Soon we'll be riding every weekend again. Many of us have ignored bike maintenance during the recent weather. And fixing tire, chains or brakes in the rain sucks! So now is a good time to do a little maintenance:
Tires: Dig out any glass particles in your tires, and check your tires for wear. Just like car tires, it's reasonable to rotate the tires occasionally to even out the wear. The back tire will wear out faster than the front. And of course make sure they are inflated properly.
Chain: Is it worn out? You can measue it... Every 12 inches the links should line up exactly (same part of the link meets at 0 inches and 12 inches) if it's new. As it wears, 1/16" is marginal, but if you have 1/8" extra in 12 inches, it's worn out. If you put on a new chain and it has trouble shifting, you may have worn out gears too.
Brakes: Pads have enough braking material? Are they adjusted properly so the pads don't rub, but also you can't pull the brake handle all the way to the handlebar? If not, fix it. And take a quick look at your rims to make sure they are still in good shape - remember that the rims also wear as the brake pads press into the grim on the rim surfaces.
Cables: Check that the cables are all OK, especially at the front and rear derailers and where the cables pull the brake arms. If you have ANY frayed cable wires, replace the cable immediately. It' no fun to end up in a panic stop or be climbing a hill and find that a cable breaks. If they are corroded, lubricate them.
Lubrication: Your chain should shine with a light gray color. If it is rusted, squeeking, or shining very brightly, it's likely dry. You only need to put 1/2 drop of lube on ONE SIDE of each link. As the chain spins, it will pull the lube down to the inner pin where the lubrication is needed. Lube is NOT needed where the chain meets the gear cog. And by lubing only one side, you guarantee that there won't be an air pocket that keeps lube from getting to all of that inner link pin. After spinning the gears for about a dozen loops to get the oil to move into the chain links, wipe off the excess oil on the outside of the chain. This helps avoid holding dirt on the chain and grinding down your gears.
Allso lube your cables, after cleaning off any crude or corrosion.
Batteries: Its a good time to replace your computer battery and and lights that you use.
Nuts and bolts: Check that all are still tight. It's not unusual for some to back out over time. Especially check derailleur, brake, and handlebar connectors. And make sure you check your wheel quick-release levers to make sure they are tight. If you choose to use a "Lock-Tite" type of product, use the blue version. It will allow you to get the screws out later when you need to :^)
Seat post: You should lubricate your seat post at least yearly, so that it doesn't "weld" itself to the frame. Water and crud can do this, so take it off, clean it, and LIGHTLY lube it with a lightweight grease. Don't forget to clear the inside of the down-tube too, not just the post.
Seat position: If you haven't checked in a while, the seat post may have slipped down into the seat tube. Adjust to the position of your liking. Use a piece of masking tape to mark the current position in case the changes you make cause you distress.
Don't forget to take a test ride and make sure things are working safely and properly.
If you are not mechanically inclined, now is a good time to take your bike to your favorite bike shop for a tuneup. The lines are short this time of year!
There is much more you could do. But that can be done another weekend when the weather is uncooperative!