Tune-up time: Area bicycle shops ‘gear up’ for summer riding season
Before hitting the trails this year, getting a proper tune-up on an old bicycle could mean the difference between a smooth ride or the walk of shame back to the car.
David Poe, who owns Tandem Connection located along the Montour Trail in Cecil Township, said riders should perform their own checks – inspecting the frame, tires and other components – before heading out for the first ride of the season. But it’s usually good to also have a professional inspection and tune-up, which his shop will do by looking at the bike frame, wheels, tires, drivetrain and brakes for a relatively affordable price.
“You don’t want to head out for a ride before having this done,” Poe said. “Being proactive instead of reactive about your bike maintenance will prevent many headaches. We see many people walking their bikes into the shop with issues after being on the trail for the first time. … Walking your bike back to your vehicle for a mile or more is no fun.”
His location directly next to the trailhead parking lot not far from the Southpointe/Henderson exit of Interstate 79 in Washington County means he sees many walk-up customers who tried going out for the first time but quickly turned around with problems. Most tune-ups help with brake or gearing problems, but the work on a functioning bike can also help to improve the ride and save money in the end, he said.
“Many of our customers have told me over the years that after having their bike tuned up it rides like a brand-new bike,” Poe said. “Over the last 13 years we have seen it all. Some upfront care and maintenance with continued check over the summer can go a long way for a successful riding season.”
Bike shops across the region have been slammed in recent weeks as the warmer weather has arrived and more bicyclists have taken to the trails.
Eric Martin, who owns Wilderness Voyageurs in Ohiopyle, said the lack of use during the off-season can be rough on a bicycle, with dry rotted tires and jammed gears being the biggest culprits.
“Over the course of a winter, it’s just sitting there,” Martin said. “Something really overlooked is chain wear. If not addressed, you could damage the whole drive train. An overhaul is well worth the money of keeping your bike in shape.”
Wilderness Voyageurs has two bike rental locations, with the main store across the Youghiogheny River near Falls City Pub and the “bike shack” along the Great Allegheny Passage across the street from the train station visitors center. The bike shack, which is the main mechanical repair location that just opened last week and is available for riders through the end of September, is prepared to fix “acute emergencies” such as flat tires and gearing issues, but workers there can perform more extensive repairs and tune-ups as well.
“We’re set up to handle that person coming off the trail with a flat or (broken) derailers or that acute emergency,” Martin said. “We also have a back of the house set-up for bigger jobs.”
If riders aren’t sure what their bike needs for the season, Trek Bikes on Route 19 in McMurray offers free safety checks and repair estimates without an appointment, store manager Jack Lackner said.
“Customers can roll them in any time a Trek shop is open,” Lackner said of the brand, which has six locations across the Pittsburgh region. “They can do a safety check or get a higher level of service. For us, it’s very easy for us to get a quick look at their bike.”
Lackner suggests annual inspections and tune-ups to ensure all the “safety points” of the bike are properly torqued and secure. But he said riders can do their own simple tasks each year, such as washing their bikes and using bicycle-grade lubricant on the sprocket and gears to keep their rig rolling.
“A clean bike can go a long way, especially in Western Pennsylvania with all the crushed limestone trails we have,” Lackner said.
With so many great trails – such as the Montour and Panhandle in Washington and Allegheny counties, the GAP and Sheepskin in Fayette County and the Greene River Trail in Greene County – there are many options for riders to get back on that bicycle.
“We’re in such close proximity of the Montour and Panhandle, so there are some awesome options for riders,” Lackner said, alluding to his bike shop’s location in Peters Township
Martin agreed, saying residents in this region are fortunate to have such a robust trail system right in their backyard.
“The beauty of the GAP and other trails is they’re free,” Martin said. “But you gotta keep that bike moving.”