bicycle a wash!
Over the winter that occasional ride with little time allocated for cleaning and countless turbo sessions sweating into the gears will have left your ride in no fit state for servicing. Help keep your bike in good condition and give it a decent clean including removing the chain to properly freshen up the gears and get some smooth changes.
2) Bike Wheels and tyres need love too
Tyres and inner tubes are unlikely to have been replaced by the cycling fairies over the closed season. If you haven’t replaced them recently now is a good time as the last thing you want in that A race is a blow out and the end of all your hard work in the shed on the turbo. Wobbly wheels that rub on your brake pads will not equal speed, this almost certainly is a job for the professionals to true those wheels with the right magic dusted onto your spokes to get true and straight wheels.
3) Clunk and shift with smooth gear shifting
Gears can easily become out of line. If it is running and not shifting well before you leave for a ride it is unlikely to get any better before you get back. If you know what your doing with a screwdriver and can make the minor adjustments needed go for it but if your not sure get it into a good local shop and get them to sort those changes out for the year ahead.
4) Stopping Your Bike Effectively
We all crave more speed and smashing those PB’s but coming down the other side of that massive hill hitting 30mph a good set of working brakes might be more important than getting an extra 10 seconds off your PB. Check the pads for wear and all cables. Ensure free movement so they lock on and release as required. Changing brake blocks is well within the grasp of any cyclist so if it needs doing take the time now and get it safe for summer.
5) Cycling Clothing
Having spent months indoors or only occasionally riding outside take time to check your kit before you leave. Easy to forget glasses or the right gloves in all the rush of blood to the head excitement of getting out the door before breakfast.
Hopefully these tips on getting your bikes ready for racing season has been useful and will help you get safely to T2.
BILLY
About the author – Billy is the founder of Trivelo Bikes and a firm lover of the turbo trainer through winter but ready to get out there and show the world his Lycra once more.
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