Taking care of a bicycle

A bicycle is a machine. Every machine needs some proper maintenance to keep running smoothly. Taking care of a bicycle isn't a hard thing to do, but it is a very important one. No one wants to ride a bicycle that feels like a slug or squeaks!

Just keep in mind to do yourself a couple of things on your bicycle regularly and your bicycle will feel smooth like butter when riding.

First of all, maintain a proper tire pressure. A bicycle that has a lower pressure on its tires feels like a drag. If you feel that your bicycle is slow and not so comfortable when rolling anymore, chances are you may need to pump up those tires! Invest in a good floor-pump and check your bicycle tires every week or so (depending on the use) for the right pressure. Do not make the mistake though and assume that your bicycle tires are inflated properly because you pumped them in the past and then left the bicycle unused. Bicycle tires loose air even when the bicycle isn't being used! 

Maintaining a proper tire pressure is important, not only because it affects the riding quality, but because tires that aren't inflated suitably are more prone to punctures.

Another thing that you must do for your bicycle is to lubricate the chain. When doing this regularly, the chain not only will run smoothly through the cogs but will also be not so apt to rust. You have to be careful though, do not put so much oil on the chain, as oil attracts dirt and grime. You do not want your bicycle chain to have a messy black and thick coating, as this will have the opposite effect. A light coating is all you need. I do this once per month on dry months, and every two weeks on wet months. My bicycle chain is still rust free and as good as new, despite the fact I live in a coastal area, where is humid, and that my house, where I park my bicycle, is only 40 meters away from the sea. (Your lubing times may vary, it depends on where you live and the conditions you ride, the wetter the ride, the more often you need to lubricate your chain.)

An additional thing to do is to inspect for scratches on your bicycle. At first, when I saw a scratch I felt my heart sink, but with time I got over it. Bicycles are getting scratched all the time! There is nothing we can do. What we can do is to find the scratches and coat them with clear nail polish (my little secret). The nail polish prevents the bare metal from forming rust (it works like a barrier, it doesn't let the metal to come in contact with the oxygen in the air, thus the metal does not oxidize) and it is also durable. Just keep in mind to clean (and then let dry well) the surface of the scratch before applying the nail polish. 

Last but not least don't forget to clean your bicycle. I usually just wipe the whole bicycle with a wet paper towel every now and then and wipe the cogs of the derailleur with a dry paper towel. When the bicycle is really dirty I might give it a proper wash, but that is something I've done only twice in the one and a half year that I own this bicycle. If you are properly lubricating your bicycle chain, then it doesn't need to be cleaned that often either. Mine is relatively free of grime. 

And that was all! These were the four most important things you need to do when taking care of a bicycle. I'm not saying that this is all the maintenance a bicycle needs, but these are the things that every bicycle user must take into account for a properly working bike!

There are of course other things (like adjusting your brakes, etc.) but these were the most simple and common "Have To's" associating with a bike.

And remember that when you're taking care of a bicycle, not only it will last longer, but it will have a better riding quality, too!