DES MOINES, Iowa — A sure sign of spring is more bicycles out on the roads. But if your bike has been in storage it may take a little bit of work to get it up to speed.

Bobby Kennedy, Director of Bike Shop Operations for Des Moines’ Street Collective, said checking over your bike following winter is a good idea.

“We have very cold winters. We have a lot of humidity in the air. And so those two things, coupled with a couple of months of not being used, can be really hard on a bike,” said Kennedy.

Along with tires being underinflated from the cold, Kennedy says, “We also see a lot of chain issues, shifting issues where folks leave their bikes and then rust developed inside the shifter or the chain and that just ceases to move.”

He walked Crane Artist Loft residents through how to repair some of the most common issues impacting their bikes during a community presentation last week.

While not every issue requires a bike shop, Kennedy says it’s always a good idea to have a tune-up at least once a year. The Street Collective is currently hosting bench time to help customers make repairs during regular business hours.

You can find out more at the Street Collective’s website.