As bicycling continues to be increasingly popular amid coronavirus shelter in place orders, cycling advocates are helping people fix their own rides because Bay Area bike shops are slammed.
Menlo Velo Bicycles is a bike shop in Menlo Park. Owner Rainer Zaechelein told KCBS Radio that the shop has never been so busy.
Wait times for a tune-up used to be a few days, but since shortly after the shelter in place began, tune-up appointments are booked 4 weeks out, according to Zaechelein.
"All in all, you know, if you look at it monthly, two-to-three-times the business that we were doing last year at this time," Zaechelein added.
Bike sales are through the roof, but, Zaechelein said, so is bike theft.
"There's always bike theft, but I think im hearing kind of an uptick on that as well in the neighborhoods," he told KCBS Radio. "People should be more aware that they need to lock things up."
To help DIYers fix up bikes on their own, the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition has released a list of videos that explain everything from adjusting a bike seat to lubing a chain:
BIKE FIT
Fitting and Adjusting Your Bike
BASIC BIKE CHECK
TIRES/WHEELS
How to Fix a Flat Tire on a Bicycle
How to Remove and Install a Wheel on Your Bike
How to Patch a Bicycle Inner Tube
Tire, Wheel and Inner Tube Fit Standards
Reuse or recycle old tubes. Tubes are versatile for all sorts of practical purposes. If they need to be disposed of, Mike’s Bikes will recycle them.
BRAKES
Rim Breaks - What Type of Brakes Do I Have?
Linear Pull Brakes - Mounting and Adjustment
SHIFTING
Guide to Derailleurs and Shifting: Introduction
CHAIN
Isopropyl Rubbing alcohol (70%) is a cheap and effective degreaser. Pour the rubbing alcohol into an old rag and rub it along the chain. An old toothbrush works well to remove sand and grit.