Keeping your bike in working order should be relatively straighforward. Follow this bike maintenance guide and mechanicals will be a thing of the past in shaa Allah. In a lot of cases cases, mechanical issues are a result of poor bike maintenance, which ultimately falls on you, the cyclist. Many cyclists simply choose to ignore what they think are minor issues. But if not dealt with, they can turn into bigger problems. That rattle and squeak may not seem like much at first, but could easily turn into a flat tyre, a faulty brake or a broken chain. And when out on your club ride, commute to work or charity ride that you’ve been waiting months to take part in, these are the last things you want to worry about.
1. Listen to your bike
A well maintained bike should run almost silently. It should glide across the road, making very little noise. If your bike squeaks, rattles or clunks, then there is an issue, which needs sorting. It could be something as simple as a dry chain, which needs oiling, or it could be something a lot more significant such as a loose bearing. Whatever it is, get it fixed straight away and don’t let it become a bigger problem.
2. Simple pre-ride checks
Get into the habit of checking your bike before each ride. It needn’t take long. A lot of cyclists follow the ‘M Check’ procedure. Looking at your bike side on, start at the back wheel and work your way up to the saddle, down to the bottom bracket, back up to the handlebars and finally back down again to the front hub and wheel, checking each component as you do so. Visit British Cycling’s ‘M Check’ video on what to look for and how to do it:
3. A clean bike is a healthy bike
No one wants to ride a dirty bike, but there is a practical element to it too. A shiny, well cleaned bike will ride smoother and be able to shift gears nicely. If your bike is free of grit and dirt you are reducing the chances of any grime getting into your chain or onto your wheels. Dirt in your chain could affect its smoothness and ability to shift up and down on the crank set and rear cassette. Using a spray on degreaser is a great and easy way to help clean your drive train. Use a small brush with stiff bristles (a dishwashing brush does the job) and work the degreaser into the chain on both sides – with the chain in the big ring. Turn the cranks and work along each chain link. Make sure you get into the teeth of the chain rings and don’t ignore the inside of the chain ring either.
4. Wheels
Dirty wheels will reduce the efficiency of your brake pads, and increase the chances of punctures. If your rims are very dirty, brake pads won’t be able to grip the wheel properly. It’s very important you keep your rims free from any deposits. Anything sharp could even damage the surface of the braking pad. Dirt will also hide any splits or cracks in your tyres. Not all punctures are immediate – many are slow. You can clean wheels by simply using a wet sponge after every ride, thus increasing longevity.
5. Bike service
If you aren’t bike savvy, then you can go and get your bike serviced. In fact, even if you are, it’s still advisable. Just like you would with a car, getting it serviced will help uncover any potential problems. Even if there aren’t any major issues, getting an expert to give check it, will give you complete peace of mind. For example, a simple bike service may be just to check components, gears and lubricate your chain. While more extensive servicing will include a full strip down, front and rear hub checks and bottom bracket and head services. Remember, you’d much rather have a problem off the bike than on it.
CREDIT: CYCLE ACTION
