For those of you who brought your bikes from home to campus and haven’t ridden in years, and think riding a bike isn’t much fun or too much work, I’ve got a few bits of advice that will make your ride much faster and more comfortable.
1. Raise your seat! If you can touch the ground comfortably with both feet while seated, that means that your seat is at least 3 inches (or more!) too low. When the seat is at the right height (you’ll notice a slight bend in your knee when you’re on the seat and your foot is on the pedal at the bottom of the stroke) your leg muscles will be able to work much more efficiently and you’ll find it easier to go faster with less effort! More speed for free!
2. Keep your tires inflated! When they’re really soft, it takes a LOT more muscle to get to where you’re going. You’re also much more likely to get flat tires and damage your wheels if you ride over curbs and potholes with under-inflated tires. Every tire has the recommended tire pressure written on the sidewall — it’s simple to read and adhere to. Some tires have a range, like 40- 65 psi; the lower pressure is for better traction while riding off-road or in snow/ icy conditions, the higher pressure is for dry pavement. There are free air stations all over campus with the best one right outside our center, which is available 24/7.
3. Lube your chain! While a squeaky chain might be a great way to warn pedestrians that you’re coming, riding around with a rusty chain makes your whole drivetrain wear out faster and makes it harder to get down the road. Use proper chain lube that bike shops sell and NOT WD-40, 3-in-1 or automotive engine oil. It’ll last a lot longer. You can use the same oil on your sticky bike lock before breaking your key off, too.
Tim Potter, MSU Bikes Service Center manager
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