Six checks to get your bike ready for Spring from Bikmo

As the weather starts to improve, Bikmo, our official cycle insurance provider, shares their top checks to get your bikes ready for spring and summer.

1. Mudguards

Probably the most essential part of any winter bike, but not so necessary in the summer months. Plus, as you'll be 2 metres apart from other riders, you won't end up spraying those behind you anyway. Mudguards aren’t always the prettiest things either, so taking these off will breathe new life into your bicycle.

2. Checking Tyres

During the winter months, some cyclists use 32mm tyres to avoid punctures on the boggy muddy roads. When summer arrives and the roads clean up, switch to thin and fast 25mm tyres. Switching tyres means less drag on the ground, less weight from the wheel, therefore, a faster-rolling speed. We only do this on our winter bikes, city bikes stay on 25mm tyres all year round. If you run one particular tyre, like a city bike, check for wear and look out for if there are any cuts in the tyre wall or cracks on the main outside body of a tyre as these could lead to future punctures. If there seems to be a lot of wear it’s wise to look at getting it changed as soon as possible as not only will it puncture easily, it won’t provide a great deal of grip either.

3. Brakes

If you don’t often check your brakes, now is a good time as all the grit and mud from the winter months will have worn your brake pads down. This may be a good opportunity to completely remove them and give them a good scrub with soapy water as things can easily get stuck in them too. If you run on hydraulic brakes, you should consider giving them a good bleed. But if you don’t feel like making a mess of your living room or patio (if you have ever tried bleeding brakes yourself, you know it can get really messy real quick), make an appointment at your local bike shop, they will be happy to do the “dirty” work for you.

4. Cables

Over time, any cable on a bike will stretch and, in doing so, performance will diminish. It’s essential to be aware of when the gears and brakes aren’t efficiently moving or deploying correctly. Brakes are a little easier to adjust; make sure you’re able to pull both brake levers without the lever hitting the handlebars. If it does hit your handlebar, or doesn’t compress fully, then check the tension nut at the top of the brake calliper, which, when tightened, will draw the brakes closer enabling you to brake more efficiently. Make sure when adjusting the brakes that your wheels still spin freely! Your gears aren’t quite as straight-forward, but if they’re slightly out and not changing 100% it’s still possible to adjust them. On your rear mech, you’ll find a similar nut which, when turned, will either increase or decrease the tension in the mech moving it. We often use our local bike shop with any gearing issues. Previous experience of lining these up can be endless torment, often ending with the gears still clunky and not shifting smoothly.

5. Drive Chain

This could be the first time your chain has seen some lubrication since last summer so check carefully for any defects in the chain. This could be a crack, a broken line or even a rough patch of rust which stops the chain from moving properly. You can use a proper chain cleaning product to remove old grease and grime before applying new lube to the chain, but soapy water will help remove a lot of grit and dirt. Grab a rag and a tough brush, or a toothbrush, apply plenty of chain cleaner/soapy water and scrub accordingly. Dry off with a rag before reapplying chain lube. Once dry apply lube followed by running the chain around a rag before re-applying again. Make sure your chain all flows correctly grabbing to each chainring tooth.

6. Bar Tape

This is not essential but, it’s what makes the bike look and feel brand new. Your bar tape takes quite a beating month to month so reapplying some fresh tape makes the ride a lot more enjoyable as well as your bike looking in tip-top form.

All the above coincide with a good wash. This should be a regular routine when aiming to keep your bike working like clockwork. If you’re apprehensive about any of the suggestions above, take your bike to your local bike shop and let them give it a once-over.

Get the best out of your bike this year and give it the TLC it deserves. If your bike looks and feels good it’ll bestow that confidence in your riding, making the whole experience a good one!