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maintenance

Flats happen....

February 23, 2018

Always be ready with an extra bike tube and a patch kit....

That is right...flats happen no matter how well prepared or well you think you are riding. Don't piss off your friends by not having an extra bike tube and a patch kit. Don't depend on your friends to have extra gear for you. We always ride with an extra tube and a patch kit....again....tube and patch kit.

Why do you need both?...good Combo because....

1 -- an extra tube is quicker to change tire...your friends have to wait less...and also depending on weather, you might want to be quick about fixing the flat

2 -- You might get more than one flat...or your patches fail

3 -- A friend might have been stupid and not brought an extra tube or patch kit...so you can help them out

Why do flats happen?

That is a question we could talk in long detail about...but to keep it simple

1. improper tire pressure

2. hitting something hard

3. rolling over something sharp

4. etc

We will have some more posts on how to change tires...types of lingo for tire flats...and which patches are better etc.

Share with us your flat tricks and stories by commenting below and also by using our hashtag #seoulcycle

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New Tire Day!

February 21, 2018

It is new Tire day and who doesn't like a fresh set of rubber for your sweet ride....

Got some new tires for to put on my Trek 520 disc touring bike. My old tires were the stock tires that came with the bike and I put well over 5,000 km on them. And to my surprise, I only got 2 flats...and both of them were because of a screw or a nail. So I have been very lucky in that department.. but tire choice makes a big difference...So how to choose a tire..that is the question.

but tire choice makes a big difference...So how to choose a tire..that is the question.

I was originally riding some 700c...32 width tires, but I bought some Schwalbe Durano Plus (28 width) for a few reasons.

1. They were on sale

2. Schwalbe makes some awesome tires with reflective sidewalls (will look great in night pics)

3. The 28 width will be a bit faster and lighter than the marathon plus and they will still last a very very long time. (but if I was doing a continuous long ass world tour, I would 100% get the marathon plus for sure)

So what does tire width mean....

Well here are a few guidelines to help you along.

The thinner = more speed ( yes...tire tread pattern and weight of tire will also have an impact on speed..but lets keep it simple).

AND

The wider the tire, the more load it can handle and it will be more comfortable.

thinner = faster....wider = more comfort

Hope this short introduction to tire width is helpful and comment below what else you'd like to learn.

ALSO....Share with us....

your new tire day with us by commenting below and also by using #seoulcycle

We can also be found on...

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Spring maintenance with Ewan

March 18, 2017

Spring is here and it's time to dust off your bike and get your stead ready for the paths. Here is a quick reminder by Ewan MacDonald on a few general maintenance points (we love his makeshift bike stand/hanger he's got going on in his veranda!)

- Gently wash your bike and make sure not to use a pressure hose (that will get water in all the wrong places). Use a soft sponge and soap to gently rub your bike clean and rinse again.

- Check you tires for wear and tear. This will show you if there are any possible problem spots. Also check tire pressure and add some air if needed (the psi rating is written on the side of tire; if you over inflate, the tire will pop...proper air pressure is an important thing to keep in mind).

- Check your break pads and clean if needed (if lots of wear, good idea to change them). Adjust them properly on the wheel afterwards to get proper contact for breaking

- Lube your chain (important to lube the middle of the links and not the whole chain). If you lube all of it too much, it will only attract extra dirt and grim. The middle of the links if sufficient and wipe with an old rag the excess lube. Cycle through your gears to make sure everything runs smooth.

- Adjust your gears for smooth shifting action and your basic maintenance is over.

Hope you enjoyed our simple spring maintenance guide and ride safely. It's important to check your bike from time to time to avoid problems and unessary wear/tear.

As the weather gets warmer, the paths will get more crowded. Remember to slow down in certain areas and avoid accidents.