Bike maintenance 101
Unlike cars, bicycles are relatively simple and inexpensive to maintain. All you need is to check off a few things on regular intervals. This guide provides that checklist. As the saying goes, an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Before each ride
Tire Pressure-Just like with your vehicle, tires naturally lose pressure over time. Low pressure increases rolling resistance and wears down tread faster. In addition to being a less enjoyable ride, this can also pose a safety issue. Tires with low pressure are prone to pinch flats or issues cornering turns. Recommended PSI for your bike with be stamped along the sidewall of the tire. A good Floor Pump with a gauge is a must have at home.
Once a month
Chain Lubrication- Lubricant plays an important roll in wear and tear on your drivetrain (your chain and gears). Cleaning and re-lubing your chain significantly increases the longevity of your bike and also makes for a quieter ride. Simply wrap a damp cloth around the chain and rotate the pedals backwards 5-10 times with your other hand. Then apply a dropper lubricant such as Finish Line Dry Lube directly onto the chain, again while turning the pedals backwards 5-10 revolutions with your other hand.
For casual riders, once a month during season is a good interval for this maintenance. For more serious cyclists, clean and lube your chain once every 300-400 miles.
Every 1500 Miles
This may seem like a huge distance, but if you ride 30 miles a week (1 casual ride, 2 commutes to work and a trip to the grocery store), you’ll cover this distance in one year. If you want your ride to last for years to come, the following maintenance is a must.
Chain replacement and professional tuning- Most bicycle chains will stretch out enough to be in need of replacement every 1500-1800 miles, if chains are not replaced they will begin to cause havoc on your drivetrain, wearing down the teeth on your cassette and front chainrings.
In addition to this, it would be a good time to inspect brake pads, cable stretch and spoke tension after this mileage, as it’s likely some level of tuning/replacement will be necessary.
Every 5-10 Years
After this interval, your bike will likely be in need of a higher level tune-up. While basic tune up packages cover adjustments for gears, brakes, rims and cleaning, Higher lever tune ups address dried out bearings in need of adjustment/regreasing. After 5-10 years of use, it’s highly likely your bike is not rolling as efficiently as it used to due to these issues.
