5 Reasons Why You Should Always Trust Your Bicycle Mechanic

 

A good bicycle mechanic is a cyclist’s best friend. Certain things need to be serviced and looked over by a professional. Not only are they in the know, but they will also better ensure your bicycle safety. Here are five good reasons why you should find a good bike shop and trust your bicycle mechanic:

1. Warranty

Most bikes have a warranty on them, which is excellent for anyone who rides and depends on their bike for their health or transportation. Yet, almost all bikes warranty will be voided if they are not serviced or maintained by a certified mechanic.

2. Hidden Issues

Bikes have issues that aren’t noticeable by looking at the bike or lightly riding the bike, such as a crack in the frame, a cross-threaded bottom bracket, or even a tire that is starting to separate from the bead. A mechanic that specializes in the manufacturer of the bike that you own should be able to spot these and other issues that your bike may have, as well as be able to fix these issues in a way that complies with the manufacturer’s requirements to not void your warranty. Some of the issues that you could have might seem to be more annoying than really a problem, such as a slight shifting misalignment, or a rubbing of the brake, or even a creaking with every pedal stroke, but these issues can be signs of bigger issues that could be detrimental to your bicycle and checkbook, or even your health.

3. Specialized Parts and Specialized tools

There are parts on all bikes that need specialty tools, and usually, the nicer your bike, the more specialty components, and more specialty tools your bike will require to repair successfully. Whether it’s a cassette or bottom bracket tool, chain whip, bearing press, spoke wrench, reaming or facing tool, or even a brake bleeding kit, most bike shops will know which tool to use, have that tool in their possession, and be able to effectively use that tool to successfully fix your bike’s specific issue.

4. Newer and changing technology

Newer bikes have advanced mechanical parts like complex shifting and brake systems. These must need a higher level of experienced skill and practice to ensure correct function. Professional mechanics are always being introduced and trained for the bike systems as they are released.

5. Bike Parts / Equipment have lifespans

Along with a warranty, certain things need to be serviced and looked over by a professional. Even if the bike or parts function like new, beyond a shelf life they may no longer hold up to the abuse cyclists put on them. Brake pads and tires dry rot, grease in shifters will harden. A professional will know when to re-grease an item, can tell when your brake pads need to be replaced etc… before it becomes an issue you experience while riding.

For bike safety tips, cycling laws, and more contact us anytime.

City Cycling: Risky Accident-Prone Bicycle Maneuvers to Avoid

Riding on city streets often isn’t a simple relaxing roll down an empty country road. In fact, city cycling requires a lot of thought and multiple judgment calls per ride to assure that you and your bicycle arrive safely. This has opened up a lot of maneuvers that, while not strictly illegal, are not exactly safe either. If you want to get somewhere safely, here’s what to avoid.

Riding Through the Rain

No one wants to get wet, none more so than cyclists who don’t have the same waterproof shell of a car to protect them. If it starts letting loose, you may be in a hurry to ride home. Riding in the rain is risky enough business, but increasing speed can make it deadly. You are more prone to skidding, can’t stop as quickly, and visibility is lowered. If you have to ride through the rain because there is nowhere to stop, the safest thing to do is to actually reduce your speed, just like vehicles should.

Not Indicating Turns

If you have ever ridden behind a car, you know how utterly irritating it is when they change lanes or turn without their turn signal on. It is just as irritating for a cyclist to do the same, but it is also infinitely more dangerous to you. Turn signals and hand signals were put in place to make traffic more predictable. Unpredictability causes accidents, after all. Even those who don’t know how to share the road with a cyclist are likely to still give you at least a bit of caution if they know what you intend to do.

Sliding By Traffic

The nice thing about riding a bicycle is it is compact and maneuverable. This means you probably don’t think you can get stuck in a traffic jam since you can just slide on by the block of cars. This is dangerous, but not strictly illegal. You can be ticketed for passing on the right, but the real danger is getting doored. This is particularly prevalent in big taxi cities where customers caught in traffic often decide to just hoof it instead. The key here is to either wait with the rest or go very, very slowly to avoid any suddenly opening doors.

It is often these maneuvers that contribute to a lot of cycling accidents, but in some cases, legal action for your damages can still be sought. If you have been in a cycling accident and need representation, contact us today.

How the Coming Bicycle War in New York City Could Effect Bike Laws

When companies like Uber and Lyft shook up the car service market, people outside the industry really didn’t notice. However, a much more noticeable upheaval is about to come to biking in New York City. There are a number of companies getting ready to launch that would allow a bicycle sharing service throughout the city.

This bicycle sharing service would be a lot like the already existing Citi Bikes, but unlike that service, it wouldn’t require a docking station. The app would be able to lock and unlock bikes through the app, effectively making it so you could leave them anywhere.

With no city law that prevents these companies using public space, it seems like a good deal for would-be cyclists to travel cleaner. However, even before these companies launch, there is legislation in motion to try to shut them down. This includes new laws that would not only limit where these bikes could be housed, but hurt cyclists throughout the city. Another potential suggestion in New York Legislature was to give companies like Citi Bike a near $12 million dollar handout so they can expand further into New York City.

However, what these new potential laws and this handout would do is continue to let Citi Bike have a monopoly on the bike-share sector in New York City. This can effectively let them price whatever they want without worry of competition.

If you are a cyclist that believes your rights have been trampled on, contact us today. The Law Office of Gary Brustin is dedicated to fighting for the rights of cyclists.