Safety – Maintenance

Maintenance Tips

Bicycle Safety starts with a properly maintained bicycle. For a list of bicycle maintenance classes and Do-It-Yourself Shops, please visit our Classes page. Below are some tips for things to check on your bike to ensure it is properly maintained:

Tires

• Keep your tires properly inflated; tires lose air gradually over time. If your bike has been sitting around for a while and the tires are flat, chances are you just need to pump up your tires. The correct pressure is printed on the side of your tire.

Brakes

• Your brakes should be tight enough so that when you apply the brakes the wheels do not turn. While standing next to the bike, apply the brakes and walk the bike slowly to see if the brakes are tight enough.
• Squeaky brakes can be solved by adjusting the brake pads so the front of the pads are slightly toed in towards the rim. In other words, the front of the pads should be slightly closer to the rim than the rear of the pads.

Chain

• A bike that has been sitting for a while needs chain lube to keep the shifting smooth. Apply a small amount of lube to the chain and wipe off the excess. Make sure to use a lube for bicycles, which can be found at your favorite bicycle shop. Click here for a detailed interactive bicycle graphic provided by Park Tool, listing a bike’s parts and articles related to their maintenance.

Wheels

• Make sure the wheels are properly tightened to the frame. If your bike has quick release levers, tighten them so the lever can’t rotate on the frame. If you have bolts, make sure they are securely tightened.

Accessories

• Lights – Don’t be caught out in the dark without front and rear lights. As the time changes, dusk approaches sooner and cars have trouble seeing cyclists against the rising or setting sun. Check to make sure that your lights work.
• Repair kit – You don’t want to be stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire and nothing to fix it. Know how to repair a flat tire on your bike. You should have a small kit that includes a tube.  Make sure the tube has the correct valve for your bike (there are two kinds).  You should also have a small multi-tool that has a wrench to take off your wheel, pump and tire levers to remove the tire from the rim.  These multi-tools are inexpensive and can be found at most bike shops.  Make sure to put any tools back in your kit after a repair so you don’t forget it next time.

Source: 511.org

 

Know Your Folding Bike

Get to know your folding bicycle. Please refer to the diagram above
for the names and basic function of various components on your
folding bicycle regularly referred to in this manual.

1. handlebar (includes grips, brake levers and shifter)
2. handlebar height adjustment quick release (some models)
3. handlebar folding stem (joint for handlebar folding)
4. frame rest (protects chainwheel when folded and resting on the
ground)
5. crank & chainwheel
6. folding pedal
7. chain seatpost height adjustment (quick release for adjusting
seat height)
9. seatpost
10. saddle
11. frame folding box (the main folding mechanism for your frame)

 

Bike Europe – One Million e-Bikes on Dutch Roads.

 

Source: Bike Europe

 

Buyers’ Guide

When trying to decide on the best type of bike, think about these questions:

– What kind of riding do you want to do?
– Do you see yourself growing as a rider?
– What do friends you’ll be trying to keep up with ride?
– What have you had in the past that you liked?
– What have you had in the past that you disliked?
– How much money are you comfortable spending?

If you are buying a bike to ride with a group of friends— you’re often best off buying something similar to what they ride. You will not be able to keep up with road bikes if you are on a mountain bike or cruiser. And a road bike cannot cannot venture into the dirt or the sand.

If you enjoyed a three speed as a child, you may find cruisers to be a fun bike again. If you disliked the road bike you bought a few years ago—perhaps a mountain bike or hybrid would be a better choice now.

Cruiser / European Bikes

This bike is comfortable, stylish and sleek, available in a multitude of colors and designs.

e-Bikes

Perfect to get around. Whether for recreation or transportation, commuting is not a problem. You can place a special order from our special order catalog online.

Mountain Bikes

This bike will get you over any terrain and back home in no-time.

Foldable Bikes

Foldable bike offers transportation solutions for your practical lifestyle. They are affordable and fun. You can find them in various colors and styles.

Commuter Bikes

Comfortable bikes with great utility, add a basket or rack and these will get you wherever your going and bring along anything you need.

Inquiry about our Layaway plans.

 

Bikes Inventory

 

Tour Package

Xpártakos Tours Package

We understand that your time is limited and that you want to make the most of it. That’s why we put together a special tour to suit your interests.

​Our tours run 7 days a week but if it rains, we will re-schedule it for the next available date.

​The tour guides will be at the meeting point 10-15 minutes before the tour time, in case you get there early.

​​Tip: Shop around and you’ll find that we offer the lowest tour rates in the area.

Price list​. Bike Rentals

The Netherlands is an extremely bike-friendly country so should you prefer to explore it on your own, calls us or emails us to rent a bike.

Bike 1 ……………………………….  €25.00
Helmet  ……………………………….  €2.50
Half Day (up to 4 hours)……………….  €15.00
Additional Hour ……………………………….  €2.00

Schedule

Nov. – Mar.                                         closed – no tours
Mar. (last weekend) – Oct.                    11 am – 4 pm

Tour meeting point

Our tours meet near Almere City Mall at Koetsierbaan. we will be holding a sign.

Click here for our tour meeting point locations map.

Package 1. Raw Tour-Almere Vandaag

“A great way to see the city and understand what makes Almere so unique.”

List the services included in this package:
Guided tour

Bike rental
Lunch at a local restaurant (food not included)
Details/history of each location
Photos (bring your own camera)
2 hours

Approx. distance: 12 miles​……………………………….  €30.00

Package 2. Waterfront Tour: Almere Port/Beach

​”Experience the Beach on a Bike!”

List the services included in this package:

Guided tour

Bike rental
Lunch at a local restaurant (food not included)
Details/history of each location
Photos (bring your own camera)

Bring your swim suit and towels
2.5-3 hours

Approx. distance: 12 miles……………………………….  €40.00

 

Mountain Bikes: How to Choose a Mountain Bike.

 

Source: Bicycle Warehouse

 

Cyclopedia

Cycling Terms

alloy – slang for “aluminum”​ATB – For All Terrain Bike (another term for a mountain bike)​bar(s) – Short for handlebar(s)BMX – Bicycle Moto Cross. A popular type of racingcasing – The material that makes up tire sidewalls

​comfort bike – A popular type of bicycle built mostly for recreational use and designed for optimum rider comfort with features such as soft seats, suspension seatposts, upright riding position and easy gearing

For more bicycle related terms, please click here.

Source: Bicyclewarehouse