Tuning up your stroller...

After class on Wednesday, our Luna Moms Club playgroup activity was a Stroller Tune-Up Clinic courtesy of the folks at the North Hills REI store. The kids were really well-behaved and we were all able to get our strollers tuned up and even catch a few educational pointers too.

I'd like to pass on some of what the Bike & Stroller Technicians shared with our group... Thanks, REI!

* Tire Pressure
Periodically check your tire pressure and re-inflate to keep things rolling smoothly! Tires should be inflated to the pressure recommended on the wheel (if there is one) as opposed to the pressure recommended on the tire.


* Water-Repellent Lube
Don't use the WD-40 in your garage to lube up those squeaks... grab a bottle of water-repellent lube from your local bike shop or hardware store instead. Spray a little on the squeaky parts and enjoy your quieter ride!


* Suspension
Some strollers, like the BOB jogger, have knobs on the side that you can use to adjust the suspension to more evenly distribute the weight of your growing child over the frame of the stroller.

Many bike trailers that convert into strollers, like the Chariot Cougar, also have adjustable suspension that you can adjust for the weight of the occupant. Additionally, if your bike trailer/stroller combo is a two-seater you can adjust it to ride more evenly if your riders are different weights or if you only have a single occupant. Check your stroller/trailer's manual for more specific instructions or pop into your local REI to get some tips!


* Spokes/Pin Tightening
You might notice that over time your front stroller wheel becomes a little wiggly or that your stroller pulls to one side or the other. If your stroller has spokes (like a bike wheel) you can have a bike mechanic tighten your spokes for you and that should help. On the BOB jogger (which does not have spokes) there is a knob on the front wheel that you can tighten (see photos on the left).

The folks at REI also showed us the basics of fixing a flat tire too... but if I ever have one of those I think I'll just take it to the guys at REI!