Winter is over, what about your bike?

For me winter ends when the first spring training game is broadcast and you can hear Ernie Harwell say "For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land". That was on March 1, so I'm a little late. Now is a good time to take you bike in for a tune up, now when weather is still bad. A trip to the mechanic save you grief on the PALM (or any ride) later. PALM does have bike shops accompanying the tour. They have lots of parts and charge very reasonable rates. But they most likely they won’t be where you are when you break down so you’ll have to be sagged to where they are. They set up at the sites and do repairs at night, but you will be in line with everybody else who didn’t get their bike looked at. Think about it. Take your bike in now.

I followed my own advice and took my bike in last Saturday. It’s being worked on now. Of course, it’s 70 outside now too. It looks like the official end of winter is not the only thing I’m a little late on. Fortunately I have another bike. It’s a mountain bike and it’s heavy, but that’s what I get for being late. It has knobbies and maybe that’s a good thing.

Mechanic’s Corner Part 1

Now that your PALM application is in and you are getting ready to start your training for the tour you have to ask yourself: What shape is my bike in?

If you don’t know, then your bike may need work. How old is it or how long has it been since the last overhaul? For a road bike, if it has been more that 5 years (only 1 or 2 years if the bike has been in the rain a lot) or 2000 miles, you may need an overhaul. A mountain bike may need overhauling as often as every 500 miles if ridden off road. You may need a new chain, cables or brake pads. Every moving part on the bike should be cleaned and lubricated. Check every nut and bolt to be sure it’s tight.

Every year on PALM I see bikes with problems that could have been avoided if an overhaul or full check of the bike had been done by a qualified mechanic.

If you are not comfortable with servicing your own bike, enroll in a class to learn how or take it to your local bicycle shop to have it tuned up and checked out.

Now is the best time to take your bike into the shop, as it is their lean time of the year. This early in the season you might get your bike back in only a day. Additionally, the shop mechanics will have more time to spend on you bike to be sure the job is done right. Don't wait for the first warm sunny Saturday in May and expect a fast turnaround. Spring is any bike shop's busiest time and the mechanics are pressed for time to complete the work on all the bikes they get in. Don't wait!