It’s recommended to tune up your fixie at least once in a year. This helps ensure that it keeps working at its best and doesn’t encounter any of those typical issues that are common with fixie bikes.
This article will guide you through tuning and cleaning your bike for maximum performance.
A List of Things You’ll Need:
- A bike repair stand
- Lubrication
- Chain oil
- Headset wrenches
- A couple of cone wrenches each of the size 13mm and 15mm
- Dish soap
- Water
- Air pump
- Spoke wrench
- Rag
- Metric open-end wrenches of the size 8mm to 17mm
- Metric allen wrenches of the size 4mm to 8mm
- Tire pressure gauge
The Process of Tuning the Wheels and the Important Parts
- First of all, you need to disconnect the brakes as well as remove both the wheels. This will make the whole process significantly quicker and more efficient.
- Now you will be cleaning the part between the freewheel using the rag with water and soap.
- Next you will be cleaning the rims using a dry wash cloth. However, you would need to use water and soap again for areas that are hard to reach using the cloth or have got too dirty.
- Make sure the hubs are fitted perfectly and are spinning smoothly.
- Deflate your bike’s tires
- Make the necessary adjustments so that the wheels are perfectly aligned with the right spoke tension.
There’s More to It
What we discussed above is the general process that may help avoid many issues and improve the performance of your fixie bike. However, there’s some more work you would have to do as there are some other aspects of your bike that may need some attention as well.
The first thing you would want to do after getting done with the process discussed above is to simply clean your bike using a rag with a small amount of soapy water. It’s recommended to clean the handlebar first, and then move towards the rear derailleur.
Secondly, you need to inspect all the parts of your fixie. If you see any signs of damage, head over to a local bike repair shop immediately and get the damages fixed.
Lubricating your fixie bike is also important, as it makes for a smooth, fun ride. It’s actually fairly easy, and all you need to do is put a few drops of the lubricating oil on the pivot points, cable housing and the shift components. Also, make sure the bike’s brake pads are free of any oil and wipe off any excess oil from other parts. It helps prevent those parts from attracting dirt and debris.
A few other things you may want to do include:
- Adjusting all the parts to make sure they work smoothly
- Tightening all the bolts and other parts that may have got loose over time
- Trimming the worn ridges of your brake pad, and using a sandpaper to cover them