The basics of bike maintenance

Being able to look after your bike is one of the basic tenets of cycling – and it’s incredibly important. Prolong the life of your bike with these quick and easy bike maintenance tips.

Keep your seatpost clean

Start by putting some thin tape around your seatpost to mark the height of your seat. Then loosen your seatpost and remove it. Wipe it down with a clean damp rag, including inside the seat tube. Then dab some grease inside the seat tube and put the seatpost back into position on your bike (making sure of where the tape is) and tighten the clamp. Ask your bike shop for the best type of grease to use for your bike.

Maintain your bottom bracket’s cable guide

The cables on your bike, while generally strong and sturdy, do need some attention, particularly those that guide your derailleur cables because those help your gears to change easily. These are vulnerable to dirt from the road, and since they tend to be under your water bottle cage, they can also end up sticky with sports drink. Use a damp, clean cloth to carefully wipe away the grime and then spot a few drops of oil into the guides whenever your lube your chain.

Clean up that chain

Although it’s important for proper chain maintenance that it stay well lubed, this doesn’t mean that your chain should be a gooey mess. Before you lube your chain, take a rag and wipe it down to remove any excess lube and dirt. Then carefully drip oil into the moving parts of your chain (in between the side plates and under the centre roller). Let the lube soak into the chain for a few minutes and then wipe off the excess lube. Wipe your chain after each ride to prevent a build-up of grime.

These three easy bike maintenance tips will prolong the life of the delicate parts of your bike and make your bike mechanic’s life much easier.