Servicing Your Bike
Spring is around the corner, and for those of us who live in cooler, and/or wetter climates or any place that is experiencing poor mountain biking weather, that means it’s time for us to start getting our bikes ride-ready! Here in the mid-Atlantic region, we begin our wet season with early January snow and sleet, then it transitions into spring showers until around mid-April to May. As much as I enjoy winter riding, it is frustrating to halt my regular flow, park the bike for weeks on end after a heavy snowstorm, and then wait for the trails to recover. Some people stalk the trails waiting for that small window of riding opportunity before the next storm, while others may wait until the wet season is done. While your mountain bike is inactive, this is a great time to get it, and yourself ready for peak riding season.
Now is the time to make sure your bike is in excellent working condition. The bike shops are slower, and some will offer winter specials on tune-ups. Here are things you should consider getting serviced.
So, if you run a tubeless tire system on your bike, here are some questions you need to ask yourself:
- Do your tires hold air reliably, or do they tend to go completely flat a day or so after you inflate them?
- If it’s the latter, then you probably need to add sealant to your tires.
