Bike maintenance key to safe ride
As Greg Ellis of Upper St. Clair adjusted Alyssa Danen’s helmet in preparation for the 16th annual Kids Triathlon at the South Park Wave Pool, the Pro Bike & Run mechanic heard cries of “I think my tires need air” and “I need to check my brakes” from other contestants waiting to have their bicycles inspected before the big competition.
After he finished with Danen, Ellis felt spongy tires and swiftly pumped the proper air pressure into the tubes. Next, he spun a back wheel and squeezed the brakes before making a few adjustments. When Grace Fluhme approached, Ellis declared, “This is a good bike,” and she went on her way to the transition area to set up for the race.
Whether it is a triathlon or a spin around the neighborhood, Ellis recommends a tune-up for all bicycles. Annually, he suggested.
“Your most valuable asset in the world, your child, is riding on it, so you should take care of the bike. Do the maintenance. Get the bike tuned up,” he said.
After inspecting all the bikes for the triathlon, Ellis noted that the issues he found most often were ones regarding maintenance. He noted a bicycle is like an automobile. “It’s all about maintenance. Cables get frayed, things like that,” he added. “You have to take care of the bike.”
Pro Bike & Run has been a sponsor of the Kids Triathlon for some years and supplies the racks upon which the participants mount their bikes in the transition area between the swimming and running portions of the event.
The company operates four stores in the Pittsburgh region, including one at 102 Fort Couch Road in Bethel Park. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays with more limited hours of operation on weekends. Call 412-851-1109 for more details.
By Eleanor Bailey