Taking good care of your bicycle will ensure it is durable and serves you for a longer time. In this article we are going to look at the different ways to take care of your single speed bike. This is a bicycle type with a single gear ratio, the one without derailleur gears, hub gearing or other method for varying the gear ratio of the bicycle.

 

You need to keep it clean all the time. A number of repair and service issue your bike will need are as a result of dirt. Almost all the bicycle parts are exposed to dirt and mud. These can negatively affect the look and performance of your single speed bike. When they come into contact with the bicycle bearings they cause them to be rough, sluggish and worn out. Also when the dirt mixes with the grease or oil in the bike it becomes stiff, getting harder as it ages. This causes poor braking, unsteady steering, rapid wear and makes it harder to pedal.

 

You can use a brush or an old rag, soap and water to clean it. Wash the affordable single speed bikes from top to bottom. You can use a hose but its pressure should not be so high. You can also use a little car wax or elbow grease to preserve the finish and reduce the chances of dirt sticking. For cleaning the chain you can use the brush to scrub it together with soap or degreaser and water. It is more recommendable however you take off the chain and soak it overnight in a liquid grease cutter. Drop in a container with the soap giving it a shake and letting it soak overnight. Once it is cleaned you then rinse it with hot water, lubricate it and install it back. Another method of cleaning the chain is to use a chain scrubbing tool, fill it with a cleaning fluid, fasten it around the chain and turn the pedals.

 

Always make sure you pump up your bicycle tires. People often ignore the bicycle tires; the air in bicycle tires is little. The porosity of the butyl rubber use to make the bike tubes allows some air to seep out. As a result the tires tend to soften over a period of about a week to a month depending on the tire size. Don't make the mistake of riding the bike with softened tires. This will risk damaging the bicycle rim and tube or even the even the tire should you hit a pothole or rock. Read about bicycle parts here at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Bicycle_parts.

 

Make sure you bicycle is always lubricated. It is composed of a number of movable parts, many of which are meshing with each other. To prevent the frictional grinding between these parts when you are busy pedaling make sure you frequently lubricate. Spinning parts containing bearings such as the pedals, wheels and the headset should be dismantled and re-greased at least once a year.

 

How you store the bike also matters. Store the bike inside to keep them running and looking like new. Moisture in the air usually attacks the metal parts of the bike.

 

Make sure you frequently inspect your Pure Fix Zulu Single Speed Fixie so as to stay on top of things. A weekly or monthly inspection depending on how often you ride it is recommended.