Cycling is excellent exercise, good for the environment, and a healthy, reliable way of getting from point A to point B. However, like any mode of transportation, it requires proper care to ensure safety and longevity on the road. Proper and regular maintenance lets you avoid sudden breakdowns and helps minimize risks associated with common cycle accidents, such as personal injury. The following is an in-depth guide where we find out about the most essential maintenance tips, some advice about troubleshooting common mechanical issues, and valuable statistics to underline the importance of keeping your bike in tip-top condition.

Bike Repair 101: How to Keep Your Bike Running the Best

Maintenance of a bicycle isn't only about cleanliness and shine but also about ensuring that every ride is safe. This is especially true for the UK, where cycling maintenance becomes a must in order not to avoid a road accident and become another statistic in the book of injuries related to cycling accidents.

The Importance of Maintenance

The Department for Transport handed in a report of 11,546 reported cycling injuries in the UK in 2022; 4,056 were severe. Many of these involved motor vehicles, but some were from mechanical failures that should have been avoidable with the most basic of routine maintenance.

For example, poorly kept bikes may be prone to brake failures, chain problems, or tire blowouts, leading to serious cycle accidents. In essence, being in top condition serves as your first line of defense against these incidents and potential accident claims.

Essentials of Home Care

Clean Your Bike Regularly

Importance: Dirt and grime will accumulate on your bike, further promoting corrosion and wear of components before their time. Also, a clean bike performs well and looks good.

How: Wash your bike with mild soap, water, and a solution. Focus on the drivetrain, brakes, and wheels. Do not use high-pressure hoses since water may be forced through the bearings, thus causing rust and damage. 

Oiling the Chain

Importance: A well-lubricated chain reduces friction, advances shifting, and prolongs the life of your drivetrain. A dry or rusty chain can cause poor performance and even incidents from broken chains during a ride.

How: Apply an appropriate bicycle chain lubricant evenly over all the chain links after cleaning the chain. Wipe excess lubricant to prevent the sticking of dirt and avoid landing yourself in a bicycle accident. 

Check Tire Pressure and Tread

Significance: Low pressure will cause a hard ride and might result in a pinch flat, while high pressure will lead to low traction, especially on wet roads. Either way, there's a chance of inducing a cycling accident.

How: Use a proper tire pressure gauge and check for the recommended PSI written on the tire sidewall. Inspect your tires for wear signs, cuts, or something else that could be the cause of punctures. This will be crucial in avoiding a bike accident

Examine and Adjust Brakes

Importance: Cyclists often suffer injuries due to faulty brakes. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), many cycling accidents involve sudden stops where effective braking would have considerably mitigated the impact.

How: Examine brake pads to ensure they are not used up, but substitute with new ones. Cables need to feel tight and not be fraying. Brake levers should have a firm grip, engaging the brakes firmly but not so close to the handlebars.

Tighten All Bolts and Screws

Importance: Loose components might mean an unpredictable ride and could lead to a mechanical failure while riding, escalating the chances of an accident.

How: At regular intervals, check all the bolts and screws fitted to your bike. Make sure to tighten them, especially those attaching parts like the handlebars, stem, saddle post, and pedals.

Maintenance Checklist

Weekly

• De-mud the frame, transmission, and parts.
• Lube the chain.
• Check pressure in the tires and tread condition.

Monthly

• Examine and adjust the brakes.
• Tighten all bolts and screws.
• Look for any wear or damage on the tire or brake pads.

Quarterly

• Make sure the wheels are trued, with no wobble, to ensure straight spinning.
• Lubricate the drivetrain and the derailleurs.
• Check for play in the headset and bottom bracket.

Yearly

• If needed, replace brake and gear cables.
• Re-pack the bearings within the hubs, bottom bracket, and headset.
• Look over the chain for wear and replace it as applicable to avoid damaging the cassette.

Mechanic: Repairing Common Bicycle Mechanical Problems

Even with proper maintenance, problems can develop that must be addressed on the spot. The capability to identify and make simple repairs to these common issues will provide personal safety and keep you from becoming a statistic within the mechanical failure category associated with cycling accidents.

Flat Tires

Identification: Flat tires can be caused by punctures, pinch flats, and valve failures. You would notice when the tire quickly loses pressure and the tire feels squishy or flat.

Repair: Remove the wheel and tire from the bicycle, locate the puncture, then patch or replace the inner tube. Examine the tire for a foreign object embedded in the tire. One must always carry a spare tube with tire levers and a pump to handle a flat on the road.

Chain Problems

Identification: Skipping chain, jumping the drive chain, or a rattling chain.

Repair: The chain needs to be replaced so as not to cause any damage to the cassette or chainrings if it has become stretched and worn. Fixes: Clean and oil the chain regularly. In case of noticeable wear or stretch, it should be replaced. Have the derailleur adjusted correctly to prevent the chain from jumping over gears.

Brake Issues

Identification: If your brakes squeal or have little stopping power, and the brake lever pull is too close to the handlebars, you must address the problem immediately. Otherwise you are at the mercy of getting into an collision with a motor vehicle or a pothole accident. 

Repair: Clean the rims and brake pads of dirt and oil by wiping them with rubbing alcohol. Replace the brake pads if worn out. Adjust the tension in the brake cable so that when the brakes are applied, they stop the wheel entirely. 

Gear Shifting Difficulties

Identification: Gears are hard to shift, gears are skipped, or the chain does not shift smoothly.

Repair: Derailleur cable tension is tunable using the barrel adjuster. After that, align the derailleur hanger to straightness. Shifting using shifters and derailleurs can be improved by adding lubrication for smooth rotations.

Noisy Bearings

Identification: Grinding, clicking, or creaking sounds could emanate from the headset, bottom bracket, or hubs and be symptomatic of worn or dirty bearings.

Repair: Dismantle the said unit, thoroughly clean it, inspect the bearings for wear, and put in more grease or replace them with new ones if the damage is extreme. Regular servicing of these areas will prevent more serious mechanical failures.

Loose Parts

Identification: Play or movement in the handlebars, stem, seat post, or any other parts may have an impact on the security and feel of the bike.

Repair: Ensure correct fasteners have been used and are correctly torqued. If this does not resolve the issue, it may mean that it is worn and must be fixed.

Final Thoughts

Maintenance on a bicycle involves more than keeping it in its top form; it also ensures safety on your bike and reduces the risks that may lead to cycling injuries. In the UK, where British cycling is rapidly gaining popularity, maintaining your bike well ensures there is a preventative factor against most avoidable cycling accidents, hence the need for bike maintenance. So every little bit counts, whether it is cleaning or lubing on a regular basis or chasing mechanicals with urgency. With this knowledge and tips from the guide, you will know what to do and ride your bike confidently, knowing it's in top-notch shape.

If you or a friend has been in a cycling accident, remember: You are not alone. We are the UK's one and only law firm devoted exclusively to dealing with cycling accident claims. We love cycling ourselves and will fight for you as if you were family. Whether you have a bicycle accident claim or want to discover more about cycling accident compensation, call 0203 735 9652 or email us at [email protected] to have a chat about your case. Contact us for a cycling accident compensation claim and in the meantime… Be safe on the roads, keep your bike in good condition, and enjoy the ride!