Between my family, we have several bicycles. Unfortunately, we were storing a large headboard in front of a mountain bike and I completely forgot about it until we just sold the headboard. At this point, do I need to get new tires or should I just try filling the current ones? Should I take it in for a professional "tune up" or are there just a few things I should be looking for?
ok…. check tires, check brakes, oil chain, readjust chain, make sure gears are working, check steering, if you want reflectors, make sure there all facing the right way, check for rust…. after that, just replace the things that need to be, dust it off, water it down, oil the creaky parts, and it should be ready to roll, oh, and after you oil everything, make sure you can pedal backwards as well as forwards, being that some chains will come off if there not on right when pedalling backwards
Adjusting brakes varies depending on the type of brakes. move the pads around, get the cable as tight as possible ect. this may lead into wanting to true up the wheels. I’d advise lubing the cables, and the spoke nipples before adjustment. Also lube the chain. Use a wax lubricant so that you don’t endorse the people dumping oil in the ocean and rivers. Adjust the derailleurs and voila. It may not even need a full tune up. If it has been inside, it may not even need oil, but probably does if it has been sitting 8 years.
Hannah
Try and put air in the tires. If they hold…. cool. If not, you will need new tubes, and if the tires are cracked… look like a dry river bed…. they will need replacement too. After you get the tires up, you can take it for a little ride to see what is working and what is not. You will undoubtedly need to lubricate the chain and mechanicals. OR, you can just take it to the bike shop, and have them do it for you. Tell them to check out the tires, and give the bike a lube ‘n tune. It won’t cost much.
Soccerref
Put air in the tires and try it out.
http://bicycletutor.com/
air in tires
lube the chain a bit
it may be fine
even cracked tires aren;t that serious
tune up usually means adjustments
the adjustments are probably still fine
wle
Sell it on craigslist and buy another bike. 8years is a long time. The chain and drive train are likely shot. The tires and tubes have dried out. The gears are stretched and the breaks are done. If you only ride every 8 years you might not notice but if you plan to start ridding again a serious tune-up goes for about $200 plus parts. I would consider getting a new bike – you have likely grown in 8 years so the bike may not be the great fit it once was. I am not being mean but I wouldn’t take a serious ride on a bike with so many questions.