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happyslug

(14,779 posts)
23. You should oil your chain at least once a month, but I have gone months without doing so...
Sun Dec 14, 2014, 02:51 AM
Dec 2014

The bike store should have some oil. In most cases any oil will do, it is more to protect the links as they connect and disconnect to both the front and rear gears. The better oils will do a better job then the cheap stuff, but your Huffy has a wide chain compare to the chains in bikes with multiple gears and thus can take a lot more abuse then those thinner chains.

The better grades of oil do a better job for they often have extras in them, that keep the oil in the chain longer AND provide additional lubrication for the parts. The oil sold by your local bike store should be sufficient.

Oil once in a month should be sufficient. All that is needed is a light coat, and then more on the GEARS then the chain itself (Each will provide oil to the other as you peddle). When I oil I oil the chain and the gears and anything else the chain interact with (such as a derailleur on multiple gear bikes).

Hopefully you put some sort of lube on the Bottom Bracket (What the Peddle revolve around when you peddle) and the front stem (Which turns with the front wheel). These are all movable parts of the bike and should have some lubrication. If installed with Lubrication, that lubrication should last for years but after a year of hard riding you may want to have someone look at those parts along with the chain.

Remember anything that moves will wear out, That includes the Wheels and the Tires, but also the bottom bracket, but except for the chain, these items will take years to wear out thus do NOT worry about them but do get them check out every couple of years (Every year not needed, but recommended).

Helmet, absolutely, every time. Thor_MN Dec 2014 #1
Thank you for the detailed responce. darkangel218 Dec 2014 #2
I have to be honest, darkangel218,... TeeYiYi Dec 2014 #3
Teeyiyi, I havent had a bike since high school ( ages ago) darkangel218 Dec 2014 #8
I know you'll love your bike... TeeYiYi Dec 2014 #12
If I was to return it , it would take weeks to get a new one. darkangel218 Dec 2014 #13
Gears make it easier for you to ride up hills... TeeYiYi Dec 2014 #14
Only if you buy the more expensive gearing systems happyslug Dec 2014 #25
Helmets can be the difference between walking away and dieing, happyslug Dec 2014 #4
I know how important they are, its just that i see so many riding without one. darkangel218 Dec 2014 #9
Among many motorcyclists, riders without helmets are called "Organ Donors".... happyslug Dec 2014 #17
I've been commuting year round since 2009 Kennah Dec 2014 #5
Hi Kennah darkangel218 Dec 2014 #10
I don't stop, but on longer rides I do periodically stretch Kennah Dec 2014 #15
I cant ride with just one hand yet. darkangel218 Dec 2014 #16
Install a Mirror, a bell and a light. happyslug Dec 2014 #6
I do have a bell, bought it from the bike shop. darkangel218 Dec 2014 #11
Makers of Bicycles do NOT recommend you buy a bike on line, buy it at a shop happyslug Dec 2014 #18
Thank you so much for all your advice darkangel218 Dec 2014 #19
Five miles is a long ride for a start, but every trip starts with the first step. happyslug Dec 2014 #20
Thank you again for all the great info darkangel218 Dec 2014 #22
You should oil your chain at least once a month, but I have gone months without doing so... happyslug Dec 2014 #23
Im going to buy lubricant from the bike shop when i go back to install the front fender darkangel218 Dec 2014 #24
"If you do NOT go out at night on the bike, no light is needed." jberryhill Dec 2014 #26
You are talking to someone who rides with light on all the time... happyslug Dec 2014 #27
This was discussed in August on another thread, you should go to that thread for more information happyslug Dec 2014 #7
I looked up Huffy, looks like it is made from High Tension Steel, the wonder material of 1900. happyslug Dec 2014 #21
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