Bicycle Maintenance, Safety and General Tips
To ensure you get the most out of your bike, please follow the simple steps below. Keep in mind that a bicycle is not a maintenance-free machine, and should be well maintained just like a car or any other machinery.
*Check tire pressure before each ride. Thin tires like on fixies should have a PSI of anywhere between 85-100. The thinner the tire, the higher the pressure. Fat tires like on our cruisers will have a lower PSI of about 40-60.
*Make sure the chain tension is correct. Not too tight and not too loose, it should have a total of about 1" of play when it is moved up and down. If it is too tight or too loose, please bring it in and we will adjust the tension for you. Also NEVER USE WD-40 ON YOUR CHAIN. Only use chain grease.
*Routinely check to see all nuts and bolts are tight, and that wheels are aligned and true and spokes are tight. Also, if riding fixed, check your locking and cog for tightness often. To tighten a lock ring, it must be turned COUNTER-CLOCKWISE.
*Check your brakes often to ensure they are properly aligned. If the pads are worn down, or need to be replaced, or if the brakes need tightening, bring in your bike and we will do it for you.
*After riding in the rain, make sure you thoroughly dry off your bike, otherwise you risk it getting rusted. Additionally, always store your bike indoors, in your garage, or in a shed if possible.
*Be sure to register your bike with a national database such as the National Bike Registry to help aid in the recovery of your bike if it is ever stolen. The cost is $10 for ten years to have your serial number kept in their database, which is accessible by local authorities. You will be given a tamper resistant sticker to put on your bike - itself being a visual deterrent against theft. Serial numbers are most often found underneath the bottom bracket, behind one of the chainstays, or on the head tube. Keep in mind that if your bike is ever stolen and it is recovered by the police, they cannot release it to you unless you have proof you have registered it.
*Learn the proper way to lock up your bicycle, especially in high theft areas, such as large cities or on school campuses here. Check out this video for a quick lesson on how to do it. Hal Grades Your Bike Locking 3 Lock up your frame and rear wheel to a sturdy object firmly implanted in the ground. Don't forget to lock up your front rims as well, two locks are better than one! Buy the most expensive lock you can afford. A very expensive lock is still much cheaper than a new bike. The goal is to make your bike harder to get to than the one yours is parked next to. We recommend On Guard and Abus locks.
*If you are under 18, you are required by CA law to wear a helmet. If you are over 18, it is always a good idea to wear a helmet as well. CVC Section 21212
*If you are riding at night you must have lights on your bike visible from at least 300 feet. CVC 21201(1-e)
*You must have at least one brake on your bike at all times, and you may be ticketed if stopped by an officer. We do not recommend riding brakeless. CVC 21201(a)
*Do not drink and ride. You can still get a DUI on a bicycle! CVC Section 21200.5
*For complete bicycle CVC codes, click here.
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*Check tire pressure before each ride. Thin tires like on fixies should have a PSI of anywhere between 85-100. The thinner the tire, the higher the pressure. Fat tires like on our cruisers will have a lower PSI of about 40-60.
*Make sure the chain tension is correct. Not too tight and not too loose, it should have a total of about 1" of play when it is moved up and down. If it is too tight or too loose, please bring it in and we will adjust the tension for you. Also NEVER USE WD-40 ON YOUR CHAIN. Only use chain grease.
*Routinely check to see all nuts and bolts are tight, and that wheels are aligned and true and spokes are tight. Also, if riding fixed, check your locking and cog for tightness often. To tighten a lock ring, it must be turned COUNTER-CLOCKWISE.
*Check your brakes often to ensure they are properly aligned. If the pads are worn down, or need to be replaced, or if the brakes need tightening, bring in your bike and we will do it for you.
*After riding in the rain, make sure you thoroughly dry off your bike, otherwise you risk it getting rusted. Additionally, always store your bike indoors, in your garage, or in a shed if possible.
*Be sure to register your bike with a national database such as the National Bike Registry to help aid in the recovery of your bike if it is ever stolen. The cost is $10 for ten years to have your serial number kept in their database, which is accessible by local authorities. You will be given a tamper resistant sticker to put on your bike - itself being a visual deterrent against theft. Serial numbers are most often found underneath the bottom bracket, behind one of the chainstays, or on the head tube. Keep in mind that if your bike is ever stolen and it is recovered by the police, they cannot release it to you unless you have proof you have registered it.
*Learn the proper way to lock up your bicycle, especially in high theft areas, such as large cities or on school campuses here. Check out this video for a quick lesson on how to do it. Hal Grades Your Bike Locking 3 Lock up your frame and rear wheel to a sturdy object firmly implanted in the ground. Don't forget to lock up your front rims as well, two locks are better than one! Buy the most expensive lock you can afford. A very expensive lock is still much cheaper than a new bike. The goal is to make your bike harder to get to than the one yours is parked next to. We recommend On Guard and Abus locks.
*If you are under 18, you are required by CA law to wear a helmet. If you are over 18, it is always a good idea to wear a helmet as well. CVC Section 21212
*If you are riding at night you must have lights on your bike visible from at least 300 feet. CVC 21201(1-e)
*You must have at least one brake on your bike at all times, and you may be ticketed if stopped by an officer. We do not recommend riding brakeless. CVC 21201(a)
*Do not drink and ride. You can still get a DUI on a bicycle! CVC Section 21200.5
*For complete bicycle CVC codes, click here.
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