| If you are the proud owner of a bicycle, chances are | | | | fixed point on the bicycle (such as around the smallest |
| that there will be problems that occasionally arise. For | | | | rear sprocket). A great way to keep your bike chain in |
| example, how many times have you purchased a | | | | good, working order is to lubricate it well every so |
| bicycle, rode it around and then suddenly, without any | | | | often. Oiling your bike chain will prevent the chain from |
| warning, had the chain fall off? It happens all the time | | | | rusting. The last thing you want is a rusted bike chain |
| and is incredibly annoying, especially if you're in the | | | | because rusted bike chains are more apt to break or |
| middle of a busy intersection and are trying to cross | | | | be defective while you are riding it. |
| the street. There are several different types of bikes. | | | | If you want to preserve the life of your bicycle, make |
| One-speed bikes and Three Speed bikes use 1/8 inch | | | | sure that you try to keep the bicycle indoors. If you live |
| wide chains that use master links. There is one master | | | | in a house, store your bike in the garage or in an |
| link for each bike chain and they snap on and off | | | | external shed where your bike can be sheltered from |
| easily. There are also two-piece master links, which | | | | the elements such as rain, snow, etc. If you leave your |
| can be opened by loosening the chain and then gently | | | | bike out in the rain, the rain will eventually cause the |
| bending the link toward the outside so that the outer | | | | metal parts of the bike (i.e. chain, other parts) to rust |
| plat of the link is free to be lifted off. If you are not | | | | and disintegrate faster. If you absolutely must store |
| sure about the condition of the bike chain, DO NOT | | | | your bicycle outside, then make sure that you |
| RIDE THE BIKE! You are not only putting yourself in | | | | purchase a bike cover or that you can store your |
| danger, but you are also putting other motorists at risk | | | | bicycle underneath some sort of overhead awning that |
| who need to navigate around you at the last minute | | | | shields it from the rain. For college students who |
| should something bad happen. | | | | sometimes don't really have a choice; if your dorm |
| When you own a bicycle, it is always a good idea to | | | | allows it, many college students will actually bring their |
| check your bike(s) ever week or so for chain defects. | | | | bicycles up and store them in their dorm rooms by |
| Do this by getting on your bike and pedaling slowly and | | | | hanging them on the wall or simply parking them in the |
| smoothly. You don't even have to get on the bike if | | | | room. Doing this is two-fold. First of all, it protects your |
| you don't want to. You can simply prop the bike up | | | | bike from the rain; and secondly, it is a great method of |
| and pedal the bike backwards in a slow, smooth | | | | preventing your bicycle from being stolen. |
| manner while looking at the chain links as they pass a | | | | |