The cold winter months are coming to an end and warm spring days are on the horizon. With the weather turning warmer, it’s a great time to get out and ride either with a Rinasclta gravel bike frame bike or a mountain bike frame bike. If you have spent a lot of the winter staying at home out of the cold and are no longer familiar with the feeling of riding outdoors.With the feeling of riding outdoors, then this post will give you advice on how to get back into Preparation and Precautions for Riding Out.
Bike riding Tips for Spring
Tip One: bike inspection.
After a winter of inactivity, the state of your Rinasclta bike needs to be re-checked before you can safely hit the road. Remember one thing: safety first, while these quick checks can make your ride more enjoyable.
1. Tighten all points
Check the quick release lever to ensure that the wheels are properly secured; twist and push down on the handlebar seat to ensure that it does not move in any direction; twist and push down on the handlebar to ensure that the handlebar and stem are properly tightened.
2. Check the bearings at all points
Wheels: Pick up the bike and spin each wheel. Normally the wheels should spin freely and not make a grinding noise. If the wheel rubs the brake pads in one place, or stops spinning prematurely, check the spokes to make sure they are not bent or broken, and even if there are no of these problems, you should seek a mechanic to re-adjust the wheel.
Head tube: Squeeze the front brake and push the bike back and forth. The bearings should not fork the steerer tube wobble in the head tube. Pick up the front end and turn the handlebar left and right, it should feel smooth to the touch.
Center Axle: Turn the crank left and right. The center shaft bearing should allow the crank to spin smoothly without a grainy, clogged feel.
3. Adjusting the brakes
When you squeeze the brake lever, the brake handlebars should still have 1/2 to 3/4 of the active clearance to get close to the handlebars, otherwise they need to be adjusted. Look at the brake pads and see if they have worn beyond the indicator slots. If these are missing, or if you see any internal metal locations showing, they need to be replaced.
4. Pumping
This is the most obvious point. After a winter of inactivity, the tires are bound to go flat. This can be done by pumping up the tyres to the pressure level required on the outside. Restore them to their former glory.
The above steps will leave your bike looking great and riding smoothly and quietly. You have ensured that your bike is safe to ride.
Tip Two: Clean and lubricate your bike
You don’t have to take the bike completely apart to clean it, but it is recommended that you remove the wheels to clean it of a lot of dirt, using warm water and a cleaning solution containing a degreaser. Once cleaned, wipe it off with a dry rag to avoid any liquids drying and leaving water lines or causing rust.
Afterwards, add grease to the chain, derailleurs, brake levers, center axle and all other moving parts. As well as not forgetting that your seat tube may not have been moved for a long time and the previous carbon stopper or other grease has dried up and needs to be added again to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Tip Three: Wear the right clothes
The changing temperatures of spring require a few different sets of clothing compared to other seasons, while the key to staying mild and dry is to wear breathable fabrics. In spring you can use polyethylene cotton or modern merino wool (not cotton) for a base lining. Then add a jacket as needed.
For example, at 5-10°C, extra wool socks and winter-style shoe covers are needed, while by 10-15°C, perhaps a combination of cycling shorts + leggings is appropriate. And when you get to 16°C and above, it seems that you can get rid of the wool socks.
This is of course just a suggestion and you may find these suggestions too warm or too cold for you. The best way to find out what works for you is to jot down some notes after your ride about the temperature, how you feel and what you’re wearing. Then you can dress for next autumn and spring in a way that suits you.
Another thing to note: don’t take off or take off clothes between rides, just reduce your clothes slightly when your body feels warm.
Tip Four: Pay attention to the time of day
In spring, the temperature in the morning is generally very low, the fog is relatively large, and there are more impurities in the air, which is not suitable for us to ride. If it is raining, foggy or sandy, try to stop riding to avoid getting cold or suffering from respiratory diseases.
Tip Five: Avoid the wind
Spring is a time of sandy winds and dry weather, so it is not easy to wear too many exposed limbs when riding to prevent joint pain and skin cracking caused by spring winds. At the same time, you should learn how to breathe through the nose and mouth, and try to wear a mask that can block sand or dust when riding into the wind to avoid choking on the wind and dust that can trigger respiratory diseases such as rhinitis.
Tip Six: Pay attention to sun protection
The skin is the largest organ of the human body, so it must be protected, it does not matter if you get a tan, the key is not to get sunburned. Although the sun is not very strong in spring, it is important to apply a waterproof and sweatproof sunscreen on exposed skin.
Tip Seven: Hydrate and recharge
Hydration is a must, no matter how cold the temperature is. Outdoor riding is an endurance sport and requires a lot of hydration due to the amount of sweating. Therefore, it is important to bring enough water for long-distance rides.
Also, long rides can easily deplete a rider’s energy, and in this state, a person’s appetite can deteriorate. You may not want to eat, so you will need to bring food to relieve the symptoms.
Lastly, please wear a good mask when you go out, try to walk slowly, obey the traffic rules and consider safety as your first choice!
