Bike maintenance is essential for the safety of your ride. We know that with the business of everyday life, sometimes we don’t keep up with maintenance as much as we should.
So, count this as your reminder to remember these 5 easy tips for bike maintenance.
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Check your tyres
You should be checking our tyres before every single trip. We know it can be tedious, or we sometimes forget to do it, but it’s a really important step.
You’ll want to be checking for:
- Punctures
- Cuts
- Worn tread
These are all signs of wear and are a good indication that you might need to buy some new tyres. If you do experience any issues with your tyres, it’s a sensible idea to sort these before you head out.
If you find a puncture and it seems repairable, you can repair it yourself if you feel confident. Alternatively, you can head into to a bike shop, with a picture of your tyre, and they will advise you on the best solution.
You’ll need to be checking your tyre pressure beforehand as well. You can find out which pressure you need online, and you’ll need on tyre pump as well.
For the colder months, you may also want to swap which tyres you’re using. Typically, winter tyres have more grip to help prevent you from skidding all over the place.
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Pre-inspection ride
Giving your bike a good inspection before you head out on your journey is essential. You’re already checking your tyres, so why not check it all. This doesn’t have to take you hours, but make sure you cover the main checkpoints.
After you’ve checked your tyres, you’ll want to check the rest of the bike, this includes…
Wheels and brakes
When inspecting the wheels, you can simply give the wheel a spin and if you hear anything grating, or if something just doesn’t sound right, we recommend that you seek to get this fixed before heading out.
Lights and reflectors
You’ll need to make sure that the battery in the light isn’t going to run out, and if it seems dim, then it’s worth changing it before you head off. Afterall, you don’t want to be left stranded when your light battery dies.
Saddle and pedals
A quick check of the saddle and pedals and you’re good to go. You’ll just need to make sure they are securely in place and that they’re tight. It’ll be no fun (and unsafe!) if you’re cycling along, and your saddle starts going down.
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Invest in a good toolkit
Investing in a toolkit for your bike will save you money in the long run. You’ll end up replacing cheap tools quickly, and they could actually be damaging your bike.
Having a handy tool kit where all of your essentials are packed together makes life a lot easier. You’ll have everything you need so that you can fix up your bike and get back on your bike.
At minimum you should look into getting:
- Spanners
- Hex keys
- Screwdrivers
- Tyre levers
- Bicycle tyre pump
You’ll find that along the way you might need some additional tools, but these shouldn’t be too expensive to pick up.
If you want a full kit, you can pick up an inexpensive bicycle tool kit at places such as Decathlon, or Evans Cycles. You don’t have to spend a lot to get good quality, you just need to make sure you have all the bits you need.
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Learn how to fix a puncture
Whilst some cyclists know how to fix a tyre puncture, it’s not uncommon to not know how!
Firstly, you’ll want to grab your puncture repair kit, and take some sandpaper to rub over the puncture (to help the patch stick).
Next, depending on which kit you’ve got, you’ll add a little bit of glue to the area and stick on the patch from the kit. If your kit comes with a self-adhesive patch, then you won’t need to apply any glue.
Make sure to wait a moment if you used glue, as this will need some time to dry. Once you’ve done this, you’ll need to check that it’s worked, so put a little bit of air into the tube to check that it’s airtight.
Not sure how to locate your puncture? This guide shows you how.
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Give your bike a good clean
A quick once over after your ride will be fine, but every so often you’re going to want to give your bike a deep clean. We’re talking the whole bike, back to front, and top to bottom. You’ll actually be amazed at how much dirt your bike can accumulate.
You don’t need any fancy cleaner for your bike, all you need is some gentle soap and water. Make sure not to use anything which is going to scratch the body of your bike, you’ll need to be gentle with it.
Don’t forget to give the chain a good clean as this can get muddy and oily quite quickly.
Staying safe on the roads
These tips can help keep you safer on your bike journeys, alongside things such as wearing high visibility clothing, and being fully aware of your surroundings.
Despite all of this, mistakes can sometimes happen. If you do find yourself involved in a bike accident, then just know that we here to help you. At Cycle Accident we want to get you back on your bike, so you can enjoy your adventures. We also want to get you the compensation you deserve if you’ve been in an accident which wasn’t your fault.
Here’s a reminder of what to do if you’re knocked off your bike, and if you do want to make a claim, contact us today, you could also call us on 0800 093 6313.
