Subscribe
Bike Hint
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Accessories
  • Bikes
  • Bikepacking
  • Clothing
  • Parts
  • Trails
  • More
    • About Us
    • Contact
  • Home
  • Accessories
  • Bikes
  • Bikepacking
  • Clothing
  • Parts
  • Trails
  • More
    • About Us
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Bike Hint
No Result
View All Result
Home Bikes

Bike Maintenance Tips

Sean Kramer by Sean Kramer
April 4, 2021
in Bikes
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
bike maintenance tips

Though not as expensive as a car or a house, a bike is still a big investment. And that’s why you need to take good care of it. Repairs are expensive. By following these bike maintenance tips, you can limit the trips you make to the bike mechanic.

7 Bike Maintenance Tips

  1. Tires

Riding your bike frequently is a great start, but keeping your tires is another. You have to regularly check its pressure before going for a ride. Safety concerns aside, having the right air pressure in your tires greatly improves your biking experience.

Use a quality pressure gauge to determine your tires’ pressure. Remember, your tires’ condition will affect the friction and brakes of your bike — which are the basics you need in having a smooth, safe, and awesome ride.

  1. Chain Tension

Do you still remember all the hassle you had to go through as a kid when reattaching your bike’s loose chains? The grease that goes on your hands, which eventually goes to your clothes. And of course, mom’s scornful look when you go home with grease all over?

What if the same thing happens to you on your way to work? What a hassle, right? Proper bike maintenance involves checking your bike chain’s tension regularly.  It can be such a lifesaver! Regularly lubricate your chains to keep it from rusting, which can affect your pedaling and your overall biking experience.

  1. Grease

Do you want your bike to squeak every time you pedal? Bet not!

Applying the proper amount of grease can help maintain the functionality of your bike. The grease helps your chain, wheels, and pedals roll smoothly. Be careful not to put too much though. You don’t want grease migrating to your bike’s frame, much more to your clothes when you are riding.

bike maintenance

  1. Brakes, quick release hubs, and handlebar

Checking your brakes, quick release hubs, and the handlebar is very important when maintaining your bike. Riding with broken brakes spell disaster.

Aside from brakes, make sure your quick release hubs are in tune as well — the quality of your ride depends on it.

Your handlebar is the main balancer and controller of your bike. It’s like your car’s steering wheel! Make sure your handlebar is sturdy and the brake cables are properly connected when going through your bike maintenance routine.

Having these three regularly checked and managed will save you from a lot of trouble during a ride, and will definitely keep your bike and yourself in perfect condition!

  1. Cleanliness

We can’t stress enough the importance of keeping your bicycle clean. Taking a few minutes to clean your bike after a ride can greatly prolong its lifespan especially if you have been on a muddy track. Trapped dirt can be detrimental to your bike if not cleaned immediately. It attracts rust and damages your bike’s finish.

Cleaning your bike on a regular basis can also give it a fresh, new look — giving you that sense of pride every time you roll on the street. In addition, keeping your bike clean will also make it easier for you to check for anything loose or mechanically amiss, and give it immediate attention to avoid future damages or accidents.

  1. Develop a Routine Bike Maintenance Schedule

Knowing how often you use your bike can help you develop a bike maintenance schedule. Depending on your biking activity, you can have it checked after a certain span of time.

If you are a heavy biker, you should check it weekly or if feasible, after every ride. Check your tires for shards of glass, loose cables or brakes, uneven seat pad, or too much dirt that can negatively affect your chain’s or tires’ performance.

You can also do it monthly if you do not use your bike on a daily basis.

Every 6 months, check your bike for any missing bearings in the pedal, headset, hubs and bottom bracket adjustment and overall inspection. Some bearings cannot be adjusted and need to be replaced. Doing it every 6 months will save you a lot of time and money.

Lastly, overhauling your bike annually for major changes or repairs in brakes, tires, cables, and bearings is highly recommended. This will also give you a chance to think about changing the look of your bike or installing awesome upgrades!

