Looking After Your Bike – The Top Tips
If you are a cyclist, your bike is your most precious piece of equipment. Whether you ride to get to work, for exercise or just for the fun of it, looking after your bike is important to ensure it remains operable for years to come.
Taking care of your bike means taking some time to do some maintenance on it. By spending a bit of time now, you’ll save yourself money in the long run by avoiding buying another bike.
Here are our top tips to look after your bike:
1. Give It A Clean
This is the first thing you should do when giving your bike some TLC.
Leaving dirt and grime on your bike for extended periods of time will result in corrosion, damage and rust. This is why you should clean your bike regularly.
To wash your bike, use water and dishwashing liquid and a sponge or scrub it down. You can put an old toothbrush to good use for those smaller, hard to reach places.
Take particular caution with the bike chain – when it comes time to lubricate it, it is imperative that it is cleaned beforehand.
2. Check The Tyres
Your tyres are an essential part of your bike, and having the right air pressure in your tyres is the best way to avoid puncturing them.
Different tyres require different amounts of air. This is usually listed on the side of the tyre, so make sure to check it before you inflate.
If a tyre does have a puncture, you can try to repair it before it gets too severe.
3. Lubricate!
Lubrication is a must for your bike. It ensures that your bike’s life is as long as possible.
When you lubricate, ensure to target the places that have a lot of metal on metal contact. These areas include:
- Brakes and brake pads
- Chain
- Pedals
This will help to avoid excessive friction, corrosion and rust.
4. Assess Your Brakes
Safety-wise, your brakes are the most important feature of your bike. It is one function that you need to ensure is working properly.
When assessing your brakes, be sure to check:
- the cables, by making sure you can squeeze the brake handles properly;
- the clamp of the brake handle is not loose; and
- your brake pads, to ensure they aren’t worn out.
Need A Professional To Have A Look?
If you want to give your bike the full treatment, or you think your bike has a problem that is higher than your level of expertise, take it into a workshop for a professional to have a look at.
At cycle2city, you can book in at our onsite PedalOn bicycle workshop to make sure your bike is riding as it should.
For more information about our workshop and other facilities, Get in touch or GRAB A FREE 7 DAY TRIAL.