How to increase the lifespan of your bike

Properly and regularly maintaining your bicycle is a vital aspect of being a bike owner. Regular maintenance can extend your bike’s lifespan, keep you safer on the road, prevent breakdowns, and best of all – save money on repairs, too! While some riders employ professionals to do it all, if you want to do it yourself, what should you do, and how?

“It’s well worth learning how to service a bike yourself,” said John Vinton of Aventon Bikes. “While some of the maintenance requires occasional professional assistance, there’s a lot you can do yourself to increase the lifespan of your bike and keep it safe to ride.”

Here, seasoned bike expert John shares ways to get the most out of your bike and make it last longer with some top tips on bike maintenance.

The Specialist’s Guide to Bike Maintenance

John lists the things you should do to maintain your bike and preserve it.

1. Come clean: Regular cleaning with a mild, bike-specific cleaner or warm, soapy water and a soft brush, can help your bike run smoothly. It can extend its life, too, by getting rid of corrosion caused by a build-up of road salt and chemicals that degrade the parts and paintwork.
2. Lubricate your chain: Use a degreaser to remove dirt and old grease from the chain before applying fresh lubricant. This makes pedalling easier, reduces energy waste, and extends the life of your chain. After degreasing, rinse, dry, and then apply lubricant to help keep the chain running smoothly and efficiently.
3. Lube key components: Apply oil to essential parts like the gears, derailleurs, and cables to keep them moving smoothly. Regular lubrication reduces friction, extends the life of these parts, and gives you a more efficient and enjoyable ride. Be careful to avoid over-lubricating, as this can attract dirt.
4. Brakes: Regularly inspect and adjust your brake pads/blocks or discs, and check brake cables for wear. Keeping brakes in top condition makes sure they respond quickly and reliably when you need to stop. Replace any worn parts to maintain optimal performance and safety on the road.
5. Tire care: Check your tire pressure before every ride. All pneumatic tires lose pressure over time, but the cold weather reduces air pressure in them, too. Under or over-inflated tires can be dangerous, and affect the way your bike handles.
6. Tighten everything: Ensure that all your bolts, screws, and nuts are tightened, but be aware of over-tightening, which can strip the threads.
7. DIY punctures: Learn how to fix a flat tire – it’s pretty easy. You can find out how to do this online. Doing it yourself will save you money. Don’t ride your bike on a flat tire. This may damage the wheel rim and make the bike unsafe.
8. Servicing: Do your thing, but get your bike serviced by a professional every year or so. That way you can be sure everything works as it should. There will be stuff you can’t quite do that will keep your bike safe and make it last longer.
9. Ride safe, ride smart: Savvy riding habits can preserve the longevity of your two-wheeled friend. Don’t ride it fast up curbstones and flat-out over speed bumps or debris. Shocking the joints by riding it recklessly will damage the structural integrity of your bike, and can even cause metal fatigue.

John Vinton said: “Like any machine that’s used a lot, bikes need to be maintained regularly and carefully. If you don’t do this, you’ll shorten the lifespan of the bicycle and make it dangerous to ride. Paying attention to minor signs of wear can prevent costly fixes down the line. The long-term benefits of consistent bike upkeep are safety, bike longevity, and money saving: some bikes are very expensive, as is having them put right when they go wrong because they haven’t been properly maintained.

“With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to do all the things on this maintenance list pretty easily. You’ll get better with practice, and maintaining your bike well will become a habit. In time, you won’t want to go out on it without having given it a once-over to make sure everything is running smoothly and properly. Doing this can hugely increase the lifespan of your bike – which is obviously a plus!”