The dry desert air will dry out and wear out a chair in no time. To make your drive train last longer, ensure that your chain stays lubricated with a good quality Teflon-based or vegetable-base lube. Each week, lube the chain: slowly rotate your cranks and apply a drop of lube to each link of the chain. Rotate the cranks a few times to work the lube in, then with a dry, lint-free cloth like a t-shirt, wipe the excess off the chain.
About once a month, apply a degreaser like Simple Green to the chain with a spray bottle, brush it into the chain and gears with an old tooth brush or cleaning brush and then spray off with water. Let this dry and then lube as above.
When your tires begin to look dry-rotted or worn on the sidewall, replace them. Likewise, if you find a few small cracks (1-2mm) in the tread or one larger crack or tear (>2mm), replace it. A blowout can be dangerous on the road, especially for those riding behind you. Many times, very small thorns on the tire can cause multiple flats, even right after you replace the tube. If you have more than two flats in a week or so and can’t find any reason, replace the tire.
Loose headsets are the cause of many crashes, especially on descents. To test this, hold the front brake only and rock the bike forward and back. If you feel play in the rocking motion or any movement at all, take the bike to a shop (like TriCats sponsors Trisports.com or Bargain Basement Bikes) and have them test for a loose headset—let a bike shop do this since it’s pretty easy to over-tighten it and cause more problems. This is easy to find and fix and will help you avoid a nasty crash.
Lastly, always make sure your wheels are true, your skewers are on tight, and your tires are pumped up. A bent rim will cause rubbing on your brake and slow you down. Skewers should be tight enough they leave a mark on your hand, but not so much that you hurt yourself when you tighten them. A tire will only stay pumped up for a couple of days, so invest in a good pump and ensure your tires are at about 100-110psi before every ride.
