How to Maintain Your Exercise Bicycle for Long-Term Use
If you have in Invested a exercise bike, then you will probably want it to last as long as possible,right? After all, it’s not just a piece of furniture, it’s your ticket to better fitness, weight loss, and overall health.That said, just like anything that rubs against something else (like your skin or clothes), an exercise bike gets worn and torn from daily use. In other words, it requires some TLC to remain in tip-top shape. The good news? Maintaining your exercise bike is not difficult at all and you can ensure it lasts many years with some effort here or there.
Let’s talk about how to maintain your exercise bike so it stays reliable, smooth, and ready for every workout. Trust me, it’s not as difficult as you might think.
Keep It Clean
This might sound basic, but you’d be surprised how many people overlook cleaning their exercise bikes.Regular cleaning will not only keep your bike looking nice, but also it will prevent dirt, dust or sweat from building up and damaging key parts.
How to Clean Your Exercise Bike:
Wipe down after each use: Use a clean damp cloth to wipe down the handlebars, seat, and frame. This removes sweat and dust that collect over time.
Clean the flywheel: The flywheel is the part at the front of your bike that keeps it moving. You should clean it often, so it runs smoothly. A dry cloth or soft brush will work for this.
Use some mild soap: If your bike is in need of a thorough cleaning, mix some mild soap with warm water. Don't use harsh chemicals, as they can hurt the frame and parts.
Pro tip: Don't forget to clean the belt and pedals. These parts get extra sweaty and dirty could affect a bike’s performance.
Tighten Loose Parts Regularly
As you ride your bike, things not only loosen but will also wear out—especially if your workouts are anything like mine. If you don't check them, either loose bolts or screws may lead to major damage for your bike, or even worse, an accident.
What Needs to Be Tightened:
Bolts and screws: Inspect the bolts that hold your handlebars, seat and pedals. Be sure to tighten them so there’s no wobble when you ride.
Pedals: Sometimes the pedals can get loose, which will upset the bike’s overall balance. Tighten them with a pedal wrench, to avoid accidents.
From my own experience, I could tell you--There's nothing like pedaling, only for the handlebars to start feeling wobbly or the seat suddenly drops down. Tightening everything once a month should be more than enough to keep your bike secure.
Keep It Clean
Be sure to keep your exercise bike clean-if it gets dirty or debris builds up on its moving parts, the bike will most likely start having problems.
How to Clean:
Frame:The bike's frame needs to be wiped and / or washed whenever dirt can be seen on it.
Moving Parts:Clean the chain, pedals and flywheel. It may seem like an effort but any noises, rust shards or shaking can actually increase wear-and-tear on your bike and contribute to a bad ride.
Lubricate Moving Parts
This one's very important! Regular lubrication for moving parts such as the chain, pedals and flywheel will give your bike a much longer life. From time to time, a squeakily, rusty, jerky ride is no fun and can actually speed up wear-and-tear.
How to Lubricate:
Chain:If your bike has a chain, applying bike chain oil will keep that sucker operating smoothly! Be sure to go around and get rid of any excess oil so you don't just build up dirt.
Flywheel:Check the flywheel and make sure that it is being properly lubricated. Why? Well, the flywheel is what generates resistance you use as a rider; so if stiff or difficult to turn–this will change your ride.
Pedals and other joints:If you ever notice that your pedals are starting to squeak–then a bit of grease on those pedal mechanisms should do the trick.
Do be careful lube this all too much–it is about finding the right amount, as a little goes a long way. Over-lubrication can attract dust and bring in even worse things to pile up trouble is all we need.3
Checking the Resistance System
Most modern exercise bikes have a resistance system (either magnetic or friction based) for simulating different pedal difficulty levels. Over time, if not looked after properly, this responsiveness can fall away.
What to do:
Magnetic resistance: Check over the magnetic parts for signs of wear or gunge, and clean them carefully. With any luck the resistance will now remain adjustable.
Friction resistance: If friction-based system (as used in some older bikes) make sure the brakes are in good condition. You may need new ones if they're worn off.
The resistance system is `key' to making effective workout a reality, so it is essential to keep it in tip top condition.
Pay special attention to the belt or driving system
If your exercise bike uses a belt or drive system (most bikes these days do), you must do it need proper maintenance. If a belt is loose or broken or driving system malfunctions, your bike just can't run smoothly. And the ride is sure to be very frustrating too.
How to examine and maintain that:
Belt Tension: If your bike uses a belt, check its tension. It shouldn't be too slack or too tight. If it's loose, you can usually adjust the tension with a wrench.
Replace when necessary: Belts wear out over time, so if you notice any cracks or fraying, it's time to replace them. Don't turn a blind eye! A broken belt can totally disrupt your workout.
Seat and handlebars must be comfortable
When you're thinking about fitness, it's easy to ignore the comfort level of your seat or handlebars. But believe me, comfort plays an important part in how good the quality is of your workout and in the bike's life.
Comfort tips:
Adjust the seat and handlebars: Make sure the seat is set at the right height and angle. You don't want to be too far forward or put too much pressure on your crotch. And the same goes for handlebars--they should be generally rel= blackstr acceptable to your back and shoulders.
Replace the seat: If your seat gets uncomfortable, you can always replace it with a more cushioned one or buy a seat cover for added comfort.
A little time spent making sure your bike is comfortable can save you much frustration when you have to step away from your workout halfway through it.
How to store your bike attentively
Where you store your bike makes a difference. If it's left in a damp or too hot environment, parts of it could be destroyed.say.
Storage strategies that are stealing the show
stow the bike regardless of the weather. You'll just end up with too much rust if it's too damp.
keep it out of direct sunshine: For long periods in hot weather, this has the potential to age things at an unnatural rate.
cap it off: If you are storing the bike in a garage or basement then consider slipping one of those bicycle covers over the entire thing to keep off dirt, dust, and possible slosh. There are also many different types of stairs that you can use to hold bicycles for example these ones which we also sell.
Make Improvement Checks on a Regular Basis
If you wait until something goes wrong to have your bike checked out only, then it's probably too late—as with any other time in life.
Take a few minutes to check your bike, clean it, put some oil on things that are moving around, and tighten up all the fasteners you can reach without breaking anything off or ruining paint. This will save you bigger problems later and add years onto the life of your bike.
Final thoughts
Taking care of your exercise bike takes some work, but is not terribly difficult. By cleaning, oiling, tightening and checking out the various parts of the bicycle from time to time, you can keep it in fine fettle for many more exercise seasons to come. The best part? Follow this simple maintenance routine and your rides will be that much smoother, more effective and safer.
So not treating it as a toyThen, if you don’t have a bicycle stand, install one in the wall for holding an electric vehicle or TV!