"Most of that is really easy fixes that could be done in a hour, like at this shop here. (For) general chain maintenance, a good option for a bike that hasn't been ridden in a while, if it's either a bit rusty or really dirty is running it through a chain cleaner with Simple Green and sort of just degreasing it and re-lubricating it," Deutsch said.
With the chain spinning smoothly, it's time to check the tires.
"If your tire has got any sort of visible cracks in it any sort of inner tube coming through, that would be an obvious sign that it's got to be replaced. For the most part, a lot of the tires, they last for a really long time. If the tread is starting to bald on them, then I guess that would be another obvious sign that they should be replaced," he said.
A good tread will take you far, but it's just as important to focus on the brakes.
"When you squeeze the brake levers they shouldn't go all the way down to the handle bars; the brakes should engage probably at about the halfway point, so that would be something that you could tighten up and service here and also the brakes should be able to completely lock the wheel when it's engaged," Deutsch said.
Inspecting the bike from the ground up is the key to keeping it in good shape, but even if everything looks good you should take it for a test drive before the real thing.
"Be prepared to get wet. Invest in fenders is always a good idea for Anchorage spring and summer riding on the trails here. Just remember they are shared multi-use trails and don't cause any contention with people walking," Deutsch said.
If you want to keep your bike in tip top shape, buy a set of Allen wrenches. Deutsch says normal trail wear and tear should be a quick fix at home.
"They're relatively simple machines and it's sort of like a lifetime skill that doesn't require a lot of very expensive tools, and then a shop like this provides the tools so that if you're only using them a couple times a year, you don't really need to own a full set," Deutsch said.
Once it's cleaned up, tuned up and tried out, it's time to hit the trail and check out the Last Frontier from behind the handlebars.
Contact Jackie Bartz at jbartz@ktuu.com
