One of the thrills of mountain biking is riding through rough terrain. But there are bound to be some hits and falls along the way. Riding a mountain bike especially during monsoon can bring a lot of damage to your bike. Keeping your bike in good condition is not only necessary for the safety of the rider but also for your precious bike’s longevity. So you want to make sure that your bike is well maintained as much as possible. 

Here are a few tips to take care of your mountain bike to keep it in a good condition. And if you require a thorough mountain bicycle service and repair, visit our bike repair shop for the best mountain bike servicing in town! 

Tip 1: Check the brakes 

Your brakes might wear out quickly if you often ride on descents and during muddy conditions. Dirt and grit can get easily stuck on your brakes damaging them over time. 

To check your brakes, check with your eyes, ears and feel. If you hear a gritty sound coming from your brakes, that means the metal of your brakes is hitting the rim and needs to be fixed. When checking your brakes, see if you notice that the grooves on your brake are worn out and almost disappearing, it is time to get them replaced. And thirdly, when you brake, try to feel whether there is a stickiness, it might indicate that your brake may be catching under the rim. 

Tip 2: Check your tires 

Before every ride, it is important to check the air in your tires. Air pressure can change depending on the weather and temperature. Always make sure to check for cracks and tears on the rubber. Especially if you go riding mostly on rough terrains. Know when it is time to change your tires or you can ask your bicycle mechanic nearby. Tires are the main aspects of your bike so make sure that they are always in top condition. It will also help you to learn how to fix a flat tire in case it happens while on the trail. 

Tip 3: Check the bolts and screws 

Make sure that the bolts and screws on your bike are secure but not too tight. You don’t want to lose a screw while you’re far away from any bike servicing center. Scan your bike for any loose screws before heading out. You can also carry some spare nuts and bolts and tools to help you on the trail. Bike multi tools such as the Crankbrothers multi tools are very convenient to carry. 

Check out the must-have mountain biking gears and components.

Tip 4: Always Lube it! 

You always want to make sure that your bike’s moving parts are running smoothly and without friction. For this, you can get lubricants for mountain bikes for all parts of your bike. Before lubricating, you need to make sure that the parts are clean and dry. If your chains and sprockets are not lubricated well or often enough, it can really decrease the lifespan of your bike. Do not lubricate your bike right before the ride as it might attract dirt to stick on the important surfaces. 

Tip 5: Keep your bike well washed and clean

Need we say more? Keeping a well washed, clean bike makes all the difference when it comes to maintaining your bike’s condition. This is because the mud, grit and dirt from all that riding can affect each and every component of your bike, from the pedals to the brakes and everything in between. After each ride, make sure that you clean your bike and keep it well lubricated, ready for the next ride. You can clean a bike by hosing it down with a water pipe and then wiping with a towel. You can also take it to professional wash centers for a detailed cleaning service. 

Check out our article on Best Mountain Biking Trails in Kathmandu

Tip 6: Get your bike serviced by a professional

It is necessary to get your bike serviced after every riding season or in an interval of 6 months. Getting your bike checked by a professional bike mechanic will allow your ride to be thoroughly inspected without missing any parts of the bike. Make sure to get a detailed inspection of the bike and check servicing for forks or shocks, bleeding brakes, tire sealants, lubricate and clean. How often you need to service your bike also depends on how well you maintain it. 

Get your mountain bike serviced by the best bike mechanics in Nepal at Gravity Nepal. You can contact us or visit the store directly to check out our fully-equipped workshop.