Maintaining your bike

Why is it worth properly maintaining your bike?

As with any vehicle, you'll have more fun riding it if it's clean and in good condition. The same goes for your bike. What's more, a bike in good condition contributes to its rider's safety and will have a longer lifespan without needing a repairer's help. Don't forget either that to be allowed on public roads, your vehicle must comply with the highway code.

So plan a quick check of your bike several times a year, especially after a long period of not using it (for example after winter). Do it somewhere with enough space and use suitable tools.

Clean your bike if it's dirty after a ride (covered in mud or road salt). You can easily do this with a sponge, warm water, a bit of dish soap and a cloth.

Which checks should be carried out regularly?

• Tyre pressure: The ideal tyre pressure is normally between 3.5 and 4 bar. The recommended pressure is often printed on the side of your tyre. The thin tyres of road bikes ideally need a higher pressure than the thick tyres of mountain bikes. It's harder to check the pressure of thick tyres by pressing the rubber with your thumb. In that case, use a pump that shows you the pressure. Just like with cars, under-inflated tyres wear out faster and increase the risk of a puncture.
• Tyre condition: Check the flexibility of the tyres, the depth of the tread and make sure there are no cracks on the side or edge of the tyre. Don't ride with worn tyres, replace them in good time.
• The chain: the chain should also be in good condition and have a bit of slack (around 5 mm). Make sure to lubricate or oil it regularly. In (specialist) shops, you'll find all kinds of products for this purpose, which don't need to be expensive to work well.
• The brakes: Having good brakes is absolutely essential. Regularly check the condition of your brake pads. Pull the brake lever and check the distance between the brake lever and the handlebar grip. Ideally, there should be a gap of a few centimetres between them.
• Reflectors and reflective strips: Make sure they're firmly attached to the bike in the required places. They also need to be clean to be effective.
• The lights: Check the condition of your lights, dynamo and/or batteries. If necessary, keep a spare set of lights in your bike bag.

Other parts and accessories of your bike need checking a little less often but should also be in good condition, such as the wheel spokes (make sure there's some "give" of 2 to 3 mm), the pedals, the saddle and the bell.

If you have an electric bike, charge the battery somewhere safe and keep it at room temperature.

Also read the article "How do you properly hand-wash your car or bike?"

5 golden tips for making the most of your bike

• Unless you're a born handyman, buy a bike that's easy to maintain and read the warranty and maintenance advice carefully. Don't forget to read the advice about the battery if you have an electric bike.
• Park your bike in a covered shelter so it's protected from the weather. Use a good lock or padlock.
• Don't just take care of your bike, take care of yourself too. Wear suitable, visible and/or reflective clothing and a helmet. Don't overload your bike with heavy loads. Read our tips if you cycle in winter.
• Is your bike making strange noises, or is there a problem you can't fix yourself? Then go to a bike repairer. This will limit the damage and reduce the risk of breaking down along the way.
• Don't forget to take out good assistance cover that covers you as well as your bike. If you break down or your bike is damaged during a ride, you'll be helped quickly and won't have to walk the rest of the way.