Blue skies and warm weather are the perfect combo for bicycle riding. It’s time to get your bike out of storage and give it a quick eye test to assess the overall condition of your bike. Obvious issues like flat tires, broken seats, and bent rims will require repair, but general maintenance should only take a few minutes.
First you’ll want to give your bike a good washing by simply hosing it down to remove dirt and mud. Then you can dive deeper into the overall health of your bike and evaluate what it really needs. Use this checklist and you’ll be cruising by the weekend.
Adjust Seat
Tighten and adjust your bike seat before using it for the first time. A loose seat can lead to trouble and an uncomfortable ride. If the seat cover is worn out and springs are exposed, then replace your seat immediately.
Check Tire Pressure
Wheel spokes keep your wheels true (straight), so you should occasionally check to make sure they are all tight. Use a spoke wrench to tighten the spoke at the base. Don’t overtighten and make sure you use the correct size wrench. The one shown above can be used on spokes of various sizes. It’s a good idea to check your spokes every few months, even if you don’t notice anything wrong.
Check Brake Levers
Pull on your brake levers and make sure they engage both sides of the brake pads on each wheel. If the pull on the lever is too long, unscrew the barrel adjuster a few turns and test it. The brakes should not stick and should fully stop the wheel in motion. A frayed or sticky cable should be replaced with a new brake cable.
Check Brake Pads
The length of your brake pads should press against your rim when activated, and they should not wiggle or be loose. Replace worn brake pads immediately and adjust the cable if they are too far from the rim.
Adjust Derailleurs and Shifters
Use a bike stand or prop your bike upside down and run it through the gears as you are spinning the pedals. Check to make sure it hits the shift points smoothly and make slight adjustments to the front and rear derailleur to keep the chain centered on each gear. You’ll need a small Phillips-head screwdriver to adjust the derailleurs, and notice how much the derailleur moves for each quarter-turn.
Apply a dry lubricant the rear cog (set of gears), chainring (front gears), chain, and all moving parts of the crankset. Also hit the front and rear wheel bearings on each side with a bit of lubricant. Avoid using WD-40 and standard 3-in-1 oil as it will attract dirt which is something you don’t want on these moving parts.
Secure Child Carrier
Check the condition of your child carrier, and look for broken or cracked parts. In addition to checking the condition of your seat, also make sure any child carrier attached to your bike is firmly affixed to the frame or rack as per it’s instructions. Inspect the seat belt and any safety bars to make sure they are in working condition and not frayed or split.
Check Safety Gear
