Bike maintenance – how to prevent problems

Basic bike maintenance tips that will help you avoid complications. Your bike will thank you with smooth operation, and you'll ultimately save money.

Bike maintenance is very important. Yes, it will save you trouble. It will also save you money. But most importantly, it will extend the lifespan of your components, and you'll be riding a bike you can rely on. Poor maintenance can lead to faster degradation of components and, worst case, even their destruction. This can ultimately lead to a fall and injury.

Basic maintenance:

1. Washing the bike

As the saying goes, a clean bike is a fast bike. Riding off-road means exposing your bike to dirt. This dirt gets into all parts of the bike, whether it's the drivetrain – chain, cassette, and chainrings, suspension, or even bearings. It's simply a fact we all have to accept.

How to properly wash the bike

Water pressure

First and foremost, avoid high-pressure cleaners and pressure washers – or use them very carefully, and only for a "rough" rinse. A bike has many moving parts and seals that are sensitive to high water pressure. High pressure can force dirt into places it shouldn't be, which then causes increased friction and wear. Medium or low-pressure cleaners are ideal.

I definitely don't recommend washing your bike after every ride. Unless you're riding in extremely dirty conditions, like dust and mud, and your bike is very dirty afterward, you don't necessarily need to wash it.

You can also wipe off dirt from your bike with a damp cloth. When it comes to the drivetrain, or the stanchions of the fork, or the shock piston, you can clean these separately. A chain cleaner can also help, but I don't use it.

Frame

After a dirty ride, rinse the bike with water and wait for the dried dirt to soften. This will save you a lot of scratches on the frame. Next, use a cleaner, which will help remove dirt from the bike when you spray it on. You can also spray the cleaner onto a sponge to make it last longer.

Drivetrain

Afterward, you can safely use a more aggressive cleaner with a degreasing effect, specifically designed for the drivetrain (especially if the chain is very dirty). Use brushes; I recommend this one for the chain.

Seals

Pay attention to all moving parts and suspension. As for the seals on the fork, shock, and dropper post, clean them with a soft cloth.

Caution: Use cleaners exclusively designed for bikes; avoid various aggressive cleaning agents and organic solvents.

1. tip: Buy larger packs, which are more economical. This one lasted me almost three seasons (designed for the drivetrain).
2. tip: Use multiple cloths. One for the chain, another for the frame, and a third for the suspension/dropper post.
3. tip: If you don't have access to water, use a bucket or a mobile cleaner specifically for bikes.

2. After washing the bike

Drivetrain

After washing the bike, it's important to lubricate everything that needs it. Especially the drivetrain, but don't overdo it there either. Wipe off excess lubricant with a cloth to prevent dust and dirt from sticking to the chain, which, together with excess lubricant, creates a so-called abrasive paste.

Therefore, it's also important to choose the right type of lubricant – if you don't ride in water and mud, it's unnecessary to use a lubricant designed for such conditions. This will prevent dirt from unnecessarily sticking to the drivetrain, making it much easier to clean.

Frame

If you want to further improve post-wash care, you can apply a protective product to the frame – a substance that can partially repel dirt and make the bike shine like new (which it probably won't after the next ride).

Suspension/dropper post

Lubricating seals on dropper posts and suspension is a debatable topic. Some recommend it, others don't (oil manufacturers, of course, recommend it).

If you want to lubricate the suspension, do so with a product specifically designed for it (note: use lubricants for seals, not oils intended for inside the forks). Be sure to wipe off any excess, otherwise, dirt will get onto the seals, and the effect will be counterproductive.

Wheel axles

After washing the bike, you should occasionally apply grease to the bike's axles, which will prevent various creaking noises when pedalling, and also make it easier to remove the axle in the future. Similarly, grease should be applied to the pedal threads to prevent them from "seizing up" over time.

3. Check

Don't forget to check the individual bolts on your bike to ensure they are properly tightened. This is very important, as riding with a loose wheel, for example, is not comfortable and, in the worst case, can lead to a fall. Use a torque wrench to check.

It's equally important to check your brakes. This means the rotor thickness, which must not exceed the minimum limit, and also the condition of the brake pads. Use calipers to check the rotor. You can see the condition of the pads with the naked eye, or you can remove them. It's better to replace the pads sooner rather than later.

Chain inspection

I would also include chain inspection as part of bike maintenance, using a simple chain wear indicator. This will tell you if the chain is still usable or ready for replacement. Riding with a worn chain will eventually damage your cassette, and in the worst-case scenario, even your chainring.

4. More thorough bike maintenance

This type maintenance is suitable at least once per season. Of course, it depends on how often you ride your bike and in what conditions.

Suspension/dropper post

If you ride frequently and especially in adverse conditions, the suspension and dropper post need maintenance. Since this article is intended for beginners, I primarily refer you to a service shop. However, if you are skilled in servicing, you can do this yourself – but suspension consists of many critical parts. Do it very carefully, or with someone more experienced, to avoid damaging expensive components.

Headset/bottom bracket maintenance

If your bottom bracket is creaking, or you haven't cleaned it in a long time, it's advisable to lubricate it. However, you'll need to disassemble the cranks, check the condition of the bearings, clean them, lubricate them, and reassemble. It's not a very complicated process, and you'll save money on service.

Again, use grease for lubrication. Cleaning the headset is also not a complicated process, and, you guessed it, use grease.

Top-up tubeless sealant

Tubeless tires work with sealant. This dries out over time, so be sure to top it up when necessary. Definitely check the sealant level at least twice per season (unless you change tires more frequently).

A simple tip is to pick up the wheel and shake it. If it still "sloshes" inside, there's still enough sealant.

Brake bleeding/oil change

Brakes are the components on which your safety depends. Therefore, it's essential to service them regularly, and in addition to replacing pads or rotors (which I mentioned above), oil changes and bleeding are also important. You'll need brake fluid and a bleeding kit for your specific type of brakes.

In conclusion

Learn to maintain your bike regularly. It will pay off in the form of properly functioning components and their long lifespan. If you want to save money on service, you can perform individual tasks yourself at home with a little patience.