Bike Repair Indianapolis

Under inflation is a common cause of bicycle flats. And along with flat tires, expensive rim damage may result.  Bicycle tubes, especially with narrow, lightweight wheels, may easily drop 10 to 20 lb. of tire pressure in just a week.  For this reason, a floor pump is good way to protect your bicycle investment.  

There a few basic features to look for in pump.  A built-in pressure gauge allows you to add air and check pressure in one step.  A dual head will handle either automotive (Schraeder) style valves, or the narrower Presta valves found on lightweight wheel.  A long hose will allow you reach the valve in any position.  You also want a stable base and comfortable handle.  Some pumps will also include inflator pins for spot balls and other inflatable items like beach and pool toys.

Bicycle Garage Indy stocks may floor pumps.  The Bontrager Charger is very good pump with all the basic features you need.  If you have both road and off-road/comfort bikes at home, the Cannondale Airport Maximum Floor Pump is able to  switch between hi-pressure road tires and large-volume, low pressure,  off road tires.  Blackburn and Giant pumps are also available.

They are just a few of the bike tools Indianapolis you will find at Bicycle Garage Indy North in the Clearwater area, or Bicycle Garage Indy South, in Greenwood,  just minutes west of I-65 on County Line Road.

On November 14, Sgt. Joshua Shaughnessy was injured and his bike was totaled when he was on-duty riding in downtown Indianapolis. While his injuries were not serious, the bike was damaged beyond repair. When Bicycle Garage Indy/BGI Fitness learned of Sgt. Shaughnessy’s accident, first there was a sigh of relief that the officer was not seriously injured. Then, once it was determined the bicycle was damaged beyond repair, BGI President and Founder Randy Clark opted to donate a replacement bike for the officer to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD). The new bicycle, a Trek 2010 Police Bike, was presented to Sgt. Shaughnessy on Tuesday, December 22, 2009. (Photo L-R: Joey Antico, BGI Fitness Commercial Division, Sgt. Joshua Shaughnessy, Sgt. Robert Hipple).

“It is my vision that Indianapolis become as bike-friendly as possible and that includes having active bicycle patrolmen with quality equipment. BGI has been involved with outfitting bicycle police and security officers for many years. We wanted to take this opportunity to give back to the community and to those who serve us day in and day out, keeping the city safer. It is truly our pleasure to support our local police force and we all very happy that the accident didn't result in any major injuries to those involved.”  Randy Clark, founder and president of Bicycle Garage Indy / BGI Fitness.

“I’d like to thank BGI for making such a significant contribution to community policing in Indianapolis. This patrol bike will enable officers to more effectively deter crime through proactive crime fighting initiatives. On behalf of IMPD, we are very grateful to BGI for their donation and positive role in the community,” Sgt. Joshua Shaughnessey.

In addition to the police bicycle donated from Bicycle Garage Indy/BGI Fitness, there were four mountain bikes (Giant Yukons) and helmets (Trek Vapor) presented by CIBA Foundation board member Irwin Prince. The bikes and helmets were provided to the IMPD by a $2500 grant from CIBA Foundation. CIBA Foundation has given more than $220,000 in grants supporting all forms of bicycling. Through its grant program, the foundation strives to provide resources to partner organizations that support its goal of promoting the benefits of cycling to the community.

Sgt. Robert Hipple, IMPD Bicycle Liaison, states “The four bicycles will allow IMPD Downtown District Officers to continue policing by bicycle while in a plainclothes capacity. The IMPD Bicycle officers appreciate the tremendous support from the CIBA Foundation and the Indiana cycling community.”

(Photo L-R: Irwin Prince, CIBA Foundation, Sgt. Joshua Shaugnessy, Sgt. Robert Hipple.)


Connie Szabo Schmucker
Advocacy Director
Bicycle Garage Indy / BGI Fitness
Indianapolis & Greenwood, IN
cschmucker@bgindy.com

The quiet of a bicycle is part of the attraction.  Once away from the urban din of Indianapolis, we only expect the sounds of tires on pavement or trail, the mechanical buzz-purr of the chain, and our own exertion.   But sometime there will be another noise, a tick, or click or rub.  It may be continuous, only occur in certain gears, or have an infrequent mystery source.  