  1. Develop a biking habit

Things tend to get rusty when not used often. To keep your bike in proper condition, use it regularly by developing a biking habit. Using your bike on a regular basis will help keep its functionality and efficiency.

Developing a biking habit can also contribute a lot to your personal well-being as it provides lots of health and environmental benefits.

Bike Maintenance Tools that are Worth Owning

How will you maintain your bike without the proper tools? Here are some must-have bike maintenance tools that’ll make your routine maintenance easy and fast!

  1. Spoke Wrench

This tool is a must-have for bike rim correction. Made from stainless steel, this 6 in 1 spoke wrench will make repairing or aligning your bicycle wheels a breeze!

spoke wrench

  1. Pedro’s Tire Levers

Need to change a flat tire? Pedro’s Tire Levers can save your day. Made of composite plastic for strength and durability, these multi-awarded tire levers have been a boon to thousands of bikers around the country.

tire lever

  1. Park Tool Pedal Wrench

Built to last, this pedal wrench is designed to fit into skinniest pedal axles you can find.

park tool wrench

  1. Park Tool Cable Cutter

Another quality product from Park Tool. This cable cutter is useful in snipping cables, cutting housings, and crimping caps.

cable cutter

 

  1. Chain Tool

Made from quality materials, Oumers Universal Bike Chain tool is a must-have for popping in or pushing out a peg when repairing or removing your bike chain. Its integrated chain hook holds the links during assembly.

bike chian tool

Proper bike maintenance is crucial to you and your bike’s safety. With the right tools and skills, you can keep your bike running well for years. Only you can give the quality service your bike deserves.

Tags: bike maintenance
Previous Post

How You Can Develop a Biking Habit

Next Post

Best Cycling Shoes

Sean Kramer

Sean Kramer

Sean is our in-house writer and BMX-mad adventurist. He received his first BMX bike for his 8th birthday, and since then, has never looked back. If he isn’t writing brutally honest reviews or sharing tips for Bike Hint, you can expect to find him practising tricks at the BMX track. As well as being BMX-obsessed, Sean has an avid passion for bike repairs. His many years of high-intensity cycling has resulted in a few mishaps along the way, making him the perfect man for repair knowledge. He can spot flaws from a mile off and knows exactly how to fix them on a budget.

Related Posts

Bikes

The Best Fat Tire Bikes for [year]

October 20, 2021
assault bike workouts
Bikes

5 Awesome Assault Bike Workouts

May 10, 2021
biking to lose weight
Bikes

How Many Calories You can Burn from Riding a Bike?

May 10, 2021
how to fix bike gears that won't shift
Bikes

How to Fix Bike Gears That Won’t Shift

May 10, 2021
Next Post

Best Cycling Shoes

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Newsletter

Be the first to get our recap with the latest news, articles and resources.

DMCA.com Protection Status

Pages

  • Mountain Bikes
  • Fat Tire Bikes
  • Road Bikes
  • Urban Bikes
  • Electric Bikes
  • Balance Bikes
  • Kids Bikes
  • Adult Tricycle
  • Cycling Shorts
  • Cycling Socks
  •  
  • Cycling Bags
  • Bike Helmet
  • Bike Saddles
  • Bottle Cages
  • Water Bottles
  • Bike Lock
  • Bike Trainers
  • Hydration Bladders
  • Bike Racks
  • Bar Tape
  • Cycling Shoes
  • Cycling Gloves
  • Bike Lights
  • Bike Computer
  • Bone Conduction Headphones
  • Wheel Lights
  • Bike Pump
  • Bike Tools
  • Bike Cleaning Products
  • Bike Stands
  • Energy Bars
  • Energy Gels
  • Protein Powders
  • Cycling Glasses
  •  

Pages

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2021 Bike Hint

BikeHint.com makes use of affiliate relationships with merchants for monetization. This means when you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in a commission that is credited to this site. 

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Accessories
  • Bikes
  • Bikepacking
  • Clothing
  • Parts
  • Trails
  • More
    • About Us
    • Contact

© 2020 Bike Hint