| More and more people are getting into mountain biking. | | | | gears. Wherever you see the derailleur moving and |
| Very few people, though, properly maintain their bikes. | | | | exposing sections, add some lubricant. Don't overdo it, |
| One of the most important aspects of mountain bike | | | | though. Wipe up any excess drips. |
| maintenance is lubrication. Keeping your bike's moving | | | | Another important place to apply lube is the chain. A |
| parts well-lubricated will help keep your bike in top | | | | well-lubricated chain will last a long time and it will shift |
| shape for a long time. Failing to keep your bike | | | | from gear to gear easier. Either turn the bike upside |
| properly lubed will lead to a shortened lifespan for your | | | | down or mount it on a rack if you have one, and |
| bike and its parts. | | | | slowly crank the pedals. As the chain cycles around, |
| The most basic advice to heed when it comes to | | | | apply lubricant by either spraying it or dripping it on. |
| keeping your bike lubed, is that if there's a moving part, | | | | Wipe off any lubricant which accidentally lands on the |
| it needs to be lubricated. There are some parts which | | | | frame or anywhere else. |
| are best left to the experts. It's unlikely that you'll want | | | | The pedals can also use a regular application of |
| to pull the bearings out of your headset or from inside | | | | lubricant. Of course you don't want to put any on the |
| the front crankshaft or hubs, but there are plenty of | | | | pedal grips unless you have cartoon capers in mind, |
| parts which are easy to access and which appreciate | | | | but you do want to apply some to where they attach |
| a regular and thorough lubing. | | | | to the cranks. |
| When purchasing lube for your bike, it's advised to buy | | | | It may surprise you to hear that the brakes require |
| a product specifically designed for bikes. They're | | | | lubrication. You don't want to get any grease on the |
| perfectly formulated for the specific needs of bicycles. | | | | brake shoes, though! Keep the lube away from the |
| These lubricants typically come in drip or spray | | | | rims, too. Where you do want to apply lubricant is on |
| dispensers. | | | | the pivot points where the brakes move. Wherever |
| Now take a look at your mountain bike's derailleurs. If | | | | there's a moving joint or metal on metal, you want to |
| you're having trouble with shifting gears, then there's a | | | | apply lubricant. The brake levers themselves can use |
| good chance your derailleurs need some lubrication. In | | | | some lube, too. Again, you'll want to apply it on the |
| case you don't know, the derailleur is the part that | | | | pivot points on the levers and not the lever itself. |
| moves the chain from gear to gear. Wherever there's | | | | A well-lubricated mountain bike will last longer than one |
| a movable point on the derailleur, apply lubricant. This | | | | that's neglected. It'll ride nicer, too. Remember to |
| includes the little adjustment barrel. Some lube there will | | | | regularly lubricate the parts you can easily access and |
| keep it from rusting and making it impossible to adjust. | | | | talk to your local bike shop about further mountain bike |
| Turn your bike upside down, move the pedals and shift | | | | maintenance. |