Don’t want to be one of the 850 bicyclists killed in traffic crashes every year?
Listen up…
Maintenance isn’t just a way to make your ride more comfortable. It’s not just inconvenient if you don’t keep your bike in good working order.
It’s deadly.
50% of all bike accidents happen when a cyclist loses control of their bicycle with no outside force being applied to it. A lot of these are entirely preventable with proper bicycle maintenance.
I know that most cyclists ride their bikes hard. Most don’t think their bikes are going to break. You just get on and ride. That’s it. It’s the reason you bought the bike, after all.
But even the strongest, toughest cyclists need to take care of the machine under them.
If you really want to know what you need to do to keep your bike in working order, read on.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- The importance of regular bike maintenance
- All the maintenance you should do each week
- The monthly deep bike maintenance
- Warning signs your bike is failing
- The tools you should have in your workshop
The Importance of Regular Bike Maintenance
Let me let you in on a little secret.
Far more accidents are caused by mechanical failures than most people think.
Cars can skid, lanes can open up suddenly. Traffic lights change, pedestrians walk out in front of us. That’s what we fear.
But our own bikes? They’re not supposed to fail. If they do, it’s usually our fault.
Did you know your bike has dozens of moving parts? Chains stretch. Cables fray and snap. Brake pads wear thin. Tires go flat. Wheels bend and hubs loosen.
And when a bicycle component fails at the wrong time and place, the consequences can be deadly.
But here’s the good news.
The vast majority of bicycle mechanical failures are 100% preventable.
It’s not hard to keep your bike in working order. You don’t have to be a professional mechanic. You just have to do two things:
- Know what to check
- Check it often
The Maintenance You Should Do Each Week
Before you hop on your bike for every ride, do a safety check.
It should take you less than 5 minutes. But it could easily save your life.
Do these five things before every ride. Trust me.
Check Your Tires
I know. This should be obvious.
But just like tires are the leading cause of mechanical failure on cars and trucks, they’re the number one cause of bicycle accidents that don’t involve a crash with another object.
Here’s what to do.
- Use your thumb to push on your tires.
- They should feel firm, but with a little give.
- Look them over for bald spots or worn tread.
- Check for cuts and embedded glass or nails.
- Look at the sidewall for cracks or bulges.
- If they’re bad, throw them away and get new ones.
Pro Tip: If you’re serious about cycling, get a tire pressure gauge. Most cyclists run under-inflated tires.
Test Your Brakes
Okay, let’s talk brakes.
Brake failure is the scariest thing that can happen while you’re riding.
The good news is your brakes are one of the easiest things to test.
Squeeze both brake levers before you ride:
- They should engage about halfway to the handlebars.
- Walk your bike and make sure both brakes completely stop the wheels.
- Look at your brake pads. If they’re thin, replace them.
Red flag: If the brake levers are pulled all the way to the handlebars, don’t ride. Go to your local Sport & Leisure bike parts store for new cables or to have them adjusted.
Quick Chain Check
You know your chain is the heart of your bike’s drivetrain, right?
If your chain breaks while you’re riding, it’s a long way down. Better to spot the problem early.
Look for rust or corrosion
If your chain looks brown or orange, it needs attention.
Slowly backpedal and watch for stiff links.
A loose chain is a free chain. A tight chain will snap.
If your chain skips when you pedal hard, it may be stretched.
A healthy chain is clean and moves smoothly without noise.
If it doesn’t, get it cleaned and lubricated.
Monthly Deep Bike Maintenance
In addition to a pre-ride check, do a more thorough maintenance check at least once a month. These will help prevent problems before they develop.
Clean and Lubricate Your Chain
Did you know a dirty chain wears out much faster? And a worn out chain can break without warning?
Here’s how to clean and lube your chain correctly.
- Degrease your chain to remove built-up grime
- Apply lubricant, one drop per link
- Wipe off excess. Too much attracts more dirt.
It’ll take you 10 minutes, but it will extend the life of your chain by months.
Check Your Cables
Brake and shifting cables are under constant tension. When they fail, they usually fail suddenly.
Look for:
- Fraying at the cable ends
- Rust, which means water has gotten into the housing
- Kinks. Bent cables don’t move smoothly and can snap
- Cracks in the cable housing, which is plastic
Replace any cable that shows these warning signs.
Wheel and Spoke Inspection
Wheels take a beating. Broken spokes and loose wheels cause sudden crashes.
Spin each wheel and check for:
- Wobbles. The rim should spin straight
- Loose spokes. Pluck each spoke like a guitar string. They should sound similar.
- Hub bearings. Grab the rim and wiggle it. There shouldn’t be any play
Bring your bike in to a professional for repairs if you notice any of these problems.
Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Certain problems are so dangerous you should not ride your bike until you fix them.
Grinding or Scraping Noises
I know you think you can ride through some weird sounds, but trust me.
Metal-on-metal is almost always bad.
A noise usually indicates metal is grinding on metal somewhere. This could be:
- Brake pads worn down to the metal backing
- Chain rubbing against the derailleur
- Bearing failure in the wheels
- Stop riding and fix these immediately or they will get much worse in a hurry.
Loose Components
If something feels loose or wobbly, it must be tightened.
Handlebars – they should be rock solid
Seat post – no movement when you sit down hard
Pedals – should spin freely, but not wobble
Wheels – quick releases or bolts need to be fully tightened.
One loose component at the wrong moment can cause a crash.
Brake Problems
Never ride with faulty brakes. Signs your brakes need adjustment or repair include:
- Spongy feel – brake levers that are soft or push all the way to the handlebars
- Squealing – often means contaminated brake pads
- Grinding – metal-on-metal contact means worn pads
- Pulling to one side – one brake may be dragging or misaligned
If your brakes aren’t working correctly, fix them.
Tools Every Cyclist Needs
You don’t need a bike shop’s worth of tools. But you do need a few basics to handle most maintenance and repairs.
Essential Tools:
- Multi-tool – make sure it has hex keys, screwdrivers, and a chain breaker
- Tire levers – to remove your tires for fixing flats
- Portable pump – CO2 cartridges are nice, but pumps are reusable
- Chain lubricant – to keep your drivetrain running smoothly
Nice to have:
- Torque wrench – helps prevent over-tightening critical bolts
- Chain cleaning tool – to make chain maintenance easier
- Bike stand – to hold your bike still while you work
Basic tools won’t cost you a fortune and will pay for themselves quickly. You’ll never be stranded by simple mechanical failures.
Conclusion
Cycling is inherently dangerous.
Far, far more dangerous than most people realize.
But it doesn’t have to be.
Bicycle maintenance is not complicated. It doesn’t take a lot of time or money.
But it is necessary.
Those few minutes you spend each week checking your bike and the more in-depth monthly maintenance could save your life.
The statistics are real. Mechanical failure causes accidents every day. And almost all of those failures are preventable.
Don’t let poor maintenance make your next ride a statistic.
A safe ride is a well-maintained ride. And a well-maintained bike will let you ride another day.
Until next time…
