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