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So the warm weather is here again, and the shorts and flip-flops have come out of retirement. The garden has been spruced up and ready to entertain, but what about that other neglected item that you own? The bicycle.
Whether you are an enthusiast with a 21-speed road bike worthy of the Tour De France, or you have a nice mountain bike that was a great purchase in the sales last year, a BMX that you have lovingly restored, or it’s the kid’s bikes that have all been sitting in the garage or garden shed eagerly awaiting the first rays of sunshine, it is now time to do some do-it-yourself bike servicing and maintenance to get your bicycle in tip top shape, ready for the summer.
Obviously you can take them to a local bike shop where they will carry out all the bike maintenance, service and repairs needed to get your bicycle functioning properly, but this is for those who not only want to save money but would like to do-it-yourself.
First of all, apologies to all those who use their bikes all year round that are experienced mechanics and have been regularly servicing and maintaining them, as you will not need to read on, but for the vast majority of us who are fair-weather cyclists, this is the time of year that we drag our long-forgotten modes of transport out from whichever dark corner they have been residing in during the long winter months. Now we want to get out on them.
Inevitably they will need some service and maintenance work in order to get them road worthy, and here we have a few simple and easy tips of know how learn how to fix them and what to do to get safely back in the saddle.
Tools
You will need some basic essential tools for the job in hand, and you will not need to raid your toolbox for most of these.
You are going to need the following:
- Allen Keys
- Flathead Screwdriver
- Phillips Head Screwdriver
- Spanners or wrench (all you have as bikes use many different sizes)
- 3-in1 Oil
- WD40
- Gloves (optional)
Very basic multi tool kit, really, as most bicycles will have nuts, bolts, and screws to tighten and remove, and all have moving or working parts that will need oil or at least some WD40 for lubrication.
Top Tip: If you have dust sheets or a polythene sheet, then put the bike on top of these as the oil can be greasy and potentially stain your paving or hard surface area you are working on.
Step 1.
Not everybody does this step as a general rule, but I first spray any nuts, bolts, screws, cables, brakes, brake pads, gear levers, pedals, bike chain, spokes, crank and other moving components with a little WD40 and leave it to soak in for a few minutes. This will assist in loosening any key components that has become tight over the winter and give time for the WD40 to evaporate, making your nest step easier.
The bike chain will also need lubricating with some 3-in1 oil added to it. The most effective way to do this it to turn the bicycle upside down and rest it on the handlebars and the seat. Drop a small bit of 3-in-1 oil onto the large cog and the gear hub and run the pedals by hand. This will gently lubricate the entire chain mechanism from front to back.
Step 2.
Check all nuts, bolts, and screws are tight. If any are loose, lubricating, adjusting and replacing accordingly.
Paying attention to the saddle and loosening the bolts that hold the saddle in place to raise the bar up and down, adding a small squirt of WD40 before securing back to the designated height.
Do the exact same with the handlebars too. In the centre of the handlebars is a hexagonal bolt, and once you have found the appropriate size Allen key to fit, loosen it slightly until you feel the bars moving up and down. Raise the handlebar as high as they can go (but do not completely remove them), as there is a mark indicating where to stop. Spray some more WD40 lubricant, as this can reduce the amount of oxidisation and corrosion.
Top Tip: Raising handlebars and seats is imperative if your children have grown since their last bicycle ride, as this will be safer and improve their ability to ride.
Step 3.
Brakes are the most important components on a bicycle as without them, you are going to get hurt, so paying attention to these is vital as they will have either frozen or, in some cases, perished.
The first thing is to check they are fully functioning as with the old brake pads or, as they are officially known, cantilever rim brakes; they will need regular checks as the cable can become frayed with excessive wear. If they are stiff, then the adjustment is easy.
There is a small, usually cross-head screw that goes into the brake lever, and this is the tensioner that you can tighten so that the brake handle returns to its place after being pulled. Well worth adjusting this as the spring mechanisms on most bikes are notoriously temperamental. Secondly, the actual brake cable will need to be checked.
The cable is held in place to the brake handle, but a hexagonal bolt can be adjusted using one of the spanners you have. Most bicycles will have a 13mm bolt holding the cable but not all. This secures the cable in place with the brake handle and may need re-adjusting every few weeks, depending on your bike usage.
Step 4.
The brake and gear cables that feed the brakes and the gear mechanisms will no doubt become loose over the rest they have had, so any adjustment to these will help with a better braking system and smoother gear changes.
If you have old-fashioned cantilever rim brakes, the cable can lose its tension and cause the brake calliper to malfunction, and you do not want that if you are going downhill. Again, most bicycle manufacturers will have a hex bolt that you can adjust using one of your Allen keys, and this is a simple job if you keep testing the tension and how well the brakes grip the wheel rim.
Gear mechanism and its cables are a more complicated task, and if you are not too sure, this may be worth asking the advice of a professional. The main focus for the gear cables is to ensure that they are tight, as otherwise, you will have clunky gear changes, which, again, you do not want if you are coming down that hill!
The point at which you can adjust the gear cable is usually at the crank or just beside the bottom bracket of your pedals, and this is commonly a hex head that requires an Allen key. Again, adding a little WD40 or a tiny amount of 3-in-1 oil will lubricate this area and keep it virtually maintenance-free for the rest of the summer.
Step 5.
The Wheels, which some argue are the most important bicycle part, will definitely need attention if the bike has not been used in some time.
The first thing to do is give the nuts that hold the bike to the front forks a good tighten and lubrication; the same goes for the back wheel. The front wheels usually have a quick-release mechanism, so taking the wheel off and tightening any bolts is essential for the well-being of the bike and you!
Step 6.
Tyres are going to need air put back into them as they would have deflated over the colder months. Possibly the most straightforward job but one of the most necessary as the more air you have, the easier it will be to ride the bicycle.
Most tyres will have an embossed detail that will tell you how much air pressure or PSI they require, but if you cannot see this, then it is worth checking the manufacturer’s details online. A bike pump that fits your particular bicycle is easy to use and affordable to buy.
Top Tip: Not all tyres need the same amount of PSI as diameter and thickness will differ from tyre to tyre.
Step 7.
The final step is the fun part: Cleaning your bicycle. Now that you have made the bike safe and summer ready, you should give it a good clean with warm soapy water and a rinse with cool, clear water as not only will it look good but remove the grime, debris and greasiness from the quick service and maintenance you have just accomplished.
In Conclusion
If you are getting out and pedal your bike, especially if the kids are too, then simple maintenance will make it functioning properly, pleasurable and safer.
The idea is to enjoy riding your bike; knowing it is safe and sound may entice you to use it more. Speaking of which, I am now popping to the butchers on my bike instead of using the car.
Top Tip: Always take a few tools with you on every cycling adventure in case of emergencies.
