Chains slipping over cogs is common complaint that we get in our workshop. The most common problem here is a chain that is so worn it slips over the teeth on the freewheel or cassette cogs. Sometimes, replacing the chain will take care of the problem. However, if the chain is this worn, there is a good chance that the rear gear cluster is worn as well. The only fix for this problem is replacing both the chain AND the freewheel or cassette, which can get very pricey depending on the setup.

A good way to keep your drivetrain happy is to replace that chain every 3000-5000 miles, kind of like the oil in your car (ok, maybe 6000 miles for some of us out there). Replacement of the chain is relatively inexpensive compared to the price of new freewheels or cassettes. Making sure that the chain is appropriately lubed (see tip #7 below) is a very good way to slow down unnecessary chain/cog wear. Ahhhh, nothing shifts as quiet and smooth as a new chain.

Oh yea, make sure to clean that nasty packing grease that comes on new chains from the factory before you apply your favorite lube.

At Outdoor Adventures we offer a year of free mechanical service. Even if you don't notice something wrong, our mechanics are trained to spot and correct slight problems that you may not even be aware of.  We want to go over your new bike thoroughly after you have ridden it enough to accomplish most of the break in.  For average riders 60 days seems about right.  For active and aggressive riders, 30 days is probably more suitable.  No matter how far behind we are on repairs, free tune ups go right to the front of the line, and are always done within 24 hours.  If you are from out of town let us know your coming and we will arrange to do your tune up either while you wait or within a few hours.

When you come into Outdoor Adventures you'll be surprised to find that our people are actually glad to perform your free service.  We want you to love your new bike, and are happy to see you riding it enough to need service.  Unlike some businesses, we do not promise and then try to avoid delivering on our promise after the sale is completed.  You are actually going to receive more service from us then you are expecting.

With fall and winter breathing down our necks the short days make it harder to ride.  The answer to this is a good lighting system.   For someone who is only riding a couple of times a week, a standard battery type will work fine.  We have a duo pack with head and tail lights in the $35.00 range.   The head light takes 4AA batteries and has a run time of 3-4 hours.  This has a 2.4 watt xenon bulb for excellent brightness.  The tail light takes 2AAA batteries and has a run time of over 72 hours.  Specialized includes batteries this light in all of their lights.

For people who are going to commute or train on a regular basis, a rechargeable system makes more sense.  These have dual beams with a choice of three powerful halogen intense beam patters.  10 watt narrow for long range illumination, 10 watt wide for seeing directly in front of you, or 20 watt confined for maximum brightness.  This will run for up to 2.5 hours, longer if you only use one bulb when possible.  These include helmet mounts as well as handlebar mounts and a recharge battery pack. These run $109.99.  This does not include a tail light, but the tail light is the most important for drivers being able to see you.

So if you are going to be out after dark or before dawn, be alert and have the best light set you can get.

One of the misconceptions about riding bicycles is you have to push a big gear to build up your legs.  The opposite is true.  Unlike weight lifting where you may do sets of 10 or 12 reps, on a one hour ride you could pedal up to 5000 revolutions.   Pushing a big gear for that long at a low cadence will only cause damage to muscle, cartilage and joints.  Especially the knees.  Try to spin an easier gear at around 80-90 RMP.  When you first start riding this way you will feel like you are bouncing slightly on the seat.  As you practice this and  your spin smoothes out the bouncing stops and you will feel much more comfortable.  This technique will help hill climbing dramatically.

One of the questions frequently asked here at the shop is what kind of lubricant to run on your chain. There are basically two types of lube. Wet lube and dry lube. Wet lubes such as triflow work well but tend to collect dirt and the chain has to be cleaned much more often. Dry lubes such as White Lightening keep the chain much cleaner but have to be applied much more often. I put some on before each ride. Whichever one you prefer, when applying, wipe off the chain before to wipe off excess dirt and after to keep the dirt from sticking to the bike.

1. Bicycles increase mobility for those who don't have access to motor transport.

2. Bikes increase mobility for those who don't qualify to drive a car.

3. Bicycles increase mobility for those who can't afford motor transport

4. Bikes increase mobility for those who don't want to drive motor vehicles.

5. You get exercise from bicycling.

6. Save travel money by biking.

7. Reduce stress.

8. Biking is therapeutic for the mind & spirit.

9. Cycling is therapeutic for the body.

10. Cycling improves self-esteem.

11. Save on the membership to a health club- get your exercise bicycling to work.

12. Cycling is low impact on the body.

13. Cycling is low impact on the environment.

14. Bicycling in your neighborhood is a great way to meet your neighbors.

15. A camaraderie of cyclists is a great way to meet a nice stranger with similar        
interests.

16. Bicyclists can ignore the traffic reports.

17. Feel the Self-satisfaction of biking past a traffic jam in the bike lane.

18. Predictable commute time.

19. Easier parking.

20. Cheaper parking.

21. Leaving your car at home provides a parking space for someone less fortunate.

22. If you are lazy, your bicycle provides door-to-door transportation (you don't have
to walk across a vast parking lot).

23. Reduce demand for parking lots.

24. Reduce energy consumption.

25. Reduce air pollution -  Bicyclists emit few gasses.

26. Reduce water pollution - bikes don't drip brake fluid, anti-freeze, transmission
fluid, etc.

27. Reduce noise pollution - even without a muffler bikes are quiet.

28. Reduce road wear - even if cyclists feel like the have the weight of the world on
their shoulders.

29. Prevent and protest the sanctioned murder of responsible citizens.

30. Bikes' small profile reduce congestion.

31. Reduce the need to lay additional asphalt and concrete.

32. It's easier to vary your route by bicycle.

33. Bicycling improves cardiovascular health.

34. Healthier people have lower health care expenses.

35. The exercise you get from cycling increases your productivity at work.

36. Increased bike use generates bike facilities, which increase property values.

37. Bicycling gives you more fresh air then a sauna and you can still sweat and clean
your pores.

38. Bike commuting is a license to dress weird and still feel smug.

39. Urban cycling keeps you humble.

40. Biking is a virtually life-long activity

41. Bicycling can be enjoyed in a wide variety of topography.

42. Cycling can be enjoyed in a wide variety of climates.

43. Bicycles are a great means to see the world.

44. Bicycling is Cool.

45. Bicycling is Fun.

Courtesy of  NMAT (New Mexico Alternative Transit)
For more info go to: http://www.nmat.org

There are benefits to each.  The best way to decide is to ask yourself what kind of riding you want to do and how much you want to spend.  Hard Tails with a basic front shock start at $239.99.  An entry level duel suspension starts at $799.99.  As you go up in price you get lighter weight and more precision components.

The benefit to a hard tail is they are lighter. If you do a lot of cross country riding with a fair amount of climbing  the lighter weight can make a big difference.   Also when you stand up on a climb or sprint these bikes don't pogo the way duel suspension can.

The benefit to a duel suspension is the comfort and control you have on technical descents.  The drawbacks, as mentioned, are extra weight and pogo are more noticeable on the entry level bikes.  If you have a high budget these problems go away.   The high end bikes are so light now it is pretty amazing.  The top end duel suspension bikes also have a lock out on the rear end effectively turning a duel suspension into a hard tail.

So decide what you want to spend and what you need for your style of riding and get out and do it.  See you out there.

Buying a new bike can be intimidating.  The main thing to remember is that bike shops don't sell junk. so if you have a price range in mind and know the basics of what you want on the bike you can get a great bike just by test riding some in your price range, and comparing models and brands.  The important things to ask yourself are: what kind of riding are you going to be doing? Are you going to commute? Race? Exercise? or just ride around the neighborhood with the kids? These questions will help you pare down the choices so you don't feel overwhelmed by too many bikes.

The other thing to ask yourself is what kinds of accessories are you going to need? The main thing in this area is to get some thorn protection,  thorn resistant tubes or slime. The other important things to get are water bottles or camelbaks to stay hydrated, a helmet, a pump and cycling shorts.  Cycling shorts may not seem very important to a lot of people but what they don't realize is that a good padded short has more comfort benefit then a saddle.

So do your homework, ask questions and get yourself a great bike.

Check your bike over before you go for a ride. One of the most common things we see here at the shop are loose bolts, especially crank arm bolts.   Most people don't realize how important it is to keep crank bolts tight, considering the amount of pressure you put on the cranks while riding. They will loosen up, especially when they are new.  If you hear a creaking sound around the bottom bracket the arms are coming loose, if you don't check them then they will eventually fall off.  The other important bolts are stem bolt, handle bar bolts, seat binder bolt, seat post bolt and wheel quick releases.  All of these can lead to major crashes if left loose. The nice thing is these are some of the easiest and quickest things you can do to maintain your bike.

The biggest problem we see here at the store is flat tires.  I know a lot of people have tried the solid inserts but they have some serious drawbacks.   The first is they are very hard to install, the next problem is they are heavy and lastly, and most importantly, they have no Shock absorption.  Not only is this uncomfortable when you ride rough pavement or trails but it will eventually destroy your wheels.  Especially on kids bikes.  Kids like to jump curbs and cut through the desert to get where they are going.

We have a product which works very well and doesn't have the drawbacks of the solid tubes. We have thorn resistant tubes which are five times thicker then a regular tube.  This works out pretty well but if you want the best protector for your tires we suggest you get a product called Slime to put inside those thicker tubes.  Slime is a non-toxic liquid which goes inside the inner tube.  When a thorn punctures the tube you air up the tire and spin it to let the slime seal up the hole. It is like having a built in patch kit.

There is also another new alternative to flats, it is called the Specialized Armadillo Tire, Click here for more information.

Many of you like to keep your bikes clean.  Leg Shavers (errrr Roadies) seem to be much more meticulous then Fatheads (errr Mountain Bikers).  It's good to keep your bike clean, it helps parts to last longer and it is a good time to inspect the bike for problems.  However, many of you like to spray your bikes with a hose.  This may seem like a good idea but the problem is you end up getting water and dirt inside cable housing, bearings and other places where water can do damage and cause rust.

There is a good alternative. If your bike is muddy clean as much of the mud off as possible using a bucket of water and a rag.  Then clean the chain and drive train with some degreaser.  These are the parts which need to be cleaned up most.  Let the rest of the mud dry on the frame.  Once dry it flakes off easily and the frame can then be cleaned with some Windex and a rag.

So if you want to keep from having to constantly replace parts on your bike.. Don't Be a Hoser!