Triathlon Bikes – Owner’s Guide

Before you take your triathlon bikes to the race, there are a few things that you should know about.

Fundamental triathlon bike upkeep

To keep your bike chain lubricated and rust-free, it is a good idea to apply a chain lube.

Beginner triathletes should know that the bike chain should be cleaned when dirty. Six drops of a lubricant should do the trick.

Most bike shops can give you some suggestions on what cleaners and lubricants you should use on your bike.

Brakes rubbing

You need to be aware of your brakes and if they are rubbing on the wheel. A lot of times this happens when triathlon bikes are being transported somewhere.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, you should secure your bike if you are bringing it with you in your vehicle. The best method of transporting it is on a bike rack, but if you don’t have one, put a rubber mat down before laying your bike down.

You should always make sure your brakes are okay before riding, especially if you need to remove the wheels to transport it. You can easily test if there is rubbing by holding one end at a time off of the ground and spinning it.

Saddle bag items

You may think that just carrying around your cell phone in your bag is a good idea. In addition, you should have a minimum of one spare tube, tire levers, some air supply (CO2 cartridge or a bike pump), tube repair kit, a hex wrench set, and a few dollars.

Eye protection

Having appropriate sunglasses and prevent you from not only having issues with the sun, but also flying objects when you are traveling down the road at a fast rate.

If you get something in your eye you can have severe problems on the road, perhaps leading to a bad accident.

Tire pressure

Make sure your tires are pumped to the right pressure. The correct pressure should be indicated on the side of your tire.

If you get a floor pump, it will have a pressure gauge so you can adequately fill your tires before take off. If your tires are not filled properly, you will have more resistance on the road, which leads to a slower ride. It may even cause a flat.

Know how to repair a flat

Experiment with repairing flats before the race. If you need additional help, you can go to your local bike shop, or find a video that shows you how to do it.

Be aware

While riding your triathlon bikes, be aware of the sounds that is making, such as rubbing noises, creaks, pops, etc. This will give you a good idea that there is a problem.

Most problems can be easily fixed, but if you put off the problem is may lead to something breaking.

Continuing proper maintenance on triathlon bikes is essential. When you frequent a bike shop, make sure it is a place you trust.