Summer 06
We have all been out on our bikes this summer and now is a great time to check some of the fastest wearing parts on your bike. Before your next ride take a minute to visually inspect your bike.
* A good place to start is the tires. Carefully inspect your tires for any cuts or bulged areas that could lead to a blow out. Next make sure there is sufficient tread left to take advantage of our area's great fall weather. For road tires a flattened profile or patches of tread that are a different color can both indicate that a new tire is needed. Mountain tires often display wear along the center line of the tread. Knobs that are even moderately worn will significantly impact traction off road. It is also important to check for gouged or missing tread blocks as this is a good indication that some fresh treads are needed.
*Next inspect your bike's brake pads. Most rim brake pads are constructed with small channels that are designed to clear debris away from the rim's surface. These channels provide a good indication of pad wear. When the grooves are nearly gone it's time to replace them. For disc brake pads remove your wheels and inspect the pads' thickness. If the pad material left is as thick as a nickel you're fine, if they are the thickness of a dime they should be replaced soon.
*Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, check your chain for wear. Unfortunately this requires a special tool in order to get a truly accurate reading. If you don't happen to have one of these handy gismos in your tool quiver just drop by the shop and we will be happy to check it for you. The trick is to catch the chain at approximately 70% wear. This way a new chain can be installed without changing the cassette or chainrings. Another good rule is to replace your Shimano chain every 1200-1500 miles, or in the dirt every 1000 miles. Replace Campy chains every 2000 miles.
Happy riding and stay safe out there!