Maintaining and repairing your bike is a subject that covers a wide area. In the interest of keeping things simple, we’ll break everything down into the basics of what you need to know to keep your ride operating smoothly and prevent problems from occurring in the first place.
To begin with, your bike’s drivetrain, which consists of the chain and it’s associated parts, is probably the most important thing to keep cleaned and maintained properly. Here is an excellent video demonstrating what you need to know:
Cleaning Your Bike
A bicycle, not unlike a fine watch, is a system of integrated moving parts. When these parts begin to accumulate dirt, mud and gunk from regular use, it can easily lead to problems over time. As Ben Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, and with bicycles this is certainly no exception. Keeping your ride properly cleaned is critical to your bike’s overall performance. However, this doesn’t mean just giving it an occasional quick spray down with a hose and then letting it dry.
It is important to remember that many bicycle components are delicate and/or prone to rust, and should be dried by hand with a soft cloth followed by a fresh application of lube if necessary. Some parts may need to be brushed while cleaning in order to remove especially stubborn road grime and grease.
When to Clean
How often you clean really depends on how often you go riding. It also depends on the type of cycling you engage in. For example, those who ride off-road and expose their bikes to muddy, wet or otherwise dirty conditions will need to clean far more often than those who only ride in the park or on bike lanes. The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to religiously clean your bike after each and every ride; however, it’s important to maintain a regular cleaning schedule based on your riding habits.
Bike Cleaning Supplies
Here’s a list of basic items you’ll need to keep on hand to complete most cleaning duties:
- Degreaser Having a good degreaser or other bike-safe solvent is necessary to help break up and remove the heavy gunk and grime that can accumulate on the drivetrain. If possible, use something that’s environmentally-friendly.
- Clean Towels Have a good supply of clean rags around for wiping your hands, removing excess grease or oil, drying your bike off and overall cleaning needs.
- Brushes Whether you use old toothbrushes or specialty bike brushes, having a few of these in different sizes and shapes really helps with getting the tougher gunk removed, especially from those hard-to-reach spots.
- Soap You can use ordinary dishwashing soap or a specialized bike cleaner for cleaning the frame.
- Water When used by either hose or spray bottle, water is one of the best all-purpose cleaners around.
Take a look at the REI website to see some bike-specific cleaners.
Keeping Things Tight
Since bikes are assembled and held together with bolts, nuts and screws, it only makes since to keep an eye on these components and making sure they’re secure. If they’re loose or aren’t properly tightened it can lead to poor performance, wear and tear, and safety issues. Conversely, you don’t want to risk damage to the bike by over-tightening, either. Your bicycle owner’s manual should provide you with the appropriate torque specifications.
Obviously, any device with moving parts will need some type of lubricant to ensure proper performance, prevent premature wear and inhibit rust formation or corrosion. However, excessive lubrication can be detrimental as well since it attracts additional dirt and contributes to a build up of grime. Always remember to wipe away any excess lubrication from the bike after you are finished.
Types of Lubricants
- Oil Used for lubricating the chain and drivetrain, thin-thread bolts, handbrake levers, and most moving parts on the bike.
- Grease Greases are heavier and thicker in consistency than oils and are used mainly for lubricating bearing systems, such as hubs and headsets, and large-thread bolts, like those on pedal spindles.
The type of lubes you use should also reflect your riding and weather conditions. Drier locations call for lighter oils that will inhibit attracting excessive amounts of dirt. Wetter environments will dictate having a more substantial type of lubricant that is applied more often.
What to Lubricate
- Chain This is the part of the bike that gets the most attention. Keep it lubed often to prevent premature chain wear, especially if it squeaks or otherwise appears dry. Also lubricate after exposure to water to discourage the formation of rust. As necessary, remove the chain completely and clean thoroughly in solvent before re-lubing. Avoid applying excessive lubrication.
- Derailleur and Brake Levers Occasionally adding one or two drops of oil to the barrel adjusters and lever pivots will help to maintain proper function.
- Derailleur and Brake Cables These should be examined often, more so in wet conditions, and lubricated as necessary to ensure a quick relay to their respective components.
- Derailleur and Brake Assemblies Comprised of several small moving parts, add lube to the pivot points as needed. Remeber to check the pulleys, arms and wheels to make sure they aren’t at risk of becoming locked up.
- Bearing Systems This includes the hubs, cranksets and headsets and is in the category of more advanced maintenance, but for those interested, here are some links for maintenance of wheel hubs, cranksets, and headsets.
Pre-Ride Bike Inspection
Each time before you go riding it’s a good idea to perform a pre-ride inspection of you bike. This can catch potential problems early, which could make the difference between a minor issue and a big one. Usually, most of the things you notice will be easily fixed with a bike multitool.
When to Seek Professional Help
When in doubt, take your bike to a professional. Even if you’re familiar with basic bike maintenance, having your bike inspected and serviced once or twice a year is a smart move. By taking your bicycle to a reputable bike shop, an experienced mechanic can evaluate and identify issues and make any necessary adjustments to the trickier components like derailleurs, bearings, cables and spokes.
For a wide selection of various maintenance supplies, check out the REI bike tools page.