Equipment

4 tips to maintain your bike and give it a long life

Is your bike your faithful ally for your daily commute or your weekend adventures? To ensure a long life for it and avoid expensive repair costs, it is important to learn how to perform a few simple maintenance tasks. And if you don't have the necessary tools, self-repair stations are available almost everywhere.

Here are 4 tips that you can easily do yourself:

Puncture: a classic, but easy to repair

    Flat tires are the most common problem when cycling. Learning how to change a tube and identify the source of the flat tire will get you back on the road quickly. Tools needed: levers , new inner tube and/or patch kit as well as a bicycle pump.

    Squeaky or Poor Brakes: A Safety Issue

      Squeaky or poor braking can be dangerous. This problem may be related to worn brake pads. Fortunately, inspecting the wear level is often simple to do without tools, or sometimes with Allen keys to remove the wheel.

      Used tires: be careful about safety

        Worn tires lose grip and increase the risk of punctures. Check the condition of your tires regularly and replace them if necessary. Tip: The wear indicators on the tread tell you when it's time to change your tires.

        Chain that squeaks or wears too quickly: a maintenance problem

          A chain that squeaks or wears out too quickly can damage other components in your drivetrain. It is important to clean and lubricate it regularly. Tools needed: degreaser, brush, chain lubricant.

          If you want to know even more tips, Relais Plein Air is organizing, in collaboration with Rack à Bécik , Bike Mechanics 101 workshops all summer long. They cover:

          • Anatomy of the bicycle,
          • Introduction to basic tools and materials for maintaining your bike,
          • Cleaning the bike,
          • Inspection and wear of tires, chain, cassette, crankset, cables, brakes, bearings, frame and fork,
          • Repairing a puncture,
          • Oiling a chain,
          • Basic Positioning.

          In other words, everything you need to know about the bike and its mechanics to take care of it and keep it for a long time.