Here are some other general tips and things to consider as the season moves along. Some of them are tips to make things easier on you; others are tips to keep your bike running smoothly.
1. FORK AIR PRESSURE. As stated earlier, chances are the fork on your bike is an air fork. If you remember much from physics class, air volume and pressure decrease with cold air. On colder days, you will need to add more air to your fork so it feels the same as on a warmer day. Please remember to only use a bicycle shock pump to adjust the air pressure…NEVER USE AN AIR COMPRESSOR. A good reliable pump for the price is one made by Fox. Fox Shock Pump
2. REMOVING SKIS FOR TRANSPORTATION. If you need to remove the one for both skis for transportation to and from the slopes, make life easier on yourself and put a piece of tape over the ski bolt heads after you mount the skis before you start riding. This will prevent ice and snow from building up in the holes on the bolt heads, which can take a while to get rid of in the parking lot at the end of the day. We recommend either Gaffers Tape or Gorilla Tape. You can store a few extra lengths of tape on one of the tubes of your bike in case it falls off.
3. PRE-SEASON CHECK. Before the snow starts to fly to signal the beginning of the season, it’s a good idea to give your bike a once-over. Check all of the bolts to make sure they are all tight. (When tightening/loosening bolts with nuts, you can help avoid stripping the bolt head by using the hex wrench to hold the bolt stationary and loosening/tightening the nut.) Aside from the bolts, here are a few of the bigger things to check:
A. If you can, remove the skis and ski adapters to check the brass bushings that the big bolts go through. If one or both are not intact, contact us for replacement bushings. You can watch the video on how to remove and lubricate the adapters/bolts/bushings/knuckle rubber pads at the bottom of this page; it’s called “Lenz Sport skibike adapter maintenance”.
B. Remove your shock from the swingarm by removing the lower shock bolt and see that the swing arm (the back part of the bike that attaches just behind the foot pegs) still moves freely. If it feels stiff or sticky your bearings may be seized and need to be replaced.
C. Remove your handlebar and fork so you can check the bearings in the headset. There is a big one on the bottom and a small one on the top. If they feel gritty or sticky, they might need to be replaced.
4. GET YOUR SUSPENSION SERVICED. To keep your fork and shock operating optimally, you should get them serviced at the service intervals suggested by the manufacturer. For example, Fox recommends every 100 hours of riding; Rock Shox recommends every 50 hours. Spending $250 every so often to have your suspension serviced is cheaper than buying a new one.
If you notice that the fork is not holding air or there is oil on the upper legs (stanchions), the shock is leaking oil, or they are making noise that they didn’t used to make, you should cease riding immediately and get them serviced. Unless you are a skilled mechanic who has the proper tools and like making messes, we suggest having an authorized service center perform the service. If you need help finding a place to send your fork and/or shock, let us know.
5. CHECK YOUR BOLTS. We cannot emphasize this enough. It is a good idea to check all of the bolts on your bike at least a few times throughout the season. The more you ride, the more often you should check them. The bolts on the handlebar stem and head set, ski adapters and skis (if you don’t remove them for transportation) are the most common ones that can come loose. As with anything, 5 minutes of preventative maintenance could prevent a day ending in disaster.
6. KEEP YOUR SKIS TUNED AND WAXED. If you have ever owned skis or a snowboard, you know how important it is to keep them properly tuned and waxed. Not only do tuned and waxed skis perform better but in some cases they last longer. If your edges are full of rust, knicks and burrs it may be hard to maintain a solid edge in less-than-ideal conditions (i.e. ice), which could cause you to fall or crash. Skis that are not waxed can feel slow and sluggish, and may be more prone to cracking/weathering. Please see the SkiBike FAQ page for info about tuning and waxing questions.
7. PROTECT YOUR SWINGARM FROM THE CHAIR LIFT. The top of your swingarm will take a beating from loading the chair lift. You can protect it and keep it from getting beat up by applying a piece of protective tape. We are a fan of ISC 2″ helicopter tape because of its thickness and the perfect width.