Kids have known for years that a bike can provide hours and hours of endless fun. It really only has been more recently that adults have gotten on the bicycle bandwagon. Not only can riding a bike give grown-ups a great source of entertainment, it can also prove to be extremely good exercise, and with the amount of adults that could use some serious exercise, riding a bike is certainly a good thing. One of the more recent popular crazes in bike riding is mountain biking.
This form of off road bike is both fun and beneficial; however, if you intend to start mountain biking, then you will need to make sure you follow the maintenance on your mountain bike to ensure your bike works properly and you remain safe. One safety concern with mountain bikes is the maintenance of the gears. If your bike is equipped with Shimano gears keeping up the maintenance will make them last even longer than they normally do.
Shimano gears are world renown for quality and excellence, but like any other area of a good bike they will require a certain amount of upkeep to ensure that they last a long time. There are a few rather simple things you can do to spot trouble with your gears.
Most problems can be spotted with a simple visual inspection and correcting them is a rather simple task as well. Whether it is the XTR or the Dura Ace, check for dirty or old cables. If these cables deteriorate, they can cause lazy shifts. Another thing to watch out for is low cable tension. While the cable may look in good condition, even good cables can lose a certain amount of tension over time and this can cause not only lazy shifts but also it can also result in incomplete shifts as well.
One of the key components of a Shimano gears system that needs to be checked over regularly is the chain and cassette. These parts, if worn, can cause some of the biggest problems when it comes to shifting. The best advice is to check both parts. They will by nature wear over time, but since these two components should be working in harmony, the wear should be even. If it is not, it is best to replace both parts rather than just the one.
Most avid mountain bikers will tell you that true mountain biking can be extremely hard on equipment; however, most mountain bikes are built for such abuse. While having a bike equipped with Shimano gears is indeed a plus on any bike, especially a mountain bike, even these gears can give way if they are not looked after. With a little time and attention paid to the upkeep of the bike itself, you can guarantee that your mountain bike will keep providing you with lots of entertainment and good exercise for years to come.
