Steps for Caring for Your Geared Bicycle During Monsoons

Monsoons bring cool breezes along with a lot of greenery, signaling the time to ride! Riding in a cool shower can be exhilarating; however, monsoons can destroy your geared bike. Frequent use leads to mud, water, and wet seasons, as particularly damaging to bikes. Scheduled maintenance and appropriate use of your bike can be helpful in maintaining your bike and also help extend its useful life.   
Your bike can be a form of enjoyment, so basic maintenance will be equally as helpful to performance, whether you are a novice on your first geared bike or a seasoned rider on an expedition. At Avon Cycles, we understand how essential it is to keep your bike in good condition so that it is safe, performs and is enjoyable to use! Let's take a look at the basic care and maintenance requirements of your geared bikes during the monsoon.

1. Maintain Your Gear Cycle Hygiene  
Gears, chains, and frames can become mud and dirt-coated because of rain and wet ground, which leads to rust, wear, and poor performance. You should wash your bike with clean water after every ride. You will need to wash your bike with clean water, regardless, but if you have ridden in the rain, be especially vigilant about washing it. You should never wash your bike with high-pressure sprays like garden sprayers have or petrol car washes. The rpms of the blast can damage their delicate components, like gear mechanisms and wheel hubs. Clear out debris and mud with a soft sponge or brush. You will do less damage while still properly removing dirt.
Pro Tip: Use a soft cloth to dry your gear bike to completely remove any moisture remaining. 

2. Take Steps to Protect Your Bike  
Your bike’s moving parts, in particular, the chains, derailleurs, and gear mechanisms, are most at risk for rust during the monsoon. Using a wet lubri- cator made for rainy seasons will help minimise damage. Such a lube will help keep smooth gear shifts, resist water, and keep smooth gear shifts. 
Applying the lubricant to the gears and chain will require some care. Also, ensure to wipe off any excess. Excessive oil is ‘covered dirt’ and dirt is as bad as rust.

3. Safeguarding the Brakes
When the road surface becomes slippery, braking performance is diminished and therefore presents a risk when rims and brake pads are wet. Brake pads should be changed when they are worn. Clean the rims after every rainy cycle to remove mud and water.
Ensure that the rotors of the disc brakes fitted on the geared cycles are free of grease and oil. This will help in better stopping and, therefore, safer cycling.
 
4. Tyre Care for Slippery Roads
Your tyres require special attention during the monsoon. Proper tyre inflation, neither too soft nor too hard, should be maintained. Soft and under-inflated tyres might skid, while over-inflated tyres have reduced grip. For enhanced safety, deep tread tyres designed for superior wet grip can be used.
On waterlogged roads, remove and check for glass, stones, and other debris.

5. Maintenance of the Gear System
The shifting mechanism is the most notable feature in a gear bicycle. As mud and dust build up, smooth and swift gear changes become difficult. Such inconvenience leads to pleasurable cycling, and the system is prone to obsolescence in the long run.
Ensure that you have a look at your derailleurs and gear shifters after every wet ride. Clean them gently and apply a small amount of lubricant to ensure they continue to function smoothly. Keeping the gear system well-maintained also adds to the longevity of your geared cycle.

6. Frame Protection  
Cycles are an investment, so protecting the frame is very important. Riding on cycles with wet roads splashes mud and grime on the frame. Over a period, the continual splash of mud and grime on the frame leads to corrosion and damage to the paint. To prevent damage to your gear cycle, protect the frame by applying wax polish or an anti-rust spray. The sprays and polish not only protect the gear cycle but also make it easy to clean after a rinse. For Avon Cycles users, there is more stylish and improved protection, as they offer frames with finishes that are more durable during tough weather seasons.

7. Proper Bicycle Storage  
The most damaging way to treat your gear cycle is by leaving it outside in the open during rainfall. Ensure your cycle is stowed away in a dry and shaded location. In the absence of a garage or a covered parking area, it is advisable to purchase a good-quality waterproof cycle cover. Such a small precaution is very effective in preventing rust and water damage.

8. Regular Inspections  
Conducting systematic checks of your cycle is advisable even when you and your cycle have an established routine of cleaning and lubrication. Pay attention to the condition of the chain, brakes, tyres, and gear system. Strange sounds, stiff shifting of gears, and a decline in general performance are indicators that your cycle needs to be professionally serviced.
Avon Cycles has a wide network of service centres where experts can help you with professional maintenance, ensuring your ride stays in top shape throughout the season.

9. Safety First
Making sure that your gear cycle is kept in a safe and protective position is important, but rider safety is paramount. A helmet should always be worn when riding in slick conditions. Install your reflectors and bright lights; after all, during heavy rains, it is usually pretty dark, so visibility is still vital. Also, consider having a mudguard too; it's a clean way to ride, and you are also keeping your bike from having to deal with all that splashing about.

In the modern world, a bicycle is certainly a worthwhile investment. As geared cycles continue to increase in price, regular maintenance is important if one wants to maintain maximum performance and value for money. Geared cycles maintained properly, apart from lasting longer, ride better regarding safety, efficiency, and ride smoothness.
With a rich heritage of quality and trust, Avon Cycles proudly introduces geared cycles designed to suit the particular demands of Indian roads and weather. For the regular commuter or for the adventurer

Conclusion
Nothing compares to the exhilarating feel of riding in the rain, provided that your gear cycle is fit for it. As long as you commit to maintaining your cycle, regularly cleaning, greasing, and servicing at some base level, your bike will run smoothly season after season, even in the worst monsoon years.
At Avon Cycles, our mission is to ensure riders enjoy each season without a care for their rides, as long as they keep them in good nick. After all, your geared cycle isn't merely a method of transportation; it's an old friend on each outing.
Sharpen your bike, heed these guidelines, and let the rains introduce a fresh tune to your ride!