How to easily maintain your bike

Grit is your bike’s worst enemy. Wash it down after wet and soggy days and make sure any moving parts – in particular – are clean and dirt free. This will help to keep your bike running smoothly every day. If you don’t have access to a hose, we’ve seen some people stand their bike in their shower as part of their get-home ritual.

Poor conditions can quickly wear away your braking surface, particularly if you’re running carbon wheels. Cheaper alloy wheels can provide a better braking surface (also see disc-brakes). To complement this, always ensure your tyres are in excellent condition, looking for wear on the sidewalls and through the centre of the tyre. Thicker tyres with more tread will help you maximise grip on the road and improve tyre life.

Chain maintenance is a key component of bike health. Using a quality degreaser, a quick solution is to use a rag and wrap the chain with your cloth (lint-free), moving the chain backwards (using your hands), to wipe off the grit collected from your ride. Once the chain is clean, apply your chain lube and repeat the process until the chain is clean. For a more thorough clean, remove the rear wheel from the hosed bike and, using a paintbrush, brush degreaser over the chainrings, the derailleur, the chain and finally, the cassette. Follow this by rinsing the parts with a low-pressure hose (don’t spray water into the bearings), then dry thoroughly with a clean rag. Finally, apply lubricant and reassemble your bike.

If something isn’t right, see the experts. It’s well worth the investment to have your bike stripped and cleaned regularly, more so in winter. Professionals will often be able to pick up potential risks before they get to a far more expensive and dangerous point.

If you want to keep your riding apparel clean, look at investing in mudguards. Most are easy to fit and can sit on any bike.