Christmas came, you got a new bicycle, you rode it, it was magnificent, and now you want to have the best bicycle maintenance in the bunch. So keep reading through our tips for cyclists and making the most of cycling accessories and bicycle maintenance to keep your bicycle in its best shape.
Cycling knowledge is key, and we're big advocates for education in cycling when it comes to road safety, but knowledge on cycling accessories is equally important. When we consider bicycle parts and how important they are to a cyclist, then knowledge on bicycle components becomes vital.
Any
experienced cyclist will know that nothing ends a ride than a flat bike tyre. A weathered cyclist will know the difference that the proper cycling clothing will make the difference as to how enjoyable a bike ride is. Lastly, great cyclists know the difference that correct bicycle components make to cycling performance.
When looking at education for any cyclist, we are going to offer a lot of tips, and first up in our 1st installment on bicycle maintenance, we are going to look at a contentious, but important issue - cycling helmets.
Cycling Helmets.
From the top down, literally, cycling helmets are a great place to start on any cyclists journey. Every time you go out cycling, wear a bicycle helmet. There are lot of different opinions among cyclists, but we've been involved in and seen enough bike crashes and falls to see where they have prevented either a bad hit to the head to the almost fatal. Over the course of your cycling life and/or career, you will fall off. Whether it's because you've been knocked off or you've just been clumsy, it will happen so be careful and wear a helmet. There are some great helmets out there, just take a look at the cycling accessories section we have.
Fixing Bike Repairs
So now that you have your head protected, and while we will cover the best cycling clothing for you to wear in a future installment, what should really be considered first is how to fix any problems you might have with your bike.
There's no point in going out cycling with the best bicycle, best bicycle parts, looking great in your cycling clothing, but not knowing to how to carry out simple bike repair.
There are some great websites for bicycle repair and giving tips for how to do it. For a vast depth of information take a look at http://sheldonbrown.com/.
So once you have the knack of how to fix your bike, take a look at the great bicycle parts you can upgrade your bike with.
You're going to need things like a small saddlebag to carry the essential bike tools. Then in that you want a tube, bicycle tyre levers, and either a cO2 canister or a bicycle tyre pump.
It's always handy to have an allen key set so that you can make some quick fixes when anything comes lost on the bike such as your seat post or headset.
It's amazing how many people forget a pump, so we must reiterate that you should carry a pump. They're light and come in plenty of colours, shapes and with attachments to suit the type of valve on your tube.
Lastly, a good bicycle lock is important if you're going to be cycling your bike to and from work, or even just to the shops. Spending a small amount of money on a lock can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Cycling Water Bottles
The next
essential while you're out cycling is a water bottle. This is needed no matter the weather, as hydration is always important while cycling. To hold your water bottle, a bottle cage is also needed on your bicycle.
No matter how easy or hard your cycle is, staying hydrated is always important so be sure to carry a bottle of water, and for longer spins think about adding some electrolytes and carbohydrates to your water too.
That covers the 1st installment from Alimay Sports about maintaining your new bicycle and cycling lifestyle, and the 2nd installment will cover more important elements of taking up cycling as a hobby or a sport.
In the meantime, feel free to check out the website for some great cycling deals.
