Bicycle Care; Basic Maintenance - Dynacraft SINGLE SPEED Owner's Manual

BICYCLE CARE

Basic Maintenance

The following procedures will help you maintain your bicycle for years of enjoyable riding.
• Before you ride, check the alignment of the front wheel. If it is in alignment, you should see it if when lifting the
front of the bike and spinning the wheel, the gaps between the front brake pads are consistently the same. If
you do not see this, your wheels need truing.
CAUTION:
Wheels must be true for rim brakes to work effectively. Wheel truing is a skill which requires
special tools and experience. Do not attempt to true a wheel unless you have the knowledge, experience and tools
needed to do the job correctly. See a qualified bike technician to properly true wheels.
• For painted frames, dust the surface and remove any loose dirt with a dry cloth. To clean, wipe with a damp
cloth soaked in a mild detergent mixture. Dry with a cloth and polish with car or furniture wax. Use soap
and water to clean plastic parts and rubber tires. Chrome plated bikes should be wiped over with a rust
preventative fluid.
• Store your bicycle under shelter. Avoid leaving it in the rain or exposed to corrosive materials. Riding on the
beach or in coastal areas exposes your bicycle to salt which is very corrosive. Wash your bicycle frequently and
wipe or spray all unpainted parts with an anti-rust treatment. Make sure wheel rims are dry so braking
performance is not affected. After rain, dry your bicycle and apply anti-rust treatment.
• If the hub and bottom bracket bearings of your bicycle have been submerged in water, they should be taken
out and regreased. This will prevent accelerated bearing deterioration.
• If paint has become scratched or chipped to the metal, use touch up paint to prevent rust. Clear nail polish
can also be used as a preventative measure. Your local hobby shop will carry paints in small containers and a
variety of colors that you can use to touch up paint.
• Regularly clean and lubricate all moving parts, tighten components and make adjustments as required (refer to
pages 76-78 of this manual for further details).
The selected use of alloy component and surface treatments helps prevent rust and corrosion from affecting
some areas of your bicycle.
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BEFORE YOU RIDE