2017 Bicentenary Year of the Cycle

You And Your Bicycle

A Guide to Maintaining your Cycle

Lavanya K
Shamala Kittane

Publishing Collective

Ecologise Hyderabad
www.ecologise.in
https://www.facebook.com/peakoilindia/
https://www.facebook.com/BicentinaryBicycle/

Ride A Cycle Foundation, Bangalore

www.tourofnilgiris.com
Powered by: Ride A Cycle Foundation
http://www.facebook.com/TourofNiligiris
 YOU AND YOUR BICYCLE
A guide to maintaining your cycle

Authors: Lavanya K
Shamala Kittane
Editor: Karnika Palwa
Cover Art Work: Shreyoshi Ghosh
Back Cover Photo: Murali H R

First Print: 2017

Copies: 1000
Price: Rs. 50/-

L Copy Left. All Rights Reversed

Publishing Collective
Ecologise Hyderabad Ride A Cycle Foundation, Bangalore
Mohit Garg Deepak Majipatil
110, Ramanaiah Apartments, No. 16, 4th Main, Chamundeswari Layout,
Road No.2, Jyoti Colony, Doddabommasandra, Vidyaranyapura,
Secunderabad - 500026, Telangana, India Bangalore - 560097, Karnataka, India.
Email: t.vijayendra@gmail.com, Email: deepak.bicycle@gmail.com
Phone: +91 94907 05634 Phone: +91 99001 58768
For Copies
Manchi Pustakam Layout and Printing
12-13-439, St. No. 1, Tarnaka, Charita Impressions
Secunderabad 500017 Azmabad, Hyderabad 500020
Mobile: +91 73822 97430 Phone: 27678411
 Contents
FOREWORD 4 PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE 17
PREFACE 5 Daily / before every ride 17
Weekly maintenance / before a long ride 18
YOU AND YOUR BICYCLE 6 Monthly maintenance 18
Your bicycle 6 Annual maintenance 20
Buying the cycle 6
Bicycle size 6 BREAKDOWN MAINTENANCE - TROUBLESHOOTING 21
Know your cycle 9 Chain slip 21
Loose / misaligned handle 22
SAFETY AND COMFORT 10 Squeaky brakes 22
Seat / saddle position and height 10 Brake cable cut 23
Brakes 11 Brake pad missing 24
Handlebar alignment 12 Flat tyre / punctured tyre 25
Cycle stand 12 Loose saddle 34
Traffic signals and safety 13
Dress code 13 BICYCLE ACCIDENT 35

MAINTENANCE 14 LEARNING MAINTENANCE 36

Caring for your cycle 14
Cleaning your cycle 14 TOOL KIT 37
General 37
Puncture Kit 38
 Foreword
Since this is a book for young readers, the you here means 4. You can combine many hobbies with bicycle riding
bird watching, photography, or even if it is just to travel
anyone above the age of eleven, by which time most children
and meet people.
have learned to ride a bicycle. Of course if you are a dedicated
5. If you travel places in a car, you are a tourist, but on a
bicycle user, by which I mean if you dont have a driving
bicycle, you are a traveller. A tourist, by definition,
license, like the present author, you will probably remain young
primarily visits places and does not necessarily mix with
at heart even at seventy-three, again like the present author.
the local people. What is more, a tourist is expected to
You will also be fit most of your life, although age related
spend on everything, from water to accommodation. A
illness can occur to anyone. I personally regret not cycling
cyclist, on the other hand, is just the opposite. A cyclist
much after the age of sixty or so. Hyderabad was getting very
can even earn her/his stay and food wherever she/he
crowded by cars and I got influenced by the thought that it is
goes by doing little jobs.
not safe to ride a bicycle anymore.
I would like to congratulate Lavanya* and Shamala**, the
I personally recommend all of you to remain a dedicated
authors of this book. They are role models for young women
bicyclist. There are several reasons for this and let us list them.
in the times we live in. They have moved away from
1. You can be riding a bicycle even at the age of seventy
mainstream careers and are following alternative sustainable
and remain relatively fit all your life.
careers.
2. You can explore the beauty of bicycles in all its journeys
T. Vijayendra
- joy rides, long trips, trips on rough terrains and your
Hyderabad
trip to independence.
January 31, 2017
3. Total freedom. You can go anywhere with little money
in your pocket. If you carry a pump and a basic puncture Lavanya* Main author, who has conceived the structure and
kit, you can even go long distances, in fact tour the whole authored majority of the content in the book.
world if you like! Your tour can easily be sponsored and Shamala** Second author, with inputs on some of the technical
aspects on bicycle maintenance.
you will be welcome everywhere.

