Originally published on MTBR.com
By Sonya Looney
Some people love to spend hours in the garage tinkering on their own bikes. They like to crank up the tunes, crack a beer, and take their time dialing everything in. I’m not one of those people. I like the accomplishment and sense of self-reliance when I work on my own bike, but I want to get it done as quick possible so I can go ride…Admittedly, my mechanic skills leave a little to be desired, but I’m getting better. Below are five easy tips and tricks I use to make bike maintenance easier and quicker.
Get the right tools and know where to find them
Something I’ve realized is that having the right tools make a world of difference. Also, having my tools organized saves time. I recently got the Topeak Tool Station, a well-organized and complete set of basic tools that have become the backbone of my maintenance program. Getting a basic bike-specific tool kit and creating a designated space for it will save you from having to improvise, and from spending more time looking for your tools than actually using them.
Topeak Prep Station MSRP: $791.99 CAD
Refresh expired sealant
Also on the tire front, I’ve been guilty of letting my sealant go too long because I feared having them come unseated. Stan’s NoTubes’ Tire Sealant Injector along with removable value stems are a good way to get around this fear. If you set up your tires with this system to begin with, all you need to do to refresh your sealant is remove the valve core, squeeze in the sealant and re-inflate with a floor pump.
If you have “Stanimals”—the chunks of hole-sealing material that clumps and tumbles inside your tire—you’re going to need to remove the bead. In most cases, you should be able to get the tire to re-seat without a compressor.
Stan’s Tire Sealant Injector MSRP: $16.99, notubes.com