Bicycle Care

When it comes to taking care of your bicycle it can be hard to keep track of what kind of maintenance you have to do and when or how often you should be doing it. So here at A Vintage Bike we’ve compiled a convenient list of the maintenance that you should be doing at various stages of ownership of your bicycle over the years. There is some maintenance that should be done every time you ride your bicycle and some that doesn’t need to be done more than once a year. Take a look at the list below to keep track of what you should be doing to take good care of your bicycle and when.

Every Time You Ride

Every time you ride your bicycle you should make a point of checking the tire pressure and adding any air that might be needed - just like with a car this helps the wear of your bicycle tires and keeps you safe. It also makes your bike easier to pedal and ride. You should also be paying attention to any wheel wobble that might be occurring and checking to make sure wheels are tight and secure. Check the tread and wear of your tires and take a good look to see if you can spot any debris that may cause a flat in your tire. You should also be checking your brakes each time you ride to make sure that they aren’t worn down and that they are hitting the rims of your bicycle (not the tires) as well as taking a look at the suspension to be sure it’s working properly. Lastly you always want to check on the lubrication to see if it’s dry and add any it might need as well as making sure you’ve got all the tools you need to repair any parts of your bicycle if necessary.

Once A Month

Every month you should make a point of cleaning your bicycle with soap and water and doing a thorough once over of your bike to look for signs of wear or cracks as well as wiping down the chain and cogs with a clean rag. You should also check for any loose spokes in the wheels and test for tightness in different parts of your bicycle such as the seat bolt, stem bolts, handlebar bolts, pedals and crank-arms as well as making sure that and pedals or cleats don’t have any loose screws or bolts. It’s also a good idea to add some lubrication to the brakes, derailleur, and the cables to prevent them from binding as well as suspension components. Take a good look at the cables to check for any fraying as well.

Every Six Months

Every six months or so it’s a good idea to clean and wax the frame of your bicycle to protect the paint and finish on it but this isn’t necessary if your bicycle is titanium and once its clean inspect the frame for any cracks or damage. Check and replace your tires if needed as well as your spare tube and make sure your patch kit is complete and working. check and replace any brakes or brake pads that are worn as well as any cables that are frayed or need repair and keep an eye out for rust or any breaks or corrosion. It’s also important that you go over all the mechanics of your bicycle and check the chain, cassette cog, drive train, derailleurs and so on and make sure that everything has proper lubrication and is in good working condition. Make sure that you also take time to lubricate your suspension components as well.

Once A Year

Once a year it’s a good idea to check all your bearings, hubs, brackets, and pedals and then see if there are any adjustments or repairs that are needed. Go through and work on all the cables and housings and look for fraying, breaks, rust, and corrosion and do any replacing that’s necessary. You should also replace brake pads, brake hoods, and do a complete overhaul on the pedals and bearings as well as checking toe straps (if you use them) and check for any wear. Look at your wheels for signs of wear or breaking and any cracks on the spokes. Of course you also want to make sure you do a full lubrication check on the whole bicycle and lubricate the frame, the suspension components, and your home pump as well.

If you stay regular with your maintenance and do a good job on the upkeep of your bicycle then it will last you for many years to come.