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How to Care for Your New Bicycle

Congratulations on purchasing your new bicycle! To ensure every ride is as good as the first, you can familiarize yourself with some basic care routines. Keep this list around as a reference point and simple checklist of things you can do at home to take care of it. If you ever have questions or aren’t comfortable making adjustments outlined here, bring your bike to Walt’s Cycle for help.

RECOMMENDED TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT:

  • Bike pump with a gauge
  • Clean rags
  • Bike cleaner
  • Bike polish
  • Chain lube
  • Multi-tool

PUMPING YOUR TIRES

  • For the best ride, ensure your tires are properly inflated. You can find the recommended tire pressure on the sidewall of the tire.

CLEANING YOUR BIKE

  • NO POWER WASHERS. Water is safe, but pressure washers, even your thumb over a water hose, can get water in places it shouldn’t be.
  • If your bike has disc brakes, never spray anything on them. If you accidentally get polish or something else on the brake rotor, you can clean it with rubbing alcohol and a clean rag or paper towel.
  • For smaller spots, use bike cleaner and polish once a month.
  • To get a deeper clean, dilute mild soap (like Dawn) in water, use a sponge to clean, then rinse and dry.
  • Keep water away from the chain. If it does get wet, dry it, then drip chain lube on it. Ride the bike for a few minutes to allow the chain lube to work its way into the chain, then wipe it with a rag to get excess oil off.

SADDLE ADJUSTMENTS

  • Set your saddle just below hip height, then make minor adjustments as needed to match your preference.

STORAGE

  • Keep your bike in a cool, dry space (preferably indoors) away from any extreme temperature and humidity levels. 
  • If you have an e-bike with a removeable battery and are unable to store it indoors, remove the battery and bring it inside. For more information, refer to your owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s website.

CONTINUED CARE

  • Some adjustments are meant to be made by your local bike shop. Bring it back to Walt’s Cycle at least once a year for a tune up.

E-BIKES

  • E-bike software requires regular updates that can only be done by an authorized dealer.
  • Bring your e-bike back to Walt’s Cycle to check for software updates.