Bike components- the small bits! #3

Doffing the cycling cap to some of the less glamorous bike components.....

#3 Bar end plugs

If you crash and impact into the end of your bars then these little fellas may significantly reduce your injuries.

A bar end plug has a much larger surface area than an exposed bar end. This means that in the event of a crash, the impact force on the rider would be spread over a larger area too. This would reduce the pressure on the rider's body at the impact site, hopefully reducing injury.

A bar end without a plug is more likely to cut through clothes and skin.

Maintenance tips

1. Make sure that enough bar tape is folded into the end of the bar to make the plug fit tightly.

2. Check the condition of bar grips (especially on kids' bikes) and replace them if the end is wearing through.

Bike components- the small bits! #2

Doffing the cycling cap to some of the less glamorous bike components.....

#2 Valve dust caps

These bits of plastic or metal are there to keep the valve core clean. This means that you will still be able to inflate your tyre/tube when you need to in the future.

Time-triallists sometimes remove them to reduce air resistance but if that's not you then leave 'em on!

Aero bike, aero suit, aero bars, aero helmet, aero socks and no dust caps!

Maintenance tips

The essential "crapnel" tray

1. Don't overtighten the plastic ones- they are very easy to split.

2. Whenever you change a tube or valve, keep the old cap and lock ring in your "crapnel" tray- you'll always need a spare if you don't have one!

Bike components- the small bits! #1

Doffing the cycling cap to some of the less glamorous bike components.....

#1 Cable end caps

These humble little pieces of alloy are designed to stop brake and shifter cables from fraying and to stop you from stabbing yourself in the finger on an exposed strand of wire!

A frayed front shifter cable wrongly routed through the pinch bolt

Tension in the cable should be distributed roughly equally across all of the strands if the cable is intact. Frayed cables cannot do this and are therefore more prone to snapping. End caps help to maintain the structural integrity of the cable.

Maintenance tips

Bit of bling for the bike.....

1. Use a crimping tool to fit end caps.

2. Make sure the cable is correctly routed through the pinch bolt (there is often a marker or a groove to follow).

3. Don't overtighten the pinch bolt as this can cause the strands to separate (Shimano recommends about 5 - 7 Nm).

4. Replace frayed cables- go to a qualified bike mechanic if you are not sure how to do this.

5. Don't forget to check the cables on kids' bikes too.

"Gears are optional but brakes are essential!"