How to Repair Folding Marine Bicycles

Marine bicycles are compact, convenient, foldable bikes designed for light transportation or touring. Although small in comparison to a full-sized bike, many models offer the same options found on standard bikes, such as multiple gears, hand brakes, adjustable handlebars and seats. Their compact size and ability to fold make them an ideal choice for travelers tight on space, like when on a boat. Maintenance and repair is the same as standard bikes with one difference; excess exposure to moisture makes them more prone to rust.

Things You'll Need

  • Pencil
  • Paper
  • Tri-flow
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Instructions

    • 1

      Examine each of the tires and pay attention to any damage that needs immediate attention. A flat tire may be the result of a nail, piece of glass or simply the bike sitting for too long without use. The rubber used to manufacture tires is porous, and over time, even a few days, air escapes. Check the sidewalls and tread to make sure the rubber is not cracking due to old age, sun exposure, over use or a defect in the tire.

    • 2

      Inspect the rims, spokes and hubs for rust. If you store your bike on deck, without a cover, the extra moisture from the surrounding water leads to premature rusting of any untreated steel parts. This is especially true in salt water, as salt expedites corrosion. Look for dents in the rim as a result of hitting a hard pump or carrying a heavy load. Spin the wheels to see if the brakes are rubbing on the sides of the rim. If so, add this and any other obvious damage, wear or rust to your list.

    • 3

      Ride the bike and shift through all the gear positions, on both the front and back of the bike. Most marine bikes have two chain rings in the front, and between one to eight in the back. Although people most commonly only shift the right side (rear gears) for changes in tension to the chain (speed), you still want to make sure both chain rings in front are adjusted properly. You drivechain (gears, chain and derailleurs) should be silent when riding in all the different gear ratios. If you hear a rubbing noise or your chain seems to jump up and down the chain rings, add this to your list.

    • 4

      Adjust the seat up and down to make sure you have full range of motion and it has not rusted in place. If you cannot move it, or it is difficult to move, use tri-flow, a bicycle specific lubricant, and squeeze a little into the area. Let it sit for a minute and then, with one hand on the nose of the seat and the other hand on the back edge of the seat, jerk it to the right and left with a forceful twisting motion. If it won't budge, note it; if it regains full range of motion, this problem has been fixed.

    • 5

      Check the stem, the part of the bike that holds the handlebars, for rust. Look for rust around all the quick releases, and to make sure you have the full range of motion to move your bars up and down. If you note any issues, add them to your list.

    • 6

      Compile your list and take your bike to a local bicycle shop. A marine bicycle is not very different in its needs than that of a regular bike. Additionally marine bicycles use the same size parts as standard bicycles so you most often, you do not need to order special parts.