Basic bike maintenance

You don’t need to understand how your bike works to ride it. It is fine to ask a bike mechanic to adjust it or fix it when needed. 

You don’t need to understand how your bike works to ride it. It is fine to ask a bike mechanic to adjust it or fix it when needed. 

But, if you are interested, knowing your way around a bike can be helpful. Learning some basic bike maintenance means you can keep your bike ready for riding. 

Still, it is good to get a bike mechanic to service your bike each year. Get it checked over if ever something doesn’t seem right. 

Parts of a bike

It can help to know the names of the different parts on your bike when talking with people who work in bike shops. 

The following list describes some of the main bike parts that you may need to keep an eye on. If you are concerned about anything on your bike, speak to a bike retailer. They can give you advice about whether it needs attention and what the options are. 

Seat or saddle

What it does:

• The seat allows you to sit while you ride.

Things to check:

• Make sure the seat is secure (not wobbly) and set at a comfortable height. (Ideally, your leg should be almost straight when the pedal is at its lowest point.)
• The seat is usually horizontal, but you can adjust the angle so it slopes slightly up or down if this is more comfortable.
• Different saddles suit different people. If yours is uncomfortable, speak to a bike retailer about what else is available. Saddles may be designed specifically for women or men.

Handlebars

What they do:

• Handlebars allow you to steer the bike, brake and change gears.

Things to check:

• Make sure the bars have plugs in the ends so you can’t injure yourself from a sharp edge. 
• Different bikes may have different styles of handlebars. Styles include flat bars, drop bars (like on road racing bikes) and comfort bars (that curve towards the rider).

Headstem

What it does:

• The headstem attaches the handlebars to the frame. It allows you to turn left and right.

Things to check:

• You should be able to turn left and right easily.
• There should be no movement in the headstem when you squeeze the brakes and rock the stationary bike back and forth. If it doesn’t feel right, have it checked at a bike shop.

Brakes

What they do:

• Levers on the handlebars control the brakes to stop the bike. The right brake lever works the front brake; the left lever works the rear brake.
• A cable connects the brake lever to the brake.

Things to check:

• Know what type of brakes are on your bike. Check the wheel turns freely without rubbing when the brakes are off. Make sure that squeezing each brake lever stops the wheel from turning.

Cables

What they do:

• Wires that connect the brake and gear levers with the brakes and gears themselves are called cables. They may be protected by plastic cable ‘housing’ or be housed within the frame.

Things to check:

• Cables can stretch and may need adjusting. Sometimes, they may need to be replaced. Speak to a bike retailer if your gears no longer change smoothly or you are pulling your brake levers right back to the handlebars.

Forks

What they do:

• The wheels sit between the front and rear forks. The wheel axle bolts onto the ends of the forks (called ‘dropouts’).
• Mountain bikes often have front forks with shock absorbers (suspension forks) for a smoother ride.

Things to check:

• Forks can sometimes get bent if a bike is roughly treated or in a crash. If you think this has happened, take your bike to a bike shop.

Tyres and inner tubes

What they do:

• Rubber tyres on the wheels help the bike grip to the road and cushion your ride.
• Tyres sit inside the wheel rim. Inner tubes made of thinner rubber sit inside the tyre. These are inflated to fill the tyre with air.

Things to check:

• Check your tyres are well inflated. They should be firm when squeezed.
• Pump them up to the air pressure reading (in PSI) recommended on the side of the tyre.
• Keeping them at the correct pressure helps prevent punctures.

Valves

What they do:

• The inner tube is inflated through the tube’s valve, which pokes through the wheel rim. 
• Attach a pump to the valve to pump air into the tube.

Things to check:

• Know the type of valves on your bike (there are two main types). 
• You will need to know which valve you have when you buy replacement inner tubes, and when you are inflating the tyre, so you can use the right pump attachment.

Bottom bracket

What it does:

• The bracket at the base of the frame attaches the pedals to the bike and allows them to turn.

Things to check:

• It should be secure (not loose) and noise-free. If in doubt, have it checked at a bike shop.

Chain

What it does: 

• The chain transfers the power from the pedals to turn the back wheel and move the bike forwards.
• The chain winds around a cog on the pedal crank and a cog on the rear wheel.

Things to check:

• Keep the chain clean and greased with bicycle chain lubricant.
• If the chain comes off the cogs while you are riding, use a stick or your hands to put it back on the cogs.

Gears

What they do:

• The sizes of the cogs on the rear wheel and the pedal crank affect how hard you need to pedal. It defines how far you will travel with each pedal stroke.
• Gear levers on the handlebars allow you to change how hard you need to pedal. It does this by changing which cog the chain is travelling on.
• Some bikes have internal (hub) gears in the rear wheel. These use a different structure.

