Look after your bike

Learn to keep your bike in good condition and to get yourself safely home if you have a breakdown when out and about.

Sustaining Dunbar runs free classes for small groups which are friendly and informal.

Contact morag@sustainingdunbar.org for times.

 

 

Basic course (2 x 2hr sessions)

• How to do a basic bike safety check
• First aid for bikes e.g. adjusting gears, brakes, tightening bolts, tyre check and pumping up your tyres
• How to remove and refit the wheels, tyre and inner tube, so you can fix a puncture
• puncture repair
• Stop the brake blocks rubbing when they’re off and squealing when they’re on
• Adjust the gears so they accurately index (i.e. move the chain onto the next cog with each click of the lever)
• Recommendations for routine bicycle servicing e.g. cleaning and lubricating your bike

The following will be demonstrated and time permitting will be practised:

• Truing a buckled wheel
• Aligning squint handlebars, so they’re at right angles to the front wheel
• What to do if you suffer a broken brake or gear cable
• Freeing a stiff chain link
• Rejoining a broken chain
• Tightening loose cranks and pedals
• How to ‘boot’ a blown tyre sidewall

Advanced Course (extra 3hr session)

• Wheel truing – essential for better braking
• Adjusting bearings for maximum life and smooth running
• Fitting new cables – brake and gear
• Bottom bracket and headset adjustment

The Bike Station and Cycling Scotland has links to manuals and videos which on how to do this sort of stuff, but watching someone else do it and having a go yourself is the best way of learning; come and join us.

No time to do it yourself?

Take your bike to Belhaven Bikes at Rigg Service Station, Dunbar for a free bike safety check and get back on the road.