4
 Preface
2017 is the bicentenary year of the bicycle. The bicycle, closest
to the current design and functionality was invented in 1817
by a prolific German inventor, Baron Karl von Drais, a civil
servant to the then Grand Duke of Baden in Germany. On
his first reported ride from Mannheim to halfway to
Schwetzingen in Germany on June 12, 1817, he covered a
distance of thirteen kilometres (or eight miles) in less than an
hour.
We celebrate the year by promoting the bicycle amongst
children. This book therefore primarily addresses young
readers but is really for anyone who wants to keep fit and ride
long. There is nothing like the joy of riding a well maintained
bicycle. Equally frustrating is the experience of a badly
maintained bicycle.
We would like to thank Sadiq, the bicycle mechanic and
Lavanyas father, Shri Keshavamurthy, who helped us to get
an insight into the day-to-day problems of normal bicycles.
Finally, we would like to thank Viju for encouraging us to
write this book.
Lavanya K
Shamala Kittane
Bengaluru
January 14, 2017

5
 You and Your Bicycle
The bicycle is an extension of you. You are its engine
as well as its passenger.
Your bicycle
To enjoy your bicycle, you should learn to keep it
clean and fit. There is nothing like the joy of a well
maintained bicycle. Equally frustrating is the
experience of a badly maintained bicycle. The chain
guard could be hitting the pedal making an unpleasant
noise, or the brakes might not be working properly.
And all of this could give you a rough ride. But if
well maintained, a bicycle will serve you a lifetime.
Buying the bicycle
Before you buy a bicycle, you should learn to ride
one. For this, you can borrow it from a local rental
place or use your friends bicycle. If nothing works,
buy a second hand bicycle that will cost you around
Rs. 2000/-. Later, try to ride different bicycles of your
friends and take your time to make up your mind on
which bicycle to buy. It depends on your budget. A
basic bicycle costs around Rs. 5000/-, a bicycle with
gears costs around Rs. 8000/- and a high end bicycle
costs around Rs. 15,000/-. There are of course more
expensive kinds of bicycles, but for a beginner, this is
a reasonable price range.
Bicycle size
As a child, you might have started with a small tricycle
with small wheels. As you grow, your bicycle also
needs to grow with you. For a smooth and comfortable
ride, you need to use a bicycle that is the right size
for you. How do you know what is the right size for
you?
Your height together with your inseam (inside leg
length indicated by A in Illustration 1 and 2)
determines the size of your bicycle that is measured
by its frame size (seat tube length indicated by B
in Illustration 1 and 2). For example, if your height is

6
 Illustration 1: Bicycle sizing measurements
(Source: ATLAS Cycles manual]

around 5 feet, a bicycle with a frame size of 18 inches

is the most suitable bicycle for you.
While standing, you should be able to straddle your
bicycle with your feet firmly on the ground, without
hurting yourself or lifting your heels off the ground.

You can use this chart to find the most suitable frame size
for you, based on your inside leg length.
Your height Inseam length A Frame size B
(in feet and inches) (in inches) (in inches)
4' 8' 5' 0' 24' 26' 15' 16'
5' 0' 5' 4' 26' 28' 16' 18'
5' 4' 5' 6' 28' 30' 18' 19'
5' 6' 5' 8' 30' 32' 19' 20'
5' 8' 6' 0' 32' 34' 20' 22'
6' 0' + 34' + 22' +
Illustration 2: Bicycle sizing for you Illustration 3: Bicycle sizing chart