Things to check:

• Check the chain moves smoothly from one cog to the next when you move the gear lever.
• You need to pedal while you move the lever so the chain can move across to the next cog. 
• If the chain doesn’t shift smoothly between cogs, have the gears adjusted by a bike mechanic.

Derailleur

What it does:

• Most geared bikes have a derailleur to shift the chain onto a different cog when you move the gear lever.
  Things to check:
• If the derailleur gets bent (e.g. if the bike falls over), the gears may not change smoothly. Keep it clean and avoid leaning the bike on it.

Quick release levers

What they do:

• A ‘quick release’ lever enables you to quickly undo a bolt without tools.
• Bikes may have a quick release lever at the seat post for adjusting the seat height.  A lever at the wheel axles help when removing and replacing wheels (e.g. when transporting the bike or fixing a flat tyre).

Things to check:

• Make sure quick release levers are in the closed position before riding. You will need to press firmly to close the lever, but it should not be difficult to close.
• Ensure there is no sideways movement in the wheel. If there is, check the lever is correctly tightened.

Hexagonal or ‘allen’ bolts and ‘hex’ keys

What they do:

• Often bolts on a bike have a hexagonal-shaped head that uses a ‘hex’ key or ‘allen’ key to tighten and loosen the bolt, instead of a spanner. 
• These keys are easy to use and carry as part of your bike repair kit.

Things to check:

• Check if your seat post has a hex key. If it does, buy the right-sized hex key so you can adjust the seat easily yourself.

Before you ride: ABCD+ check

• A – Air in your tyres. When you squeeze the tyre, it should be firm. If not, you will need to pump up your tyres until they feel firm. Check the tyres are in good condition (not too worn). 
• B – Brakes. Check they are working by pushing your bike forward then squeezing the brake levers. The bike should not be able to move forward any further. 
  Make sure the brake lever doesn’t come all the way to the handlebar. There should be at least a finger’s width gap when the brake is on. 
• C – Chain. Check the chain moves easily and is clean. If it is stiff, squeaking or rusty, it may need lubricant. You can buy lubricant from a bike shop 
• D – Drop the bike from a small height (10 cm) to check for rattles. Tighten any loose parts yourself, or check with a bike retailer. 
• + – Check your lights are fully charged. Make sure the wheels are attached securely (especially if you removed them to transport your bike). Check all quick release levers are in the closed position. 

Watch this video on how to check your bike before your ride

Pumping up a tyre

The recommended air pressure is generally printed on the side of the tyre (you may have to look closely). Some tyres are designed for relatively low pressure (between 35 and 65 PSI). Others, such as tyres for road bikes, may be up to 120 PSI. These will feel rock-hard. 
You will also need to check which type of valves you have. Some bikes have Schraeder (or American) valves, which are the same as car tyres. Others have Presta (or French) valves. You need to use the right pump setting for your valves.

Adjusting your seat

To change the height of your seat:  

• Undo the seat bolt with a hex key or spanner. Or, if it has a quick release lever, open the lever and wind it anti-clockwise to loosen the bolt.
• Slide the seat up or down to a height that feels comfortable. Tighten it enough so you can test it without the seat dropping when you sit on it. For comfortable riding, set the seat height so your leg is almost straight when the pedal is in the lowest position. If this feels too high, it is fine to set it a bit lower. You might need to adjust it a couple of times before it feels right. 
• The seat post will have a ‘minimum insertion’ line marked on it. Make sure this line is not visible when you adjust the seat height.
• Once you are happy with the seat height, use a spanner or hex key to tighten the seat bolt fully. If it has a quick release lever, tighten the nut enough that you can close the lever by pressing firmly. It should not be difficult to close. 

Cleaning your bike 

• Keeping your bike clean will help it run smoothly. 
• Wipe your bike down with a damp cloth or hose it down. 
• If it is quite dirty use warm soapy water to clean your bike.
• The chain will collect the most dirt. Wipe it hard with a rag. Using an old toothbrush can help to scrub out built-up grease and dirt.
• Lubricate the chain after you have cleaned your bike using chain lubricant from a bike shop:
  • Squeeze a drop of lubricant on each link in the chain. As you do, slowly spin the pedals backwards. 
  • Spin the pedals a few times, even changing gears to help the lubricant get into the moving parts. 
  • Use a rag to wipe any excess lubricant from the outside of the chain. 

  

Getting help or doing it yourself

Your local bike shop can help you with bike maintenance and repairs. If you are keen, you can learn how to do basic maintenance (and even some more complicated repairs) yourself. Some of the organisations listed in the Bike riding support section have video tutorials for common bike repairs. Otherwise, a quick YouTube search will bring up lots of bike repair videos to get you started. If you are not sure, ask a friend for help. There is always someone around who knows a few things about bikes.

For more information see related page.