TAKING CARE OF YOUR BIKE DURING THE RAINY SEASON

It’s that time of the year, pre-monsoon showers playing spoilsport, humidity at its peak taking a toll on your bike rides, it’s only a few days for the downpour to begin placing you in a dilemma “whether to ride or not to ride in the rains”. Whether you decide to ride or to hang-up your bike for the wet season, you have to take care of your beloved bike. Here are a few tips whatever you decide !

IF YOU DECIDE TO HANG-UP YOUR BIKE FOR THE RAINY SEASON

TIPS ARE FOR PREVENTING CORROSION/RUST ON YOUR BIKE

PARTS THAT FALL PREY TO CORROSSION – Cables (inners and outers, ball bearings, chain, cogs, chainwheels, bolts)

1.       Grease all the bolts and BOLT HEADS

2.       Grease the seat Post

3.       Lubricate all the cables (Inners and outers)

4.       Lubricate the chain heavily with wet lube

5.       Apply thin layer of oil (with a paint brush) on COGS and CHAINWHEELS

6.       Store away the bike

IF YOU DECIDE TO RIDE IN THE RAINS

A.      Get the bike fully serviced (greasing the ball bearings, oiling the cables, greasing seat post, lubing the chain, greasing the headset, greasing the bolts, greasing the bottom bracket bearing)

B.      The servicing will only prevent initial rain rides, you need to do regular maintenance

1.       After every ride drain the water accumulated in the frame of the bike by standing the bike UPRIGHT on the rear wheel, the accumulated water will drain from the holes at the end of the chainstays

2.       Clean and dry the bike after every ride

3.       Lube (Use wet lube) the chain after every ride

4.       Watch for sluggish shifting (sign of corrosion of the cables )

5.       Re-apply grease on bolt heads every few wet rides

6.       Watch for creaking sounds (sign of grease wash out) from hubs, headset, bottom bracket (time to service the bike again)