7
Illustration 4: Parts of a bicycle

8
Know your bicycle
You can figure out the names and uses of most of the
parts of your bicycle just by using and observing. See
Illustration 4 for a labelled diagram of a bicycle with
all its important parts.
In addition, you can have a whole lot of accessories
such as a bell, reflectors, back carrier, water bottle
holder, front basket, front and back light, helmet,
saddle bag (for tools, snacks), and so on.
9
Cyclists go travelling across countries on their
bicycle and a bicycle can be designed to carry pretty
much everything you would need for long distance
and long duration travel.
Each tube gets its name from its position and the
main parts around it. The top tube shown in the
picture is of a mens bicycle. In a womens bicycle,
the top tube goes almost parallel to the down tube.
Length of the seat tube determines the frame size of
the bicycle.
Illustration 5: Bicycle frame
(Source: Wikipedia. https://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Bicycle_frame]
 Safety and Comfort
Now that you are familiar with parts of a
bicycle, let us learn how they contribute to a
safe and comfortable ride.

Seat / saddle position and

height
Most bicycles come with an adjustable saddle
that lets you make finer adjustments to suit your
height. When you sit on the saddle, ensure that
your leg is neither straight nor bent too much.
The most comfortable position is when your
knee is slightly bent. You should be able to
apply pressure on the pedal by pressing the
front of your feet (forefoot) and not your entire
foot.
The body of the pedal - the flat portion on
which the foot rests - should be loose enough
to rotate freely on bearings with respect to the
spindle.
Illustration 6: Comfortable saddle height (knee slightly bent)

10
 Illustration 7: Pedal free to move on its spindle

Brakes
The left-hand brake controls the rear wheel and
helps in slowing the bicycle. This is important to
control speed and navigate. The right-hand brake
controls the front wheel and is used for stopping
the bicycle suddenly in case of emergencies.
Brakes have to be tightened just right not too
tight, so that the wheels are free to move, and not
too loose, so that braking is not delayed.
Illustration 8: Brake with brake pad

11
Handlebar alignment
Handlebar has to be aligned perpendicular to the
steerer tube for proper steering of your bicycle. You
might experience difficulties while steering your
bicycle if the handlebar is loose or is not aligned
properly.

Illustration 10: Bicycle stand

Bicycle stand
Most bicycles come with a stand or you can have it
fitted at the time of buying. Ensure that the stand is
fixed properly and doesnt fall from rest (horizontal)
position to parking (slant) position while riding. This
can be especially troublesome and even dangerous if
the stand is fitted in the middle of the bicycle near
the pedal.

Illustration 9: Handlebar aligned to steerer tube

12
Traffic signals and safety O During rains, exercise caution while riding, to
Traffic signals and rules apply to cyclists as well. Some avoid potholes which become hidden as they get
tips are given here. filled with water.
A big advantage while riding in traffic is that you
O Ride on the extreme left of the road for your
can lift your bicycle and cross-over to the other side
own safety. This applies to places that follow the
of the road to take a U-turn. One of the perks of
left-hand drive, like in India.
riding a bicycle is that it is unlikely you will be stuck
O On roads that have traffic lights, stop at the red in traffic jams.
light and ride when the signal is green.
O Use hand signals to indicate turns or when you Dress code
want to stop or start. While riding a bicycle, you can wear any dress that
you are comfortable in saris, salwar kameez, pants,
O Be careful about car doors opening, when you skirts, shorts. However, ensure that any loose clothing
ride near parked cars. like dupatta or sari pallu doesnt get caught in the
O Wear a bicycle helmet to protect yourself from wheel.
accidents and also from tree branches.
O You can optionally wear an anti-pollution mask
while riding in dense traffic.
O If you are taking your little brother or sister along
with you on your bicycle, i.e., if you are riding
doubles, ensure that his or her leg doesnt get
stuck in the wheel.

