Cycle Care and Maintenance

The list below will give you are start on checking over your bike. It's a good idea to have this list to hand when cleaning your bike, as it will serve as a reminder.

Do not use oil on your chain. Dust will stick to it, making a mess of grit and oil, wearing the chain very quickly. Also it will come off on your clothes. Instead use an oil spray. (WD40 GT85 etc). These put a thin film of oil right inside the links of the chain where it's needed, leaving the outer surface relatively dry.

Use the same oil spay on all cable ends and pivots. This will keep things running smoothly and prevent rust and corrosion. After washing your bike, shake off surplus water, then immediately use the oil spray all over the frame and moving parts. It will mix with any water left, helping it to evaporate. Wipe the bike dry immediately and a very thin film of oil will remain to protect the paintwork and any plated parts. Take particular care to remove any overspray from wheel rims. (your brakes are not improved by being oiled)

Your tyres should be pumped as hard as possible. The max pressure is normally written on the side-wall, but you may have to look hard for it. Cycle tyres run at much higher pressures than car tyres, normally from around 60 psi to 150psi. Do not exceed the max pressure shown on the side-wall, or the tyre may blow off the rim or burst, particularly if you leave it standing in the sun afterwards.

Your saddle should be adjusted so that your knees almost straighten when you pedal. This often means that you can only touch the ground with the tips of your toes. Complete novices who cannot balance their bikes, may want the saddle a little lower at first to avoid toppling over when they stop. However, it's actually easier to balance a bike with a high saddle than a low one, so as soon as you feel you can stop safely, the saddle should be set to the correct height.