Bike Maintenance

General maintenance
The majority of people just want to jump on their bike and ride but for your own safety
and to keep your bike in good working order, it’s important that you perform some simple
checks frequently.

1. Wheels and tyres
Check your tyres to make sure they are properly inflated. You should also conduct a visual
check of the tyre to ensure there are no cracks, tears or holes.
The wheels should be checked to ensure the nuts or quick release mechanisms that hold
your wheels in place are tight. If the wheel is out of alignment you should visit your local
bike shop to conduct a repair.

2. Brakes
Cables should be checked to ensure there are no problems with fraying or stretched cables.
Squeeze your brake levers to make sure that they apply enough pressure to stop your bike. The brake pads in the front and back should also be checked to ensure they are correctly aligned on the rim. If your brake pads are squeezing the tyres when applied, not only can it wear or damage your sidewalls, but it can also cause an accident.

3. Seat post and handle bar stem
Check to make sure that your handle bars and stem are fastened tightly and that your
saddle is at the correct height.

4. Helmet
A helmet is a good addition to your cycling accessories. This should be checked frequently
to ensure there are no cracks on the outer shell or inner surface. The helmet should fit
snugly and the straps should be adjusted to ensure a tight fit. A common mistake is to
wear a helmet that rides up too high, which won’t protect your forehead in the event of an
accident.

5. Chain and gears
The last thing to check is that your chain turns cleanly through your front and rear
sprockets and doesn’t rub against the front or rear derailleur. You can do this as you pedal
when you first set off. At the same time, quickly run your bike through its range of gears
to make sure there are no problems with rough shifting, chain slippage etc., and that the
drive train is free from excessive grime and doesn’t need lubrication.