13
 Maintenance
Caring for your bicycle
When parked, keep your bicycle locked and under
a closed shelter whenever possible. Moisture and dust
combine to cause damage that could cost you
significantly in repair or service.
If you do not plan to use your bicycle for a long
duration, keep it covered with a cloth or sheet. Dust
can damage your bicycle and you definitely do not
want your bicycle to look dirty when you are back to
ride it.
If you happen to ride in the rain - which you must,
and while you enjoy doing so - do wipe the bicycle
dry after the ride.
Illustration 11: Cleaning kit
Cleaning your bicycle
Things you need O Old tooth brush to remove stubborn dirt
O 3 pieces of cloth, one each for dusting, wiping For daily cleaning or a quick clean, use a dry cloth
and final drying (duster, wiper, shiner) to wipe the frame, saddle, handle, wheel rims, spokes,
O Half a bucket of water mud guard, chain guard, carrier and any other
O Tweezers - To remove any fibre from the hub accessories that you may have on your bicycle.
14
 Illustration 12: Cleaning the bicycle with a dry cloth Illustration 13: Removing dirt/fibre from chain using tweezers
For weekly cleaning,
cleaning in addition to dusting all the
parts listed above, remove any dirt or fibre stuck in
the chain, using a pair of tweezers. Never hose your bicycle as water can
For monthly cleaning,
cleaning first wipe all the dust using get into sealed parts and result in
a dry cloth. Use a tooth brush to clean tyres and hard- corroding the moving parts.
to-remove dirt like dried mud around the hubs,
bottom bracket and also the tyres. Now, use a wet
cloth and wipe the entire bicycle. Soak and clean the
wet cloth a few times if the bicycle is very dirty.

15
 Illustration 15: Giving the bicycle a shine

Illustration 14: Cleaning with wet cloth and brush

Now, use a clean dry cloth to wipe the entire

bicycle to give it a shine.

16
 Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance means to take care of your spin the wheel with your hand and apply brakes
bicycle in such a way that a breakdown does not occur to check if the wheel stops. The wheel should
easily. You have to maintain a daily weekly spin freely when the brakes are not applied.
monthly and yearly schedule as follows: 3. Clean the bicycle with a dry cloth to remove dust.
While cleaning the tyres, look for small stones or
Daily / before every ride metal pieces stuck in the threads of the tyre and
Check A-B-C: Air Brakes Clean clear them to minimise chances of puncture.
1. Check for air in the tyres. Press with your thumb
and fingers to feel tyre pressure. If it feels soft
and is easy to press, the tyre needs air. If the
pressure is right, it is hard to press. Use a pump
to fill air. For commuter or city bicycles, 50 to 70
psi (pounds per square inch) is recommended.
You can also get it checked and filled at a bicycle
shop.
2. Check both brakes. When you apply brakes by
pressing the brake levers, they should grab and
the brake pads should touch the rim and not the
tyres. Lift the wheel while the bicycle is stationary, Illustration 16: Checking brakes

17
 Illustration 17: Check for tyre pressure and fill if needed
Weekly maintenance / before a long ride
1. Weekly cleaning Clean the entire bicycle with
a dry cloth. (Refer section on cleaning)
2. Clean the chain and oil it.
Remove dust/dirt/twigs/fibre from the chain. Check
if any part of the bicycle chain is dry and oil if
necessary. You can use any machine oil. Castor oil
can be used during rainy season. Use a lighter (less
viscous oil) during summer and winter.
Do NOT use WD40 oil as it is harsh and
not meant for moving parts of a bicycle.
18
Illustration 18: Oiling the chain
There are also several bicycle specific lubricants
available now. Please check with your nearest bicycle
shop.
Monthly maintenance
1. Do a thorough cleaning of your bicycle using a
dry and a wet cloth. Refer section on cleaning.
2. Tighten nuts. Apply the right amount of torque
(force) while tightening.
3. Do oiling. Moving parts need lubrication for
smooth functioning.
 a. Chain oil the chain as described in the them replaced at the nearest bicycle repair shop
weekly oiling section. or buy one and replace it yourself.
b. Pedal oil the bearings of the pedal (only
during the rainy season).

4. Check brakes. Tighten brakes if loose. Adjust

length of the brake cable and tighten the bolt
that holds the cable.
Check for wear and tear of the brake pads. Get

Illustration 19: Oiling the pedal Illustration 20: Adjusting brake cable

19
5. Check wheel alignment. Overturn the bicycle and
rest it on its saddle and handlebar while servicing
the wheels. Spin the wheels to check for wobbling.
The wheel should spin smoothly in a single plane
for smooth riding and proper braking. If it doesnt,
get the wheel trued (aligned) at a bicycle repair
shop.
The wheel should also be centred between the fork
(for front wheel) and between the two stays seat
stay and chain stay - for the rear wheel.

