A- |

Bicycle maintenance

Basic maintenance

A healthy bike works better, is safer and more fun to ride than one that has been neglected by its owner. Servicing and repairing a bike is inexpensive compared to a car.

Depending on how often you ride, you should maintain your bike on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. No matter how expensive or new the bike, it must be serviced at least once a year by an experienced and knowledgeable bicycle mechanic.

Doing it yourself

The beauty of a bike is its simplicity. You can carry out many repair and maintenance jobs yourself. To make this task easier, have the right tools, allow yourself plenty of time and do the job methodically. The reward for your effort is the satisfaction of doing the job yourself (and perhaps saving a few dollars) while learning new skills and gaining the confidence to carry out more difficult repair tasks.

Tool Kit

The basics are a puncture repair kit, tyre levers, screwdriver, set of allen keys, set of spanners or a small shifting spanner, cleaning rags and an old toothbrush, and lubricants such as light oil and grease. More advanced work will require specialist tools.

Daily maintenance

Whenever you intend to ride, first give the bike a quick lookover. Check the brakes and tyre pressure. Properly inflated tyres are easier to ride on, prevent damage to the wheel rims when hitting bumps, and reduce the chance of punctures.

Weekly maintenance

If it is required, lubricate exposed moving parts of the bike with a light oil, such as sewing machine oil. Do not get oil on the tyres or rims, and do not use penetrating spray oil on bearings.

Oil: front and rear derailleur gears; front and rear brake pivots; brake and gear levers; and a small amount on each chain link.

Monthly maintenance

Check the major items on your bike as follows:

Wheels

Check tyre pressure and condition. The valves should be upright and not leaking.
The wheels should be straight and true, without dents or other damage.
Replace broken spokes and tighten loose ones.
Check axle nuts and cones. Tighten if necessary.
If the wheels have quick release mechanisms (especially the front wheel), make sure they are securely fastened, otherwise the wheels could fall out, causing a crash and severe injury to the rider.

Brakes

Check brake blocks for wear, and make sure they contact squarely with the rim, not the tyre.
Replace worn or frayed brake cables.
Adjust brakes so that, even when braking hard, there is still some clearance between the brake levers and handlebars.

Gears

Check derailleur gear action and cables (derailleur repairs are best left to a mechanic).
Clean chain with a rag soaked in degreaser and re-oil.
Clean rear sprockets.

Steering

Check for looseness in the handlebar and stem.

Pedals

The axle must spin freely.
Check pedal axles and bottom bracket axles for excessive looseness.

Frame

Inspect for damage.
Ensure seat post height is correct and that the seat post bolt is tight.

Puncture Repair

If your bike tyre goes flat, do not automatically assume it is punctured - especially if the leak is slow. Rotate the wheel until the valve is at the top and then submerge it in a glass of water. If bubbles form, replace the valve.

If the problem is a puncture, here is the recommended way to repair it:

Release brake callipers and remove the wheel by unbolting it, or loosening the quick release levers if fitted. Rear wheels are easier to remove if the chain is on the smallest gear at both the chainwheel and the cluster.
Remove the tyre by either carefully prising it off with tyre levers, or by squeezing the tyre into the rim's well and peeling it off at the opposite point of the rim.
Check around the inside of the tyre. If the sharp object that caused the puncture is still there, remove it. If the puncture is on the inside of the tube, check the rim of the wheel and the rim tape.
Check the tube for a hole. Do this by pumping it up and holding it underwater while looking for bubbles, or listen and feel for escaping air. Mark the hole.
Use sandpaper or the scratcher from a puncture repair kit to roughen the area around the hole. Spread glue thinly and evenly on the tube, wait for it to dry, position the patch over the marked hole and put pressure on it. (A faster method is to use one of the new glueless patches)
Pump up the tube slightly. Slip one edge of the tyre into the rim. Push the tube's valve into the rim's hole and then, starting from the valve, push the tube inside the tyre. Make sure the valve stem is upright and the tube isn't twisted.
Begin to place the second edge of the tyre onto the rim. (Only about 75 per cent of the tyre will go on easily, the rest needs to be coaxed onto the rim). For really stubborn tyres, use tyre levers to lever the tyre on slowly making sure not to pinch the tube.
When completed, pump a bit more air into the tube to check that it isn't caught and the tyre is properly seated on the rim. Once satisfied, you can inflate the tyre fully.

Publications

The following brochures in this series are available at bicycle retailers.