Have you ever heard of preventive maintenance? This is the key to keeping your indoor cycling bikes in good condition all year round. For an indoor cycling facility, preventive maintenance addresses a bike’s needs and promotes smooth and efficient operation from class to class. Of course, you must maintain other mechanical equipment in your fitness facility as well. One of the preventive maintenance steps we will focus on today is bike rotation. It involves moving bikes periodically to ensure there is an even wear of all the bikes.

So, why is bike rotation necessary in a commercial indoor cycling facility? Well, since the bikes are used for commercial purposes rather than personal use, they tend to be used more frequently increasing their rate of tear and wear. In a typical commercial indoor cycling facility, you expect to find about 3 to 10 rows of stationary bikes depending on the number of bikes available on the facility. Usually, the most intense riders are always located at the front, closer to the trainer, while people riding less intensely will be at the back rows. The bikes at the front row, therefore, tend to wear out much faster than the bikes at the back rows. This creates a situation where bikes at the front are worn while the quality and efficiency of the bikes keep getting better as you move to the back rows. And you don’t want that!

With bike rotation, bikes at the front rows are moved periodically to the back rows, while those at the back are moved to the front rows. During bike rotations, there are a couple of things that need to be considered to ensure that the transition is smooth and efficient.

First, you need to consider numbering your bikes to track their movement through the rows. Also, it is important to use a logbook to keep track of all the replacements and services made on the bikes before being moved. For instance, some of the most common parts that need replacement and repairs are saddles, peddles and resistant pads which tend to wear out more for bikes on the front rows. Also, you can perform some minor maintenance such as tightening and lubricating the moving parts before rotating the bikes.

Bike rotation presents significant benefits to any commercial indoor cycling facility. Arguably, the most important benefit of bike rotation would be lengthened lifespan of the bikes. Rather than subjecting a single bike at a time to intense wear and tear, bike rotation ensures that the pressure is spread evenly to all bikes increasing their lifetime. This brings us to the next benefit; lowering the risk of breakdowns. As mentioned earlier, every bike rotation should be accompanied by minor maintenance and repairs. Any potential damage or malfunction can be fixed earlier before it escalates to a breakdown. Another notable benefit of bike rotation is the boost in customer satisfaction. The fact that the efficiency of the bikes will be increased, customers are bound to have a wonderful experience at your facility.

Bike rotations on a weekly or monthly basis will not only keep your customers or members happy and satisfied but also promote a positive image of your facility or program. In the long run, you are also bound to save a lot of money that would have been used in replacing the broken bikes. It's simple! Follow the tips mentioned above and your bikes will remain as good as new. Enjoy your bikes!