• Tire bulges (Both failing tires, and tires not seated correctly)
• Stones stuck in brake pads
• Rusted chain links
• Sand and tar on tires contacting the frame.  (Don't laugh, a couple riding in Australia totaled a tandem frame with this one!)
• Out of true wheels hitting the frame
• Jackets and packs rubbing on the rear wheel through a rack
• Loose or broken spokes
• Small pieces of metal  inside bicycle rims and frames
• Loose bottle cages and racks
• Springs in frame pumps
• Slipped front derailleur
• Those extra, unused, mounting bolts in some cycling shoes

• Air (Check tire for pressure, and check for tire damage from your last ride)
• Brakes (Levers don't touch the handlebar, pads adjusted to clear the rim)
• Chain  (Lubed, with no visible rust)
• Quick Releases (Wheel mounted in frame correctly, and quick releases correctly set)
• Check (Make sure accessories bolted to your bike are snug) 

Every 3-4 years I have to tackle one of my more challenging bicycle repair tasks: replacing all the cables and housing on our tandem.   Since our Santana tandem has 3 brakes (front and rear rim brakes and a rear hub brake), and bar end shifters, we have 5 cables under the front handle bar tape. The entire job requires 5 feet of gear housing, 10 feet of brake housing and 5 new cables.  While I self maintain my bikes, you may want to just on the experienced bicycle mechanics in Indianapolis at BGI’s two locations.

 

Cable and housing have always been an important to shifting performance and reliability.  On current drive trains, with 9,10 and 11 count cogs, smooth derailleur cable movement is more important that than ever.

 A number of factors can result in cables needing replacement.   Over time, portion of cables not covered by housing can rust from exposure to rain or a riders perspiration.  Individual strands of cable may break at the cable end, inside the shift mechanism, and this can result in shifting failures. Riding in the rain will allow moisture in the cable housing, resulting in rust or corrosion you can’t see. 

 Shimano provides factory replacement cable and housing for both brake and derailleur.  Bicycle Garage Indy also uses Jagwire brand cables, available in both galvanized and stainless steel.
 

For the ultimate in reliability and performance, many riders and bicycle mechanics like Gore Ride-on Cable System Kits, also available at BGI.  ” Gore cables are possibly the best upgrade you can make on your shifting,” comments Mark Degunya, one of lead bicycle mechanics at BGI’s Greenwood store.   “Every time I install a set, the customer has mentioned how much better it shifts.  On my personal bike, I've been using the same cable set for 8 seasons and it still shifts perfectly.”

 

Cables seem insignificant, but a broken cable or bad shifting can ruin a weekend trip.  If you can’t do it your self, it is worth having an experienced bicycle mechanic take a look and determine if your cables are due for replacement.

I think I've done about 5 million hub overhauls in my life here in Indianapolis, and I see a trend. People are wearing out their hub cones unevenly. I may be just a little bit crazy. Or a lot bit. But, I think it has to do with you not rotating your axle. OK, so maybe a lot bit.

Here's the scenario: You ride your 1973 "RRA" Raleigh Record Ace, oh, I'd say about 50 thousand million miles. You get older, get a new bike or twelve, and the old Ace just sits around, weighing you down every time you walk by it in the garage with a new shiny thing that is made to go way faster, or something like that. 

THEN one day you look at that old bike you've been avoiding eye contact with, that has about as many miles on it as every other bike they've owned combined, and decide it was the best one anyways and want to resurrect it. Maybe do a little bike touring, commuting in Indy, impress your buddies on what a sweet bike you used to have, just repair it so keep it around for nostalgia's sake, you know, whatever floats your boat... or bike. 

So far, no problem. I'm all for fixing up your old steed and riding it instead of looking at it. I think that comes from my old farm days were you were always poor and everything had a nice patina of rust. But everything worked, just not well (that's for you, Mark). And you made the most of what you had.

The problem: Before you put the greatest bike you've ever owned in the dark, damp, spider-house corner of your garage, you were still riding it. You were getting sick of replacing the tires, getting flats, whatever, and you put on a super-duper flat-no-more million-mile tire. And rode it about 999,927 miles with that tire on, and no flats. It was awesome.

The technical part: The problem part didn't seem like too much of a problem, but it is. Or at least it can be. What happens when you never have to remove your wheel is that the axle, or more precisely the cone, is always in the same position. All your weight is pressing on the same spot (the top) of your inner bearing races for years on end. The other side (the bottom) of your inner bearing races never get to do any of the heavy lifting. The outer races don't matter... They rotate!

What do you do? Well, THAT'S EASY! Just open up your quick release lever, and turn your axle a little, close your quick release lever (unless you ride with it open or want your wheel to fall off, that's up to you!). 

Thanks!