Annual maintenance
An annual overhauling needs to be done at a repair
shop.
O All bearing systems (hubs, bottom bracket,
pedals) are checked and adjusted or overhauled
if required. Worn out bearing balls are replaced.
O Brake cables are checked and replaced if
Illustration 21: Checking for wheel alignment
necessary.
O Brake pads are checked and replaced if necessary. tightened or replaced as required).
O Wheels are checked for alignment and loose or You can also get your bicycle-pump oiled during
damaged spokes. Wheels are trued (spokes the annual overhaul.

20
Breakdown Maintenance - Troubleshooting
These are some typical problems you may face while
riding your bicycle.

Chain slip
If the chain slips out of the sprocket while riding:

What to do?
1. Get down from your bicycle and move it to the
side of the road or to a safe place.
2. Use a screwdriver or your fingers to guide the
chain back on to the sprocket. Start from below
and work towards your left and then to the top.
Once a part of the chain is placed on the teeth of
the sprocket, slowly rotate the pedal by hand and
allow the chain to sit on the sprocket. If you can
get someone to hold the back wheel up from the
ground while you operate the pedal, it helps.
3. If the same problem repeats often, it is a possibility
that the chain bearings are wearing out and hence
Illustration 22: Putting a slipped chain back

21
 becoming loose. Take your bicycle to a repair
shop to shorten the chain length by removing a
link or replace the chain if the mechanic advises.
Loose / misaligned handle
If the handle is loose and does not align with the
steerer tube, making it difficult to steer:
Illustration 23: Aligning the handle
22
What to do?
1. Align the handle at 90 degrees to the steerer tube
and tighten the nut using a spanner.
Squeaky brakes
If you hear a squeaky sound from the tyres as you
ride and you feel the need to put more effort than
normal:
What to do?
1. Check if the brake pad is touching the rim of the
wheel when you spin the wheel without applying
brakes. If it does, the brake setup needs to be
loosened.
2. When you spin the wheel, check if the wheel
wobbles and if the brake pad touches the rim of
the wheel at some places. If it does, get the wheel
aligned (trued) to a single plane.
 shop safely. If both brakes are cut at the same
time, which is highly unlikely, walk with your
bicycle.
2. Get a spare cable. Remove the old one and insert
the new one by observing how the old one was
placed.

Illustration 24: Brake pad touching the rim

Brake cable cut

If the brake cable gets cut while riding and you are
not able to apply brakes, or, you notice that the brake
cable is cut during routine checks:

What to do?
1. If one of the brakes is not working (left or right),
use the working one to ride home or to a repair Illustration 25: Replacing brake cable

23
Brake pad missing 2. Move the brake pad up or down and place it in
If the brake pad has fallen off and braking has no such a way that it does not touch the tyre, but
effect: touches the rim.
3. Adjust the brake pad along the rim in such a
What to do? way that the braking surface of the brake pad is
1. Buy a spare brake pad along with its nuts and parallel to the rim.
bolts. Fix it to the brake shoe as shown in 4. Now, tighten the nut of the brake pad.
Illustration 27.

Illustration 26: Missing brake pad Illustration 27: Fixing brake pads

24
Flat tyre / punctured tyre 2) Faulty tube valve. A tube valve is a unidirectional
If you feel a sudden drop in tyre pressure in one of valve that allows air to enter the tube under
the wheels or both and the ride is not comfortable pressure and prevents air from escaping out of
anymore: the tube. A valve can go wrong in two ways
1. The small tube around the valve might be torn
What to do? or weak. If so, replace it as shown in Illustration
1) Check if the tyre is flat. If it is, it could be either 29. After inserting the valve into the small tube,
due to sudden release of air from a faulty tube cut off any extra tube. You only need the tube
valve or because of a punctured tube. till the end of the valve, plus a couple of

