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Looking to dust off your bicycle and tune it up for riding? With rising prices predicted soon from global tariffs, you might want to save a few bucks and get started now.
You probably don’t think about politics, international trade or imported goods while you’re riding your bike, but in a way, they ride with you. Even if your bicycle wasn’t manufactured in China, it’s likely that some components are.
Even for those who prefer riding to wrenching, fixing your bicycle is not that difficult, bike mechanics say.
Assuming you don’t have serious mechanical problems a bike shop should handle, a few simple tools and some care will have you on two wheels in no time.
But be aware: Because of recently imposed global tariffs, you may pay more for replacement bicycle parts such as chains, derailleurs, brake cables and pads, and tires and tubes.
Your bicycle parts may cost you more
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For bike retailers, “uncertainty is the word of the year,” says Stephen Frothingham, editor-in-chief for Bicycle Retailer & Industry News. USA TODAY caught up with him at a bicycle industry gathering in Tucson in March.
“I was with some people who make bike tools,” Frothingham says. “One of them said, ‘We just don’t know what to do. We don’t know what step to take next or whether we should shift our production.'”
The COVID-19 pandemic is a distant memory and bicycle parts are much easier to find, though they may soon cost more. To avoid tariffs, some bicycle manufacturers are moving from China to other nations in Southeast Asia, Frothingham says.
“There are still a lot of parts, accessories, tools, little things like that, that are still coming out of China,” he says. That includes “soft gear like helmets, bags and shoes. Some of those products could have tariffs of 45% or 55%.”
How much will bike parts rise in price?
“It’s hard to say because you have to do the math,” Frothingham says. A 25% tariff does not mean an item will cost 25% more.
“A rule of thumb I’ve heard people in the industry use is that $1 increase of import cost equals a $3 increase in retail, on the showroom floor,” he says.
“Let’s say a chain is normally $10 at import value. You put a 25% tariff on it. Now its value is $12.50 and it gets passed to a distributor, who takes a margin. Then it goes to a retailer, who takes a margin.”
Using that 3:1 rule of thumb, the price of the chain would rise from $10 to $17.50, Frothingham says.
Will shop labor costs increase, too?
Tariffs won’t have much effect on labor costs if you decide to ask a bike shop to work on your bicycle, Frothingham says.
“But if you bring a bike in for a spring tune-up, they might replace brake pads, chain and a few other little things like that,” he says.
“And I can almost guarantee that the replacements are imported, and a good chunk of them are imported from China, which has got the biggest tariffs.”
Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a new bicycle, you can probably find one at a nearby dealer. And if you have a bike you want to repair or maintain yourself, you can do it!
1: Safety first
“Safety is your first consideration,” says Matthew Bracken of Pedros, a manufacturer of bicycle tools and cleaning products. He’s also a bike mechanic and frame builder himself. “When I’m working on a bike, I have a responsibility to make it work safely. If I can’t, it’ll go to a shop.”
Be aware that much of the work you’ll have to do depends on the bike’s condition, when you stored it and where.
Humidity and water leaks can accelerate rust. Dust can gum up chains. And “if the stem was loose when you put it away, it’ll still be loose now,” says Calvin Jones, director of education at Park Tool, a manufacturer of bicycle tools.
Give the entire bike a good going-over before you get on. Wheels, forks, handlebars, seat and pedals should be secure. Loose components can cause you to fall.
Bicycles are simple machines, Jones says, “but they can also hurt you.” So you have some work to do before you pedal away.
2: Give it a wash
If you haven’t used the bike in a while, wash off the dust by giving it a thorough but gentle rinse. Never use water under high pressure; it can wash out bearing grease in pedals and hubs.
- Fill a bucket with warm water and biodegradable detergent. Some bike mechanics use a dish soap such as Dawn for its ability to cut grease on chains and chainrings.
- Use lots of suds and a soft bristle brush to clean the frame, handlebars, wheels and saddle.
- Use an old sponge and toothbrush on the chain, chain rings and derailleurs.
- Thoroughly (and gently) rinse off the bike with water and dry it with old towels or T-shirts. When the chain is clean and dry, it’s a good idea to oil it with a bike-specific lubricant.
3: Examine the tires
- First, check for worn tread or sidewall cracks and replace tires that have them. Make sure the tires are properly and uniformly seated in the wheel rim.
- Get a trustworthy air gauge and make sure your tires are properly inflated. The tire should have a recommended PSI range (pounds per square inch) on its sidewall. Lower pressure gives a more comfortable ride, while higher pressure provides less rolling resistance. Some manufacturers recommend higher pressure for heavier riders.
- Though tire pressure is a matter of personal preference, it’s essential to stay within the PSI range. Don’t over- or under-inflate your tires.
- Hand pumps are best for bicycle tire inflation. You can use gas station air pumps, but many tend to put out air fast, which increases the risk of blowing out the tire. And gas station pumps can be used only on Schrader valves, like the ones on your car tires. They won’t work on Presta valves, which are found on higher-priced road and mountain bikes.
4: Spin the wheels
- Make sure the wheels are secured to the frame. Hold one end of the bike off the ground and spin the wheel. Look for side-to-side wobbles – does the rim move smoothly, or does it twitch over and bump a brake pad in spots?
- Check the shape of the rim. Is it round or slightly egg-shaped? Are the spokes evenly tight?
- Rims that are out of alignment can be fixed by carefully adjusting spokes, but that requires time, a spoke wrench and patience. Rims that are severely out of true may need a professional fix or replacement.
- Check that wheel hubs spin smoothly without sideway movement.
This Park Tools video can help.
5: Test the brakes
- Squeeze the brake levers. They should apply the brakes without the levers touching the handlebars. The brake pads should clamp firmly to the wheel rims (or to the rotors, if you have disc brakes).
- The pads should be clean and correctly positioned at point of full contact. Worn pads should be replaced; pad surfaces that are glazed can be scuffed with sandpaper.
- Brake rotors should be straight and free of rust. Disc brakes with hydraulic systems should be checked for leaks.
6: Shift the derailleurs
With the rear wheel off the ground, spin the pedals and shift through the gears. The derailleurs should move the chain easily between sprockets – the front between the chain rings and the rear across the gear cluster or cassette.
Everything else
Depending on how long the bike has been sitting, you’ll want to eyeball everything, looking for:
- Cracks in the frame.
- Loose pedals, seat post or headset.
- Fraying brake or derailleur cables.
- Loose bolts, nuts or other fasteners.
You may need assistance or special tools if you find problems here.
Of course, if you’re uncomfortable with working on your own bicycle, it’s best to bring it to your local bike shop, but call ahead before you go. You may have to schedule an appointment.
Bicycles are relatively uncomplicated, however, and some folks find great satisfaction in maintaining them. You may find that true for yourself.
Though shops offer tools and cleaning products that make work easier, you can ease into bicycle maintenance yourself with items you already have.
Try how-to videos and books if you get stuck
When working on a bicycle after a long hiatus, you may be surprised to discover what you don’t know. “You’ll learn you’ve forgotten some things,” Jones says. “You should expect to have to do some research.”
How-to books are useful, along with knowledgeable friends you can consult. Explanatory YouTube videos can be invaluable.
Whichever method you use, Jones says, “learn to enjoy the learning process again.”
And remember …
Once you start bicycling again, whether for exercise or commuting to work, it’s essential to ride sensibly and wear a helmet.
ILLUSTRATIONSKarl Gelles and Janet Loehrke
SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; bicycleretailer.com; Park Tools; Bicycling magazine; Trek Bicycles; Pedros; REI; BikeRadar; flatbike.com; Global Mountain Bike Network; bicycle-guider.com
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