So, you own a new bike. What’s next? All bicycles need to be set properly to make riding comfortable and secure. The parts of your bike will last longer if you perform some simple maintenance. Learning how to set up and maintain your bike can be tricky if you’re new to cycling. However, with a little bit of knowledge and practice, you may ride with confidence, knowing that your bike is prepared for every ride.
Today, we will talk about the bike maintenance tips that will help beginners know some DIY techniques for maintaining their own bikes.
Bike Maintenance Tip for Newbies
Leg power is only one part of how your bicycle moves. It also requires some lubrication, care, and attentive listening. Even if you don’t have all the answers, you can learn enough along the road to maintain your bike in good condition and out of the shop with regular bike maintenance.
Every type of rider should maintain their bicycle. Whether you commute by bike to work frequently, participate in races, or simply ride the trails sometimes, you should keep up with routine maintenance to avoid dangerous situations and expensive surprises in the future.
It need not be tough to maintain a bike. Following these basic bike maintenance tips can keep your bike in working order for a very long time.
Keep reading to learn about the best bike maintenance tips you can follow as a beginner.
Get Setup for Success
Before going on your first ride, it’s crucial to make a few simple fit modifications to your bike for your safety, comfort, and enjoyment. Let’s face it: if you don’t feel comfortable riding your bike, you won’t enjoy yourself, and if you’re not enjoying yourself, you won’t want to ride your bike very much.
Check your saddle height first. You won’t pedal as well if your saddle is positioned too low. Due to incomplete leg extension, you may also have knee pain. At the bottom of the pedal stroke, you should generally just have a tiny bend in your knee. In order to get the ideal saddle height, make gradual modifications.
For safety and pleasure when riding, make sure you can readily reach your shifters and brake levers. In order to avoid straining to reach your brakes and shifters, you can usually modify where they are located on the handlebar and dial in your levers.
Visit your nearest bike shop if you have any questions about bike fit adjustments.
Clean Your Bike Frequently
All bikers should regularly clean their bikes, but it’s especially crucial if you frequently ride in muddy or damp weather. A thorough wash helps protect parts from wear and tear as well as helps to prevent corrosion and rust. It also ensures that your bike is spotless and looks amazing.
Some cyclists just wash their bikes with a sponge and a bucket of hot water. However, it is suggested that you use a specially formulated bike cleaner for the best results. It is made to immediately lift and remove tough dirt and stain produced by cycling and is safe to use on all surfaces. In contrast to other cleaners, it sticks to the bike’s surface and seeps into the dirt through microscopic holes, quickly removing particles.
The ABC’s: Air, Brake, Chain
Check the “ABC’s” before every ride to increase safety and extend the life of your bike.
Air: Tires that are properly inflated help prevent flats. The appropriate tire pressure is listed on the sidewall of your tire. Make sure your quick-release levers and through axles (if you have them) are properly tightened while you check the pressure in the tires. Next, make sure you have a patch kit and a pump with you before you ride.
Brakes: To ensure that the brakes engage properly and smoothly, squeeze the levers on your front and rear wheels.
Chain: Examine the chain and all of the gears. Your bike will shift more easily, and the drivetrain consists of the chain, back cassette, rear derailleur, and front chainrings, which will last longer if you keep everything clean and greased.
Check Your Cables
If the cables on your bike break, you won’t be able to change gears or, worse yet, stop. Cables never break suddenly; instead, they deteriorate over time, frequently undetectable beneath the housing. A well-maintained set of cables shouldn’t need to be checked after every ride because they should last a long time. The best frequency should be every few months (depending on use), especially during the winter when corrosion is a constant concern.
Simply take the cables out of the casing and inspect them for corrosion or frayed cords. Additionally, look for cracks and kinks in the housing, as these will hasten inner cable degradation if the wire doesn’t flow through smoothly. If everything is in order, use a cloth to add some lubrication or oil to the cables before reinstalling them in the cable housing.
Get the Right Bike Tools
Make sure you have all the tools you need to keep your bike in great form before you get started on keeping it that way. Your best companion will be a multitool kit because it has a tool for almost everything on your bike and is simple to store in a pocket or saddlebag.
Purchase a floor pump with a pressure gauge to make life much simpler when your bicycle’s tire goes flat. A floor pump makes inflating your tires much simpler and less labor-intensive, and the pressure gauge helps you know how much air is in each tire, so you don’t over or underfill them.
If you’re going out, especially alone, you need spare inner tubes, tire levers, and a small pump. In order to avoid being stranded in the event of a puncture, we advise you to carry at least one spare inner tube and a puncture repair kit.
Lubricating Your Bike
Depending on your riding type, a regular maintenance program (monthly, weekly, or more frequently) is essential. Plan to clean your bike more frequently if you ride in muddy, damp conditions or aggressively.
For optimal functioning, bike parts must be regularly cleaned and lubricated. Moving parts are shielded by lubrication from excessive frictional wear, “freezing up,” and rust and corrosion.
