Bicycle lights explained: lumen, lux and candela
Bicycle lights explained: lumen, lux and candela
Ready storyThe reason to own a bike varies from person to person. Some use it for their commute, others as an exercise tool or recreational rides and then there is the competitive cyclist who will use the bike for racing. Whatever the reason, maintaining your bike is crucial as taking good care of your bike will help to keep your bike working for years to come.
Utmost and foremost, cleaning your chain after every ride will remove the excess dirt and grime on the chain. These are the exact components that will wear your chain down. Leaving the grit on your chain will act like a grinding paste, it’s not what you want.
Depending on the type of lube that you use (dry lube, wet lube, or wax) will differ in how often you have to lube your chain. Most lubes will give you a guide on the packaging. Use it!
Checking your chain with a chain checker will tell you if it’s time to renew your chain. Most say to renew your chain between 3000 km and 5000 km. It depends on a few factors such as, how often you clean your drivetrain, weather conditions but also how often you change gears. Renewing your chain will also prolong the lifespan of other, more expensive parts on your drivetrain. We definitely recommend checking the status of your chain once a month.
Anything that goes into your frame such as bolts, pedals, seat post etc. need to be regreased from time to time. The reason is that those can get stuck because of corrosion and rust and will start to squeak annoyingly due time. Therefore, we recommend doing a proper bike check twice a year and regrease. In order to be able to remove those bolts and parts, we recommend using the Hex T set, giving you the tools to be able to loosen any bolts on your bike.
Rim brakes or disc brakes, both contain brake pads and will wear. Sometimes quicker than other times depending on the weather conditions, the type of brake pads, and the amount of braking that you do. Regarding rim brakes, it’s easy to see by eye if they need to be replaced but for disc brake pads, it’s easier to remove them. You can use the Hex T Set to be able to do this. And beware, never touch the surface of the brake pads. Your fingers usually contain some grease on them and you don’t want to transfer grease on your discs. It will make your brakes squeak and will be difficult to remove.
Cassettes, derailleur pulleys, or chainrings don’t need to be replaced as often as your chain. However, it’s good to take note on their condition. You know that your cassette needs to be replaced when your chain starts skipping. The rule of thumb is that when you replace your cassette, you also replace your chain.
Recognizing when the derailleur pulleys and chainrings need to be replaced is easy. When they start to look sharp or pointy, you know it’s time. When you buy new pulleys, it’s important to note the number of gears (10, 11, or 12) your bike has so that you buy the right ones. The same goes for the size of the chainrings. There are many different sizes and types, make sure you buy the right one. Most chainrings will have a number on them such as 52-36.
As all parts that turn, tires are parts that should not be missed and should be replaced depending on how much you ride. When the thread starts to wear, the rubber starts to crack, the tire starts to flatten among the centerline or you often get flats, it’s definitely time to change your tires. We have a super easy tool to get your new tires on your rims in no time called the EasyTire. Your hands will thank you!