Bike maintenance

It’s really simple to keep your bike in top condition.

By just keeping up with a few simple maintenance jobs on a regular basis, you’ll avoid an expensive repair. To help you on your way, there are only a few things you need to do regularly to keep your bike running smoothly.

It’s probably easier to take your bike to an experienced mechanic once a year for a thorough service. But if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, with a little investment in tools and time, you could quite easily carry out the majority of your repair and maintenance jobs at home.

What you need

There are a range of bicycle tools available, but all you really need to start with are screwdrivers, Allen keys, spanners, a pump, tyre levers, cleaning rags, an old toothbrush, lubricants and a puncture repair kit.

Daily maintenance

Every time you use your bike, give it a quick once-over. In particular, check the condition of the tyres and their pressure too.

Weekly maintenance

You should try to lubricate all exposed moving parts of the bike, such as the chain and gear mechanisms but do take care not to get any oil on wheel rims or brake blocks. You can clean the dirt and grease off wheel rims easy-peasy with a cloth and some lubricant spray.

Monthly maintenance

Wheels: Check your tyre pressure and condition. Make sure your wheels are properly fastened and in line with the frame.

Brakes: Check the brake blocks for wear and try to make sure that they contact squarely with the rim, not the tyre. Replace your worn or frayed brake cables and adjust brakes so that the brake levers don’t come into contact with the handlebars when braking hard.

Gears: Check that your gears work correctly and cables move freely (though it’s best to leave gear repairs to a fully trained bike mechanic). Clean the chain with a rag soaked in degreaser and then give it another re-oil.

Steering: Check for looseness in the handlebar and the stem and then tighten where necessary.

Pedals: The pedals should spin freely so check those pedal axles for looseness and tighten.

Frame: Try to regularly inspect the frame for any damage. Ensure the seat height is correct and that the seat post bolt is tight too.

Punctures

Contrary to many people’s fears, punctures are relatively rare. However, when they do happen they can ruin a day out if you’re not prepared. But fear not – they’re pretty easy and quick to repair when you know how and have the necessary equipment. A pump, tyre levers and a spare inner tube and puncture repair kit are the only indispensable accessories you need.

If you don’t know how to mend a puncture, it’s worth learning. Below are some easy to follow instructions, but the best way to learn is to get an experienced cyclist to show you what to do.

How to mend a puncture:

1. Release brake callipers and remove the wheel.
2. Use tyre levers (readily available from bike shops) to remove the tyre, then remove the inner tube, carefully feeding the valve back through the wheel rim.
3. Carefully run your fingers around the inside of the tyre to check for sharp objects, such as nails, glass splinters or thorns. Remove the cause of the puncture and check that there are no more spikes in the tyre.
4. Find the hole in the inner tube. Pump it up and either feel and listen for escaping air, or hold it underwater to look for bubbles.
5. Mark the hole with a pen or chalk. Use sandpaper or the scratcher from the puncture repair kit to scuff the area around the hole to help the glue stick to the tube.
6. Spread glue thinly and evenly over and around the hole and wait for it to dry until it feels tacky to touch. Place a patch over the marked hole and apply pressure. (A faster alternative is to use the new glueless patches now available.)
7. Lightly pump up the tube. Place one edge of the tyre around the wheel rim and push the tube’s valve back into the rim’s hole. Starting from the valve, push the rest of the tube into the tyre and onto the wheel. Ensure the valve stem is perpendicular to the rim and that the tube isn’t twisted. Once the tube is inside the tyre, begin to place the second edge of the tyre onto the rim. About 75% of the tyre will go on easily - the rest will need strong fingers or tyre levers to coax it back onto the rim. Take care not to pinch and damage the tube. When complete, pump a little more air into the tube and check that it isn’t caught between the rim and the tyre.
8. Slide the wheel back into place on the bike and tighten the bolts gradually, ensuring that the wheel remains aligned straight to the frame. Reconnect the brakes.
9. If you are happy with it, fully pump up the tyre. Take the bike on a short ride, and test that the brakes are still set up correctly. And that’s it!

OR here’s a quick tip: If you like to be super prepared and ready for anything, save time on journeys by carrying a spare inner tube with you so that you can simply replace the tube if a puncture happens, mending the damaged one when you get home. But don’t forget to remove the glass or thorn from your tyre before you put it back on.