My New-ish Single Speed

Tubes, Tires, Grips and Handlebars

When it comes to bike maintenance, I’m not one who does it much. I know the arguments around parts/tech lasting longer if you take care of it and that the bike “performs better” with regular maintenance. Nevertheless, other than lube on the chain and squeezing the tires to check air pressure, and sometimes pushing down on the squishy bits to see if they “work,” I simply take my bike(s) in and out of the shed and ride them in between that time. Give ‘em a bath? Maybe twice a year, or I’ll hose ‘em down if they’re on the rack when I wash my car. I haven’t washed my car in probably close to a year.

Turning point ahead?

I decided I wanted new handlebars on my single speed. The ones that were on there when I bought it more than a decade ago were short because I cut off the ends for riding in tight single track through trees.

Old handlebars and new handlebars: