6 Bike Maintenance Tips
How to ensure you can use your bike for more years ahead.
Bike maintenance and repairs are essential whether you ride for fun, sport, or special occasions. Bicycle maintenance is a must for all types of riders. Whatever you use your bike for, you must keep up with basic maintenance to avoid dangerous situations and extremely expensive bills in the future.
Maintaining a bike might seem like something unimportant, but it truly is something worth investing time in.
Why is bike maintenance so important?
If you ride your bike frequently, you are aware that certain components of your bike contribute to a safe and enjoyable ride. Likewise, if you are a biking enthusiast, you’re probably aware that maintaining bike parts helps keep your riding experience smooth.
Proper and regular bike care can go a long way. Regular maintenance with a bike repairman or a bike shop will make or break your ride. It is critical to perform basic maintenance checks on your bike in order to ride safely and prevent future bike repairs later on.
Aside from inspecting your bike before each ride and tightening any loose components, there is something else you can do for your bike. Bringing your bike to professionals for maintenance should be part of your bike care practice for the following reasons:
1. It helps you ride more smoothly.
A professional check-up and maintenance at least once every six months is advised to keep your bike in good working condition. Professionals will assess the bike’s more complex and intricate components you aren’t advised to fix on your own. Cables, chains, and spokes are examples of these. When you go for a ride, you’ll notice the difference and smoothness of the experience.
2. It keeps your bike in shape much longer.
Regular maintenance, as with any vehicle, helps you avoid future repair costs. You can detect problems early and carry out the necessary bike repairs before they get worse. This is more preferable than being hit with a large bill all at once. It can also help you keep your bike in one piece for a longer period of time, saving you money on a new bike.
3. It aids in making your bike safe and road-ready.
Bike maintenance is a safeguard against accidents due to unsafe and damaged bicycles. Don’t just sit around and wait until something breaks in the middle of a ride. A poorly maintained bike could result in injuries and major damage to your bike. Bikes maintained and repaired on a regular basis will be better inspected, cleaned, and prepared. In addition, it guarantees that the bike components are in excellent condition and will not break or fall off mid-ride.
Bike maintenance tips to keep your bike in shape
Wear and tear will inevitably set in, despite your best efforts to maintain your bike in good riding condition. But bike maintenance does not have to be too complicated. With the simple bike maintenance tips above, you can keep your bike in good condition for the foreseeable future. Here are a few helpful hints for keeping your bike in good working order:
Before a bike ride
- Clean and wash your bike regularly.
You should clean your bicycle on a regular basis to keep it looking good and running smoothly.
Cleaning your bike will help prevent corrosion caused by dirt and grease accumulation. When bike parts corrode, the mechanical parts stop working and must be replaced. Make certain that you clean everything while washing your bike.
- Always test and inspect your brakes.
Good bike brakes are critical in reducing the likelihood of having an accident. Inspect your brake pads regularly between bike repairs as they deteriorate over time. You can easily test this by taking a short, quick ride and pumping your brakes. If you notice that your brakes have less give, they likely need to be changed. This bike maintenance habit could save not just your bike but your life as well.
- Check the status of your tyres.
Nothing more frustrating than being forced to stop and replace a flat bike tyre while riding. Regularly check your tyres before and after a ride. To do this, you could use a floor pump to check tyre pressure. Once you are certain that your tyres have been properly inflated, inspect them for any further damage. This will help you lessen the chance of getting a flat tyre during a ride.
- Ensure that there are no loose bike components.
Before you leave, check for any loose and unsecured parts on your bike. If you happen to drop some screws, bolts, or nuts while riding, fix them immediately. Carry spare parts with you so that you can replace them as soon as possible. Having a small repair kit with tools on hand can also help.
After a bike ride
- Clean and lubricate your chain and drivetrain properly.
After a ride, always wipe down and clean your drivetrain and chain. This will help the lubricant soak into the chain much better and much faster. Make sure to only use a small amount of lubricant and to wipe away the excess. Applying too much lubricant on the drivetrain will attract more dust and dirt and can damage your bike.
- Head to a bike shop.
In bike maintenance, it is critical to get your bike checked by taking it to a repair shop at least twice a year. Professional mechanics know how to keep your bike running. In addition, they can assist you with basic maintenance, minor corrections, part replacements and more.
Get your bike serviced and maintained at Stead Cycles.
Need additional assistance? Here at Stead Cycles, we can discuss your bike worries and get them fixed. Our team can evaluate the needs of your bike to make sure it is safe to ride.
If you maintain your bike on a regular basis, you don’t have to spend as much money on major emergency repair work. Nevertheless, at Stead Cycles, we have an experienced team ready to service your bike and keep it functional. We will gladly provide you with professional guidance on how to keep your bike in top condition!
For all your bike needs, head to our store at 29 Landor Street, Beresfield, NSW, 2322. You can also call us on (02) 4966 2141 or email info@steadcycles.com.au for advice and information today!