DIY Life

Spring is nearly here, and for many of us that means hauling out our bicycles. Whether you're riding for fun, or commuting to work, a bike in good repair is essential to your safety and comfort.

Experts recommend a bike tune-up every year. Done professionally, this will cost you about $40, but you can easily do it yourself.

Here are 8 important things to do before heading out on your first ride. You'll find details about each step in these tips for tuning up your green-machine.

1. Pump it up!
2. Check for wear and damage
3. Check break lever and caliper action
4. Check break-pads
5. Check cables
6. Lube the chain
7. Tighten lose bolts and screws
8. Clean the bike

Once you've completed the tune up, you're ready to hit the road. Hopefully everything runs smoothly, but if you do encounter problems, this DIY bike repair site is a great resource for diagnosing and fixing common issues.