A simple bicycle can serve as a tool to help you lose weight, improve your mental health, and have countless hours of fun. However, if this method of transportation isn't working properly, you may find that it begins to gather dust in your garage. When you identify signs of a problem with your bicycle, it's prudent to visit a bicycle repair shop to have the issue handled professionally. Working on your own bike can be a challenge, as well as require a number of specific tools, and you may end up complicating a problem instead of fixing it. A poor alignment can be a common problem. Here are some issues that suggest you're dealing with this problem.

Uneven Tire Wear

It's worthwhile to occasionally crouch down and check the condition of your bicycle's tires. Doing so can not only reveal when a tire is worn out and needs to be replaced, but can also indicate an alignment issue if you know how to assess the tire. Typically, a bicycle's tires should wear evenly. However, if you notice that the tread is significantly thinner on either side of the tire, it's a clear indicator that the bicycle is suffering from an alignment problem. Your local repair shop will be able to not only fix the alignment, but also tell you if the tires need to be replaced.

Sideways Pulling

If you take your hands off your bicycle's handlebars and simply pedal or coast, the bike should more or less travel in a straight line. Pulling to one side can indicate an alignment problem with the bicycle. However, you don't need to ride with no hands to notice an alignment problem. If you need to turn the handlebars slightly to either the left or the right just to keep the bike going straight, the alignment is off. Similarly, if you need to lean to either side in order to maintain a straight trajectory, you have an alignment issue.

Inconsistent Braking

Sit on your bicycle and squeeze the brakes. Without letting them go, check how the brake pads are contacting your wheels. If the wheels are in perfect alignment, the brake pads will be firmly pressed against the metal. However, if either wheel is out of alignment, only a portion of the brake pads will be making the proper contact. This is a concern because the lack of alignment may compromise your ability to slow down your bicycle in a safe manner.