Care routine for the road bike

By maintaining your road bike properly, you can prevent costly repairs, ride faster road cycling, and head out more safely. More than enough reasons to make this short routine part of your favorite sport: road cycling! In this blog, we explain how to easily extend the lifespan of your components in five simple steps.

Step 1 – Clean your drivetrain (not too much oil!)

Keeping your chain, crankset, and cassette clean will significantly extend the lifespan of these components. Something you often see with beginner road cyclists is an excessively lubricated chain. Too much oil on the chain doesn’t really help at all and causes sand, dirt, and mud to stick to it. That creates extra friction between the links and sprockets, making them wear out faster. So to start with, it’s important not to use too much oil. It’s also important to wipe down your chain with a cloth after every ride. This removes any loose dirt from the chain. With a special cassette brush, you can remove all the loose dirt from between the sprockets. After cleaning the chain with the cloth and brush, most of the loose dirt should be gone.

Step 2 – Check for play

While riding, some parts can gradually loosen due to vibration. Prevent unnecessary maintenance by checking for play between components. The most important areas here are the crankset and the headset. You check the crankset by moving the crank arm back and forth in the direction of the frame. Can you feel any play there? Then the crank needs to be tightened — a bike shop can usually do this in just two minutes. Then check the headset by placing the front wheel between your legs while moving the handlebars at the same time. Can you feel any play? Then tighten the bolt on top of your stem.

Step 3 – Check your brakes

Check whether the brake pads are still aligned properly with the rim and whether the grooves in the pads are still clearly visible. It’s also smart to check whether the brake cable is still in good condition. Is the end still intact and not frayed? The brake cable tension also needs to be sufficient to bring you to a stop quickly. In many cases, you can increase the tension by turning the bolt at the brake caliper counterclockwise.

Step 4 – Pay attention to unusual noises

If your bike creaks or makes noise, it’s often trying to tell you something. Just hoping the sound will go away on its own usually isn’t the best solution. To prevent bigger issues, it’s wise to find out what’s causing the noise. Ask a cycling friend to ride next to you so you can pinpoint where it’s coming from. Then you can start looking for a solution.

Step 5 – Check your gear

Put your bike computer on charge, plug in your derailleur batteries, and check your gear for any damage. For example, inspect your cleats—if they’re worn, you could unexpectedly come out of your pedals at the wrong moment. Prevent these kinds of dangerous situations by replacing them in time. Worn cycling apparel can also lead to uncomfortable issues. They can cause blisters or saddle soreness, so avoid this by investing in good clothing or replacing it in time!

Of course, everyone has their own routines and tips for keeping their bike in top condition, but with these five tips you’re well on your way! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or sign up for the newsletter for more relevant cycling blogs and info!