Your Bike Needs a Little End of Season TLC

It happens. The season ends and you're ready for a little break from your bike. Maybe you just finished your big race and you're not ready to see a saddle for a few months or maybe your season didn't go as expected Whatever the case, if you've put in a lot of hours on the bike this season, it's time to give it a little TLC.

Getting your bike ready for storage

Before you store your bike for the winter, make sure you thoroughly clean it. Ideally, you'll remove the wheels so you can thoroughly clean them and clean the complete frame. You'll also want to clean the chain with a chain tool. Make sure you let the bike thoroughly dry and lubricate the chain.

Don't want to wash your own bike? We can do it for you! Just bring it for a $25 bike wash. (And yes we know your seat is covered in pee).

Bike Tune Up

You may be tempted to put off your bike tune-up until spring but with mild winters in Georgia, you may find yourself longing to ride on a random 72-degree day in February and spring is a busy time for bike shops. Go ahead and save yourself the hassle by getting a tune-up now. We offer 3 types of tune-ups

• Basic Tune-up. This is good if you've kept up with your bike service throughout the year and you just want to have everything checked out and adjusted. This service will ensure that your bike is ready to ride when you are! Basic tune is $65
• Full Tune-up. If it's been a while since you've had a tune-up (about 1500 miles on your bike) or you are having some reoccurring issues with your bike, a full-tune up is likely in order. In addition to all of the services with the basic tune-up, we'll adjust and lubricate your cables and thoroughly clean your brakes. Full tune-ups are $135.
• Bike Overhaul. If you've had your bike for 2-3 years and plan to stay on this bike for several more years, it's time to invest in a bike overhaul. We'll take your bike apart, thoroughly inspect and clean all of the parts, and replace cables, housing, and brake pads. Your bike will come back as good as new. This service is $350 and will take 3-5 days to complete.

To compare all of our tune-ups or to schedule a service, visit our Bike Service Page.

Storage

You want to store your bike in a secure area that will protect it from the elements. Bikes do okay in cool, dry spaces like basements or garages just make sure that they will stay dry over the winter. A few storage tips:

• Don't store your tires on a concrete floor. The concrete tends to pull moisture from the rubber and can lead to rot. You can hang your bike by the tires or even just hang the frame and then the tires separately if you're trying to save space
• If you're using a basement or garage, take your electronics off the bike before you store it. Cool air can drain your batteries.
• Make sure your garage or basement is secured. Especially if you live in the city, it's not a bad idea to keep a lock on your bike just to add one more layer of protection (we all accidentally leave the garage door open from time to time).

Ready for a New Bike?

So as you're thinking of tuning and storing your bike, maybe you're wondering if now is actually the time to upgrade. We are still offering our bike trade-in program. Come on in and chat with us about what your bike would be worth and which bike might be right for your goals!