Regular Maintenance

Regular maintenance is an important part of owning a bicycle. This will ensure that the various parts of the bike will keep working for as long as possible. It also allows the owner to recognise any faults and fix them before they get worse.

Before going out for a ride the owner should do a thorough inspection of their bike. The most important things to check are the air in the tyres, brakes and chain. As long as those are in working order the bike should be safe to use.

However, there are other parts of the vehicle that should be looked at regularly. A bike is put together by dozens of nuts and bolts. Over time these may become loosened, affecting performance. Keeping an eye on these and tightening them will ensure that the bicycle is in a rideable condition.

Bikes should also be cleaned of any mud and dirt. The frequency of cleaning will depend on the type of riding being done. For instance, off road BMXs will need to be wiped and polished more often. The chain needs to be lubricated to prevent wear from friction.

The internet is a useful source for knowing how to properly maintain a bicycle. There are numerous articles on the subject from news sites such as the Telegraph which give good advice. However, it is also important to be careful about where this information is coming from. Some websites will just try to sell bicycle related products and give biased opinions on the tools to use for maintenance.