A bicycle or a motorbike consists of a wide range of bike parts. Some are mandatory, while others do not have much role to play in the running of a bike. However, the additional bike parts do play a role in upgrading the performance of a bike.
With so many elements involved, buying a new bike part or accessory can be bewildering to a novice user. At times this is as confusing as picking a personal computer. But at the same time, it is important to pick the right part or tool, or you will face worse ever performance of your bike. Besides picking the right type, and size of a part of your bike, care of these parts is also important. With proper care and cleaning, you can make the best use of the parts and keep them working for long. At the time when we all know that basic bike spare parts, bike handle grips or a road bike paddles there are some additional tools you will need to keep its performance up to the mark.
Tools to keep bike spare parts clean and in working condition
Surely anyone can learn the basics of bike maintenance. And all of it starts by keeping it clean. Just regular cleaning can extend the life or bike parts like tyres, cassette, or chains for like months. Anyone can do that at home with simple tools. But for a complete overhaul, you will need to do consult experts and take your bike to a good bike shop. But that is once in a blue moon event. What’s more important is to keep a regular check on the cleanness of working and exposed parts of your bike. And to do so easily and effectively, you will need certain specific tools. Some of these are mentioned below.
The brush set
Clean moving parts are the key to optimum performance. Can you imagine how many times your chain comes in contact with the cassette during the two hours or your ride? Now chuck the grit in there and think how it can wear those parts out. Surely a rub with the rag and some WD40/GT85 can get you a lot of muck off these small parts. It will also disperse water but will not deep clean the links where the grit is actually resting. A brush set is specially designing to help you reach all such small places between the brake callipers, into the jockey wheel cages and behind the front mech.
The cleaning products
Cleaning a bike is a form of art. The more you take care of your bike, the better it will ride and last longer. There are different cleaning products available online. Some of these will work fine with the old rags or sponges. Besides, such basic cleaners, you can also find water repellents, degreasers, silicon sprays and much more to keep even the smallest bike part clean. Although you can do a lot with water and a sponge, such cleaning products will surely do a thorough job and at times will also make bike cleaning even quicker.
The Allen key set
A 5mm Allen key is the best companion of any cyclist. But at times you will also need 4- and a 6mm Allen key. While at other instance, there can be a need for 8mm key. Luckily, brands offer economical options with a comprehensive Allen key set that contains all the needed bike keys. The time to time need to make these sets an important part of any cyclist toolbox. It is better to pick a set with plastic handle as it improves leverage by offering better grip. Another helping feature can be the long arms of these keys as they allow more reach. But the short one gives you more torque.
The chain checker
Do you know that the chain stretches with time and use? It happens for a number of reasons and will stretch at different rates depending on the type of riding, the amount of use and the rider. As there are no standards of how the chain will wear with time, there is no exact set of guidelines about when to check or change the chain. So, you have to keep a regular check on this part of your bike. As a general rule of thumb if you can see daylight between the teeth of chainring and the chain, go for a replacement. Its time to buy a new one.