Illustration 28: Flat tyre Illustration 29: Replacing the tube around the valve

25
 Illustration 30: Cleaning the valve
millimetres more.
2. The valve can have some grime collected in it
such as sand or dust particles. If so, clean the tiny
opening by blowing air into it. If the dirt persists,
use a thin, strong wire.
3) If the tube valve is alright, there can be a puncture
in the tube.
4) Find and fix the puncture by following these steps:
1. Remove the valve and release the tube
from the tyre.
26
Illustration 31: Removing valve and releasing tube
2. Remove the tube from the tyre using tyre
levers.
The tyre levers have a notch at one end
that is used to hold the lever in place, by
latching onto the spokes. This helps you
remove the tyre from the rim easily.
If tyre levers are not available, you can
use a set of two screw drivers.
 Illustration 32: Removing tube from tyre Illustration 33: Fill air into tube

We recommend the use of tyre levers 3. Fix the valve back to the tube and fill air
rather than screw drivers that may using a pump.
damage your rim. Chances are that the
screw driver may tear the tube you are
trying to fix.

27
Illustration 34: Checking tube for air bubbles (picture on right)
4. Fill water in a shallow vessel (like a tub)
and keep the tube under water in parts
and look for bubbles coming out from the
tube. This is the place where the puncture
has occurred.
28
Illustration 35: Marking the puncture
5. Wipe the area around the identified spot
and mark it with a colour pencil or marking
chalk. Continue to check the entire tube
and mark all punctures.
6. Release air from the tube.
7. Remove any foreign particles that may
have caused the puncture like a nail, glass
or stone.
 Illustration 36: Improving the surface by rubbing
8. Roughen the area around the hole by
rubbing a sand paper to provide a better
surface for the rubber solution to grip.
29
Illustration 37: Preparing puncture patch
9. Cut out a small piece of old tube.
Smoothen the edges using a scissor (sharp
edges have a tendency to come out easily)
and roughen the surface using the sand
paper. Apply rubber solution on this piece
and leave it for about half a minute.
 Illustration 38: Apply rubber solution Illustration 39: Closing puncture using tube piece

10. Apply rubber solution on the punctured 11. Stick the prepared piece of old tube on to
area and leave it for about half a minute. the punctured area and leave to dry. You
can also use a ready-to-use bicycle tuck
patch instead of the old piece of tube.

30
Illustration 40: Closing puncture using tuck patch Illustration 41: Press the joint

12. Once dry, press the joint using the back of

a screwdriver or something similar to
ensure there are no air gaps and the patch
is stuck firmly.

31
 Illustration 42: Fill air after fixing puncture
13. Fill air and check again for bubbles. If no
bubbles are seen, the puncture is fixed.
Release air from the tube. Remove valve
and keep aside.
Illustration 43: Check inside of tyre
14. Check the inside of the tyre for any dirt or
sand and remove it.

32
 Illustration 44: Put the tube back into the tyre
15. Put the tube back into the tyre, starting
with the place where the valve fits into the
tyre. Put the tyre back into the rim using
tyre levers.
16. Fix the valve back into the tube.
17. Fill air into the tube for one last time before
you can continue your ride.
33
5) If you do not have a puncture kit with you, take
your bicycle to the nearest repair shop or to your
home.
Do not ride the bicycle with a punctured
tyre as you may further damage the tube.
Walk your bicycle instead.
 Illustration 45: Adjusting a loose saddle Illustration 46: Fixing and tightening the saddle

Loose saddle What to do?

If you feel the saddle is sliding down into the frame 1. Take the saddle out of the frame tube. Clean it
or moves sideways making it highly uncomfortable with a cloth to remove dust or debris.
to ride: 2. Insert the saddle back and tighten after adjusting
its height. Some bicycles have a quick release
mechanism instead of nuts and bolts. If so, tighten
and press down the lever to lock the saddle
securely.

