Dustin and I had planned to go mountain biking with some friends at Little River Park near the Eno River on Sunday afternoon, but our trip was rained out. We also had a bike maintenance demonstration planned before the ride, and this was not rained out because it was indoors. Dustin and I gave this demonstration for some kids that we have been riding with during the past few weeks.
Above: Dustin showing how to change a tire
We used an old Mongoose mountain bike that Dustin and I had completely disassembled a few years ago. We laid the bare frame of the bike along with all of the parts on the table. Dustin and I took turns talking about what each part did, where it fit on the bike, how it could wear or break, and how to fix it if it did break. We’ve done a few of these demonstrations in the past, so we knew what we were doing and had it worked out. After we went through the parts, we talked about differences as far as parts and maintenance between road and mountain bikes, and then showed how to fix a flat tire. Finally, to wrap things up, we went over a short list of parts you should check before you go on a ride.
We talked about a few situations that we have been in where different parts have broken and we needed to make repairs. When we went over quick release tires and tire bearings, we talked about the time when Al had just finished the Tobacco Trail and was going to get lunch when he had a problem with his tire. His bike stopped, but his front tire kept on rolling. The problem was that he had recently changed tires and had incorrectly secured the tire’s quick release. (This was funny to watch, but not for Al)
While this demonstration was short and only went over basic maintenance tips, I think that everyone was able to learn something from it.