From the Bike Shop: Bike Maintenance Tips From E-bike Master Dubbz
Whether you’re a road bike or mountain bike person or something in between, keeping your ride in working order all season long is essential. To help you out, we asked our expert Dave “Dubbz” to share his top bike maintenance tips.
“Basic bike service is something that everyone can do, even at home,” says Dubbz, who has worked in Fresh Air Kelowna’s bike shop since 2009 and earned his nickname “E-bike Master Dubbz” when he became the go-to e-bike service guy after the shop started carrying them.
Bike maintenance tips from Dubbz
1. Keep tires pumped up
All tube and tire setups leak air over time. A low (or overfilled) tire could let you lose grip or performance. A low tire could also allow the side wall of the tire to flex and make contact with the ground. This can tear or rip the tube in a “pinch flat.” It's always a good idea to have a pump at home.
2. Bolt test/drop test
As you’re getting your bike out of the garage, hook or rack, give it a quick shake. If something seems loose or rattles, there’s a good chance something is loose! Full-suspension mountain bikes have a lot going on with the pivots and suspension. Make sure none of the bolts have loosened off or fallen out. They’re expensive to replace and may cause damage to the frame.
3. Lean your bike correctly
If you don't have a kickstand or ways of storing your bike, lean the bike on the rear wheel at a slight angle. This should keep it from tipping over. Dubbz always sees bikes leaning on the handlebars which can turn freely, then the bike tips over scratching the paint or worse impacting a derailleur which may get bent or out of adjustment.
Mistakes happen
Mistake-wise, Dubbz has seen it all, often from tinkering on your own bike. “If you’re working on your own bike there are tons of resources on the internet. Park Tools is great at this. I'd say it’s still a good idea to bring your bike into the shop at least once a year, in this case. We typically do an assessment before any service and may pick up on an issue that may have been fixed but needs to be revisited.”
How often should you get a bike tune-up?
Time frame-wise, Dubbz says it depends on how often you ride your bike. “I would say at least once a year. The suspension industry had a great reference breakdown in hours: 50 hours of riding is a basic service, and 100 hours may need more in-depth. Break that down to two, two-hour rides a week. If you’re riding more than three times a week you may need two-to-three tune-ups at the bike shop per season.
Our sports stores in Kelowna have the expertise to keep you rolling strong all season long. Check out our bike shop, then get out and enjoy the Fresh Air!
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