Road bike maintenance routine

By properly maintaining your racing bike you can avoid expensive repairs, cycle faster and cycle more safely. Enough reasons to make this short routine part of your favorite sport: Cycling! In this blog we explain how you can easily extend the lifespan of your parts in five short steps.

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

By keeping your chain, crank and cassette clean, you significantly extend the lifespan of these parts. What you often see among novice cyclists is that they have an abundantly oiled chain. Too much oil on the chain is actually not good for anything and causes sand, dirt and mud to stick to your chain. This in turn creates extra friction between the links and gears, which will cause them to wear out faster. To start with, it is important that you do not use too much oil. It is also important that you rub the chain with a cloth after every ride. This removes loose dirt from the chain. With a special cassette brush you can remove all loose dirt between the sprockets. After cleaning the chain with the cloth and brush, the loosest dirt should be gone.

Step 2 – Check for play

While cycling, some parts may vibrate loose. Prevent unnecessary maintenance by checking the clearance between parts. The most important parts are the crankset and the headset. You can check the crankset by moving the arm of the bottom bracket back and forth in the direction of the frame. Do you feel there is some slack here? Then the crank must be tightened, which only takes two minutes at the bicycle repair shop. Then check the headset by placing the front wheel between your legs and moving the handlebars at the same time. Do you feel there is slack? Then tighten the bolt on top of your handlebars.

Step 3 – Check your brakes

Check whether the brake pads are still straight on the rim and whether the notches in the pads are still clearly visible. It is also useful to check whether the brake cable is still in good condition. Isn't the end frayed? The tension on the brake cable must also be sufficient to come to a quick stop. You can often increase the tension by turning the bolt at the brake caliper counterclockwise.

Step 4 – Pay attention to strange sounds

If your bike creaks or makes noise, your bike is often trying to say something. Hoping very hard that the sound will go away on its own is often not the best solution. To prevent worse, it is advisable to find out what is causing the noise. Ask a cycling friend to cycle next to you to locate the sound. You can then look for a solution.

Step 5 – Check your equipment

Plug your bike computer into the charger, plug in your derailleur batteries and check your equipment for damage. For example, check your cleats, if they are worn you can come out of your pedal at the wrong time. Prevent these types of dangerous situations by replacing them in time. Worn cycling clothing can also lead to unpleasant situations. It can cause blisters or saddle pain, so prevent this by investing in good clothing or by 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 are well on your way! Follow us Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or sign up for the newsletter for more relevant cycling blogs and information!