In general, extra lubrication should always be gently wiped off before riding the bicycle. But be cautious. Over-lubrication may result in subpar operation and component damage (excess lubricant will attract dirt and other abrasive particles).
Always apply the lubricants in the correct order when lubricating multiple parts at once. Remove excess lube in the same sequence as you applied it, giving the lubricants time to sink in.
Maintaining proper chain lubrication helps your drivetrain last longer. Always lubricate a clean chain using bicycle-specific lubrication oil.
Lubricant comes in two varieties: wet and dry. When biking in damp circumstances, moist lube is recommended. The drivetrain is tightly adhered on, and rain is less likely to wash it off. However, grit and dirt will also stick to it, so make sure to wipe off any extra lubrication.
In a dry atmosphere, dry lube performs best. Although dry lube makes dirt and grit less stick to it, it does rinse off readily if you find yourself riding in the rain.
Creaks and Knocks
These bike components experience a lot of torque and pressure and over time may become loose. Keep them tight, though, as if they aren’t the pieces could fail catastrophically or wear out irreparably. Checking the headset and cranks regularly for symptoms of play (lateral movement) is advised.
Pull your right brake to lock the front wheel, then roll the bike back and forth to check for headset play. If everything is in order, the bike will feel “as one” and be silent. The headset will move independently of the head tube and knock if it is loose; the bike will also feel quite unsteady. Try to move the crank away from the frame laterally to inspect your cranks; there should be absolutely no play. This is where the majority of your bike’s knocking noises come from.
Check the Brake Pads
Make sure you frequently check how well the brakes are working. Make that the brake levers are pulled and that the brake pads on both sides of the tire are engaged. If they’re tugging too hard, test again after using the barrel adjuster to unscrew it slightly. Additionally, you must inspect the brake caliper and brake cable; if either of these components shows signs of wear or if there are nicks on the housing, it needs to be replaced. The same applies to brake pads, which should be changed as soon as they begin to show signs of wear.
Checking the brake pads is one of the most crucial aspects of any bike maintenance activity when preparing for spring riding after a lot of cycling through wintery and wet conditions. Checking brake pads a few times a year is a decent general rule of thumb; however, it depends on how frequently you use your bike (and brakes).
Visual Bike Maintenance Check
Giving your bike a thorough once-over with your eyes to notice any flaws is always a good place to start, regardless of whether it has been in storage over the winter or in active usage on the trails.
You can quickly get going if you invest in a decent set of bike maintenance tools. Any immediately noticeable issues, such as flat tires, loose spokes, rusted metal, or bent wheel rims, must obviously be fixed first. You can either visit your neighborhood bike shop or search online for advice on how to solve particular problems.
Ok, so maybe your bike won’t have to worry about bringing the shorts and t-shirts down from the attic, but there are still several seasonal maintenance suggestions for riders to keep in mind. Even the best of us may find it difficult to adjust to new temperatures, shifting weather patterns, longer days, and a changing wardrobe when winter gives way to spring. Whether you are taking your cycle out of storage for the season or have been shakily pedaling all winter, it needs a thorough visual inspection.
Check Wheel Spokes
The spokes on a bicycle are something that is frequently overlooked. Although they don’t require a lot of care, it’s a good idea to regularly ensure that everything is tight so that they can operate as intended to maintain your wheels straight. We usually advise checking the spokes every few months to ensure they’re all in the appropriate places. Avoid tightening the screw too much! Make sure the spoke wrench you purchase is the right size for your bike.
Ensure Bolts, Nuts & Screws are Tight
The last thing you want when riding is for your bike to disassemble. Countless bolts, nuts, and screws hold the various components of your bike together.
Check for any loose parts once a week or so. Before your next ride, make sure all screws are tight. You may do this by gently bouncing your bike on the ground and listening for any sections that may be loose.
Having extra nuts and bolts on hand when riding will enable you to address any difficulties as soon as they arise, even if you are not at home.
Final Words
It is important to ensure that your bike works perfectly to avoid any unexpected surprises while riding. Remember the tips we have mentioned in this article and follow them to ensure your bike works properly. All the tips mentioned in this article are helpful to keep your bike working perfectly and enjoy every journey with a smooth performance. Knowing how to fix minor problems in your bike quickly is always good. Keep reading our blogs to learn about the best bike riding tips and reviews about the best products.
FAQ
What Maintenance Should be Done on a Bike?
If you have a mountain bike, push down and let go to test the suspension’s responsiveness. Replace any worn handlebar tape or grips and check for worn brake pads as needed. Check the hubs, bottom bracket, and headset; make any necessary adjustments or overhauls.
How Often Does a Bike Need Maintenance?
Depending on your riding type, a regular maintenance program (monthly, weekly, or more frequently) is essential. Plan to clean your bike more frequently if you ride in muddy, damp conditions or aggressively.
Why is Maintaining a Bike Important?
When bicycles are routinely maintained, their parts are tightened, examined, and oiled to ensure there is no chance of seizing, breaking, or corrosion. Savings – Just as with a car, regular maintenance enables you to steer clear of more expensive repairs in the future.