34
 Bicycle Accident
If you happen to meet with an
accident with another bicycle or a
motorized vehicle and the bicycle has
broken down:

What to do?
1. Check if there are any injuries to
you or to the other rider. If you
do, get first aid.
2. Check if your bicycle is in working
condition. Take it home and see
if anything needs a fix.
3. If there are problems like bent
handle, damaged frame,
misaligned wheel, broken spokes,
it is better to take your bicycle to Illustration 47: Sadiqs bicycle repair shop
a bicycle repair shop and get an
overhaul done.

35
 Learning Maintenance
Most of the maintenance is
common sense and you can
learn by observing others and
thinking about it. For learning
it is best to apprentice
yourself with a bicycle shop
for a few days.
Got a gang? You and your
friends could put together a
common tool kit. You can
also organize short learning
trips to the local bicycle shop
to learn.

Illustration 48: Learning at a bicycle repair shop

36
 Tool Kit
You really need a very small kit.

General
These tools will help you fix most of the
common problems of loose or tight parts.

O Oil can with oil (Universal Supreme oil

costs Rs. 7 for a 30 ml packet. The price
can go up to Rs. 12 for 30 ml depending
on quality)

O Spanner -10/11, 10/13 - For brakes,

saddle, handle (Rs. 40 approximately)

O Screw Driver 6 inch shank (Rs. 40

approximately)

Illustration 49: General toolkit

37
Puncture Kit
O Tube removing spanners - tyre
levers (Rs. 40 per pair) or two
screw drivers if spanners are
unavailable
O Sand paper (Rs. 10 per sheet)
O Scissors
O Marking chalk / Colour pencil
for marking
O Rubber solution No. 4 (Rs. 15
for 50 ml)
Illustration 50: Puncture kit
O Puncture patch/tuck patch of a few sizes (tuck
patch for Rs. 2 per piece)
O Valve with its tube (Rs. 5)
Caution: If you use screw drivers to
O Pump handheld pump that you can carry along,
dislodge a tyre from the rim, you might
a big one that can be kept at home (Rs. 250 for
damage the rim and risk cutting the inner
big pump)
tube.

38
 About the authors
Lavanya is trained as an engineer and worked as a software professional before she
started exploring the sustainable way of life. One such experiment was the implementation
of a bicycle share system in Bangalore. She works with children as a special educator
and aspires to be a farmer. She rides a Trek 7.1 commuter bicycle and lives in Bangalore.
She learnt to cycle on a hired bicycle at the age of 10 and got her first bicycle at the
age of 12. It was a second hand BSA SLR bicycle. From then on, she has used a variety
of bicycles ranging from a Hercules MTB bicycle with a front basket to a bright red
Strida folding bicycle that she could take on a bus.

Shamala is a freelancer who is a commuter-biker by choice (and a happy habit). She

worked as a bicycle repair mechanic in one of the well-known bicycle stores in Bangalore.
Shamalas love for cycling and interest in appropriate design and mechanics took her to
Oregon where she learned to design and build a cargo cycle for herself. She rides a
Surly bicycle and lives in Bangalore.
Her first bicycle was a Hero buzz which she upgraded from a single speed to a seven
speed bicycle. Then she rode a Schwinn Mesa for nearly 4 years, moved on to a high
end Cannondale Trail SL3 bicycle for riding trails, and then rode a MTB Merida for
nearly a year and is now the proud owner of a Surly Straggler (single speed convert).

39
 About the book
The bicycle is an extension of you. You are its engine as well as its passenger. To enjoy
your bicycle, you should learn to keep it clean and fit. There is nothing like the joy of a
well maintained cycle. Equally frustrating is the experience of a badly maintained cycle.
This book is intended as a bicycle maintenance guide for children. However, anyone
interested in maintaining his or her bicycle is more than welcome to use it too. The
bicycle used for illustration purposes is a single speed womens bicycle. All the cleaning
and repairs illustrated in the book have been done by two twelve year old girls (childs
play!) with guidance from elders. Children using this guide are encouraged to learn
more by riding and observing.
In this book, you will learn about different kinds of bicycles that fit your budget. You
will also learn how to choose the right sized bicycle based on your height.
Use this book and discover the joy of riding a well maintained bicycle. Learn to
identify and fix everyday problems that you face with your bicycle. Learn about good
maintenance practices that enable your bicycle to last a lifetime.

40