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August and Bike Supplies

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

bike suppliesT.S. Eliot once said that April is the cruellest month. That may well be, but August is the saddest. The fact that for a week or two in late August we get the best biking weather of the year makes it melancholy. We remember that soon leaves will be off trees and there will be rain and snow and bike riding without bike supplies is impermissible and bike riding at all during these later months is only for the brave.

August is the saddest because it is the beginning of the end.

Now is time to start buying bike accessories for the winter. Because if your bike breaks down when you’re trying to ride it through a snow storm, you’ll be in trouble sure enough. Why, just the other day my back brake cable snapped! It was dangerous, and a good thing I was nearly home. Get your tune-ups taken care of now so you can ride through the snow if you’re brave enough. With an LED light you shouldn’t have to worry about biking through the dark; it’s really the cold you should be worried about. Because when that wind picks up you’re going to want to pick up the speed too, and with your heart rate monitors attached you won’t have to worry about overdoing it.

 

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Have Your Bicycle Taillights for Winter Yet?

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

bicycle taillightsI biked through the rain yesterday and I had flashbacks of winter. The layers, the cold, the perpetual discomfort, waiting for the stop light to change and seeing how low the bank’s digital thermometer read while blowing out smoke clouds of hot air… Biking through the rain is fairly miserable. I don’t bike with socks because I know my Vans are going to get soaked. During the winter, though, I have to wear thick socks and boots and special bike supplies. I have to make sure my bicycle taillights are firmly attached so the cars can see me.

Today it was 86 and there was a slight breeze. Perfect. I got sweaty, sure, but I’d rather be sweaty than ice cold.

When you bike every day it’s easy to take the weather for granted. It’s also easy to forget about the maintenance of your bike, the brakes getting slightly looser every day… Remember to enjoy the beautiful weather while we have it, because pretty soon it’s going to be 20 degrees and you won’t want to bike and people will think you’re crazy if you do, but who cares, as long as you maintain your bike with bike supplies and you have enough quality layers, you won’t have to be afraid of the winter.

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Tighten Brakes With Bike Supplies

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

bike suppliesTightening your brakes is an essential part of riding, something you shouldn’t have to pay an expert to do. You know it’s time when it takes a little too long to slow down. It can be very dangerous to ride around with loose brakes because if you need to stop quickly for a car or another reason, you won’t be able to. If you can pull your brakes all the way to your handlebars, it’s time to adjust.

First and foremost, there is a small barrel adjuster next to the brake handle that when you turn to the left, or counter-clockwise, will tighten them a little. Then turn the locking nut to lock it in.

There is a nut on the rear brake arm, that you should loosen if you still need more braking. You don’t even need bike supplies for this, all you need is a wrench. Once loose, you can push the brake arms closer to the rim. Then tighten the rear brake arm. Here is a video to further exemplify how to do it. You can buy the tightening tool along with other bicycle accessories and bike supplies at www.BikeAhead.com.

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Cleaning Your Bike With Bike Supplies

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

bike suppliesIt’s important to wipe down your bike and bike accessories every other week during the summer and every week during the wet season. Run a moist rag along the frame, removing particles and dirt, and do the same to the chain after you’ve added some lube to it. The chain is the heart of your bike, and a dirty heart means a heart attack. It’s also a good idea to take a flat head screwdriver and hold it against the sprockets of the derailleur while turning the crank. The screwdriver will gather the muck and dirt that gets caught in your sprockets, which affect your ride.

You will notice the difference when you ride a clean bike. It puts the fun back into riding. You don’t have to pump quite as hard and when you coast down the hill, you really coast.

It’s also important to keep your tires hard. During the summer, tires tend to lose air more quickly thanks to the heat, so try giving them a squeeze to see if they could use a pump. That will also make your ride smoother and faster.

As far as self maintenance without any serious bike supplies, that’s all you need to know. To get into brake-tightening and more sophisticated bike maintenance, you need some bike accessories.

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