A Handy Bicycle Maintenance Checklist

Just like a car, your bike does the hard miles to get you where you want to go. Whether it’s a daily commute, or the hard line down a mountain every weekend, these miles take their toll on even the highest quality bikes. But, with some proper care and attention, your bike will handle the strain with ease. Bicycle maintenance is important on a regular basis – especially if you get behind the bars every day. And most of it is quite straightforward. In fact, most bicycle maintenance is a quick and easy DIY affair. But where do you start? With a checklist of course! Here is our top tips for your bicycle maintenance checklist. It doesn’t cover everything, but it covers enough to keep your bike safely on the road, or the tracks.

Daily lubricant: it should be at the top of your bicycle maintenance checklist

Moving parts require lubricant, regardless of their size. From heavy machinery, to the hinges on a door, lubricant keeps all moving metal mobilised and free from rust. So the first thing on your bicycle maintenance checklist should be a good dose of water dispersant. Generally, a can of WD40 will do the trick. All you need to do is generously coat the chain, pedals, and any other moving parts that you see. Of course, it’s important to keep lubricants away from your brakes – that’s the one spot that needs a healthy dose of friction!

Brakes are an important safety feature: give yours a weekly spot on your bicycle maintenance checklist

Speaking of brakes, keeping yours in good condition should definitely be a priority. Whether you’re filtering through traffic, riding with the family, or speeding down a mountain side, brakes are the only thing that will bring you safely to a stop. They’re also a little more complicated than some other components of your bike – especially if they’re hydraulic. Our advice is to carefully inspect your brakes as a part of your bicycle maintenance. If you see anything suspicious, or notice a downturn in their performance, take your bike into the specialists.

Your tyres cop a lot of hard wear – make sure you check their condition and pressure each month

Tyres: they’re just as important as brakes, but a little simpler. So getting in their for some DIY maintenance won’t be an issue! All you need to do is begin with a visual inspection. This will give you a good idea of where your tyres are at in their lifespan. If they’re starting to lose some tread or display signs of serious wear, consider replacing them. If not, simply check their pressure with a pressure gauge and inflate them further if necessary. It really is as simple as that!

If you’re an avid mountain biker, your shocks deserve an annual place on your bicycle maintenance checklist

Road bikes generally don’t come with suspension systems, so this point might not feature on every bicycle maintenance checklist. But if you have a mountain bike, then it should definitely secure a place on yours! Front shocks lessen the load on the rest of your bike when you’re traversing rough terrain. If yours are ailing, then there will be more pressure on other components of your bike. This means greater wear, and more chance of serious damage. So give your shocks a good inspection – check for things like resistance and leaking fluid. If there’s little resistance and a noticeable leak, it might be time to upgrade.

Home maintenance is important, but so is professional care: get your bike serviced periodically

Just like a car, DIY maintenance is important for bikes. But there’s only so much you can do before some professional intervention is necessary. So check your bike in for some professional care about once a year, or twice if you put it through its paces regularly.

To add more to your bicycle maintenance checklist, get in touch with the experts!