HOW TO CHANGE A CHAIN | PREPARING FOR CYCLING AROUND THE WORLD | Amy Cycling Adventures
Video HOW TO CHANGE A CHAIN | PREPARING FOR CYCLING AROUND THE WORLD with Amy Cycling Adventures
Video HOW TO CHANGE A CHAIN | PREPARING FOR CYCLING AROUND THE WORLD with Amy Cycling Adventures YouTube Channel.
HOW TO CHANGE A CHAIN | PREPARING FOR CYCLING AROUND THE WORLD
Amy Cycling Adventures: Mastering Bike Maintenance Skills for Global Touring
As many cycling enthusiasts know, embarking on a grand adventure often means navigating unfamiliar terrains and challenging obstacles. For Amy, this journey begins with more than just pedalling; it includes mastering essential bike maintenance skills. Her mission? To confidently cycle around the world with her husband, Kyle, next year. With six months to prepare, Amy is learning how to troubleshoot common cycling issues, starting with the crucial skill of fixing a bike chain.
Understanding Bike Chains: The Heart of Your Cycling Journey
Bike chains, often overlooked, play a vital role in a cyclist’s journey. Understanding their functionality and maintenance can mean the difference between a smooth ride and an unexpected breakdown in the middle of nowhere. Amy recently embarked on a hands-on learning session with skilled mechanic Jimmy, diving deep into the nuts and bolts of bike chains.
How Chains Wear and When to Replace Them
A prevalent myth surrounding bike chains is the notion that they ‘stretch’ over time. In reality, it is the tiny bushings within the chain that wear out, causing what many perceive as stretching. As these components degrade, a chain can become less effective, which ultimately affects riding efficiency and safety.
To keep her bike in prime condition, Amy learned to regularly check her chain’s wear using a chain checker. Most chain checkers have two indicators: one for a 50% wear threshold and another for 75%. If the chain exceeds 50% wear, it’s time to consider a replacement. Regular inspections at bike shops every couple of thousand miles can help prolong the life of her cassette, saving costs and ensuring a better performance during her travels.
Preparing for the Unexpected: The Importance of a Spare Chain
Being stranded with a broken chain is every cyclist’s nightmare. Amy’s proactive approach to ensuring she’s prepared for potential mishaps involves carrying a spare chain. Understanding how to fit a spare chain is crucial, especially when exploring remote areas far from bike shops.
During her session with Jimmy, Amy discovered two straightforward methods to replace a broken chain. The first approach is to lay out the old chain next to a new one to measure the length accurately. The second method involves understanding Shimano’s principles: after breaking the chain, she would wrap it around the big chain ring and cassette, ensuring it is the correct size before reassembling it.
Learning the Art of Chain Repair
Learning the mechanics of her bike doesn’t just make Amy a better rider—it empowers her. As she works through the intricacies of chain repair, Amy is equipping herself with the skills needed for freedom on the open road.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing a Chain
In her recent workshop, Amy learned that repairing a chain breaks down into simple steps:
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Identify Breakage: First, she needed to locate the broken link and determine if it was a clean break or if any pieces were missing.
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Gather Tools: With tools like chain pliers and a chain breaker at her disposal, Amy could confidently start the repair process.
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Remove the Damaged Link: Using the chain pliers, she unclipped the chain at the broken link, which requires finding the split link and applying pressure carefully.
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Measure and Cut: After determining the correct length, it was essential to cut the chain accurately. This is where knowledge of Shimano’s sizing principles comes into play—ensuring the chain fits snugly without being too tight or loose.
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Reattach the Chain: Finally, she would reattach the chain by aligning it correctly and using her chain pliers or, in a pinch, stepping on the pedal to clip it back together.
Tips for Mastering Chain Repairs on the Road
As Amy gears up for her global adventure, here are a few pro tips she collected during her training with Jimmy. Taking simple steps can turn challenging situations into manageable tasks.
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Practice Before the Journey: Before hitting the road, Amy intends to simulate various repair scenarios at home. Familiarity with her bike’s mechanics will instil confidence and quick-thinking skills when faced with real problems.
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Know Your Tools: Amy plans to carry lightweight yet essential tools, including a chain checker, a chain breaker, and spare links or chains. Understanding how each tool functions will make her repairs more efficient.
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Safety First: Preparing for potential mishaps also includes knowing her limits and understanding when to seek professional help rather than risking further damage.
Building Confidence for the Journey Ahead
The world is vast, and Amy’s upcoming adventure will take her through varied landscapes, cultures, and climates. Each lesson she learns about bike mechanics builds both her technical skills and her confidence.
Embracing the Learning Curve
The road ahead may be filled with unexpected challenges, but armed with newfound knowledge, Amy reflects on the importance of being prepared. Each moment spent understanding her bike better is an investment in her journey. Her determination to become adept at fixing her bike is a testament to her spirit as a cyclist and a traveller.
Next Steps: Expanding Her Skills
In future episodes of her learning journey, Amy is eager to tackle more complex repairs, such as working on gears and tubeless tyres with Jimmy. The knowledge gained from each session will not only enhance her cycling experience but also provide her with the confidence to support fellow riders on the road.
Conclusion: Cycling, Learning, and Adventure Await
With every ride, every lesson, and every challenge overcome, Amy Cycling Adventures represents not just a journey across the globe, but a testament to the spirit of exploration and resilience. By embracing learning and preparing for the known and unknown alike, Amy is creating a compelling narrative—one pedalling forward into the wild wonders of the world.
As Amy gears up for her trip, she invites fellow cyclists to join her journey through shared experiences, tips, and the joy of cycling. After all, whether traversing new trails or fixing a stubborn chain, the adventure is always better with a community. Tune in for her upcoming episodes as she continues to pedal through the art of cycling mechanics and adventure!
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