You must have heard of maintaining your bike on regular intervals. But ever wondered what those intervals are? Or Which is the best way to maintain your bike with DIY?

As a beginner it can be confusing to DIY your bike service and maintenance but actually it is not that hard. It is very essential to maintain your bike for its optimal performance. From cleaning, lubing, and degreasing everything is a major part. 

If you yourself don’t do basic maintenance of your bike then you might face these problems. Early wear and tear of bike components, reduced efficiency and performance of bikes and lastly heavy repair cost on professional areas. 

We have collected this cycle care guide with expert recommendations and professional maintenance methods so you can have the best bicycle maintenance schedule for yourself. 

What is pre-ride Inspection (ABC)?

This is a process which as a rider you should always check as it increases cycle life. It should be indulged in your habits to inspect your ABC everytime before going on a long ride. 

• A is for AIR Check your tyres and see if they are optimally inflated in the range they should be. Your tires should feel firm but not too lousy. If the pressure is too high or low it can lead to drastic misfortunes. 
• Brakes One of the most important components for your bike are the brakes. Check if your levers engage completely, Check their braking actions and response and also see the brake pads. 
• Chain Third and most important thing which makes your bike move is the chain so make sure it is properly lubricated and fits your bike perfectly. Check if your crank arms are not too loose.

Major tools which every rider should have for maintenance

• Allen wrench set: Minor adjustments can be done on the bike with multi size allens so always keep them in your tool case. 
• Tire levers: Very useful tool when you are removing flat tires. 
• Chain tool: Used to maintain chain and sever or connect a link. 
• Pump with pressure gauge: This is very useful for flat tires and to check if a tire has a puncture or not. 
• Lubricants and degreasers: Used to maintain bikes efficiency and clean the components of the bike. 

How to completely maintain your Bikes?

These are things which you should keep in mind when you are doing maintenance of your bikes: 

Cleaning your bike

Bike cleaning is not important only for outer appearance but it is important for a healthy and long life of your bikes. You should frequently clean your bikes even when you are riding in a dry environment. They still get dust and dirt and that’s why it’s important to clean cycle chain every once in a while. 

Follow these steps to perfectly clean your bike:

• Rinse: Use water to remove normal dust and dirt
• Degrease: Degrease the drivetrain and its components. 
• Scrub: Scrub hard with brushes to reach every corner and component. 
• Dry: People tend to forget it but drying the bike is also important to keep it rust free. 

Expert tip: You shouldn’t use hard water pressure as it can damage bearing rather use wet clothes and mugs. 

Lubrication process

Lubricate your bike components for a smoother and efficient ride experience. Proper lubrication of your bike can reduce friction and also stops roughage from it. It prevents rust and ensures your bikes always give a smooth and strong performance. 

Major components which needs lubrication

• Chain: Clean the chain and then apply lubrication while rotating pedals backwards. 
• Derailleurs: you should lubricate the pivot points of derailleurs. 
• Brake shift and levers: Increase the responsiveness of brake levers to ensure smooth operation. 

You should degrease first before lubricating and avoid over using the lubricator. This prevents accumulation of more dirt. 

Tire and wheel maintenance

Tires or wheels should always be checked before you go on a ride. A recommended air pressure is so important that it can cause you your life if not checked and maintained properly. 

Thing you should keep in mind

• Tire wear: Inspect your tire thoroughly for uneven threads, cuts, or punctures. 
• Wheel trueness: Spin wheel and check for any kind of wobble or loose nut you may find. 
• Hub inspection: Ensure  the hub is rotating properly without any interference or friction. 

Brake system management

Your brakes should be well maintained for your safety and maintaining them is not very hard. Just regular brake inspection and lubrication can do the trick and you can see your calibers lasting longer than normal. 

Main components of brake systems

• Brake Pads: Check for any kind of wear and if you found then replace is as soon as possible
• Brake cables: Inspect your cables if they are loose or they have any kind of rust. They might break anytime. 
• Brake levers: Lubricate your brake levers so they don’t get stuck and engage easily when pressure is applied properly. 

Drivetrain care

Drivetrain is the soul of your Bicycle which should be taken care of regularly and with specific tools. 

Steps to take care of Drivetrain

• Cleaning: You should clean and degrease your drivetrain and chainstays with proper degreasing solutions. 
• Lubrication: For proper movement and efficient power transfer use recommended lube after cleaning. 
• Chain wear: Check proper tools to monitor your chain wear and replace if necessary. 

Major components: These are the major components of a drivetrain chain, cassette, chainrings, and Derailleurs.

When Should you seek professional help?

We know professional help is expensive and a waste of time for small conveniences like flat tires or adjusting chains a little or everything which you can DIY but this doesn’t mean it is complete waste. Seek professionals help:

• Complex repairs: When you have complex works which you can’t do or don’t have proper tools like suspension servicing, hydraulic brakes, or wheel building. 
• Regular tune up: For your annual maintenance and checkups you should seek professional experts' insights. 

Conclusion

Taking care of your bike allows your every ride to be great. Your cycling journey will be safer and last longer if you follow these bicycle maintenance tips in India. Cleaning your cycle chain or caring for your bike properly always makes a difference in every pedal stroke.

At CycloCraze, we believe that your bike should get the very best, since everyone’s rides hold memorable stories. 

If you properly maintain your bike, it will last longer and you’ll have fewer bumps in your trips. You can depend on CycloCraze for help From tools to advice on day one till you’re a seasoned cyclist.

Come visit Cyclocraze in Gurgaon or look through our range of specially picked parts to keep your bike running smoothly!

Your Bike deserves care and you deserves Cyclocraze