Part II: Basic Bike Repairs in Visual Studio .NET

Generator QR Code 2d barcode in Visual Studio .NET Part II: Basic Bike Repairs

When most people think about suspension on bikes, they think of rear and front suspension on mountain bikes What doesn t get a lot of attention is suspension in the seat post (see the figure) If you re looking for a more comfortable ride, you might want to consider this option When you re installing a suspension seat post, read the owner s manual to understand how to preload it for your weight Heavier riders need a stiffer suspension than lighter riders do Suspension posts should be set a little higher than normal because your weight will cause it drop slightly Riding a bicycle with a suspension seat post takes a little getting used to because it s a couple inches higher when you first get on, and then it compresses with your weight to the proper height for riding Take your Allen wrench along when you ride and you can adjust it when needed

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Identifying the different types of chains Dealing with common problems with chains Replacing your chain Caring for your chain

lthough it doesn t garner much attention, the chain is an especially important part of the bike If one of your cables breaks or a derailleur gives out, you can still ride your bike But if the chain snaps or malfunctions, you can t do much except walk your bike home The chain is also important because it comes in contact with other parts of your bike If the chain is dirty or needs to be replaced, it will cause cogs, chainrings, and derailleurs to wear out more quickly To look at a chain, you might think that it doesn t require much care After all, a chain is supposed to be something durable and unbreakable, right Unfortunately, this isn t the case with a bike chain, where any one link can be the weak link In order to ensure that your chain has the long life that the manufacturer intended and doesn t wear out other components prematurely, invest time in cleaning and lubricating the chain on a regular basis In this chapter, we tell you how to clean and lube your chain properly and describe the kind of lubrications available to keep it functioning in peak form We also show you how to replace a chain, which you ll need to do when the chain begins to stretch or wear out

To the untrained eye, most bike chains look the same But pull two bikes off the road and compare the chains and you ll likely find that they have different chains, designed specifically to work with the bikes particular components

For example, a 1/8-inch-wide chain is designed to work with kids single-speed, fixed-gear, and three-speed bikes (basically most bicycles without a rear derailleur) The majority of bikes use a 3/32-inch-wide chain However, knowing the width is not enough You need to purchase a chain that is designed to work with the number of cogs on your bike If you tell someone in your local bike store how many cogs are on your bike, they can help you find the right chain Here are the two major types of chains you re likely to find: SRAM PowerLink type chains: SRAM PowerLink and other similar types of chains resemble the old master-link chains found on single-speed bikes You may remember these from when you were a kid (if you were a kid in the 60s or 70s) Figure 10-1 shows an example of an SRAM PowerLink chain, and Figure 10-2 shows an old-school master-link chain By the way, SRAM is a manufacturer of bike components You can find out more at wwwsramcom Shimano- and Campagnolo-type chains: Most bikes have chains that fall into this category Shimano- and Campagnolo-type chains use a special replacement pin for installation (see Figure 10-3) Shimano and Campagnolo are manufacturers of bike components You can find out more at wwwshimanocom and wwwcampagnolocom Chains with reusable rivets: This type of chain uses reusable rivets, which are partially pressed out of the chain during separation and then pressed back in with a chain tool This saves you from having to keep special replacement pins handy