Maintenance

Ten steps to service your bike for summer

How to ensure your steed is in tip-top condition for a summer of cycling

Check the brakes/cables

Summer is coming...
Cleaning the bike should be one of your first priorities
Keep your chain in top condition (Pic: Mike Cotty/Media-24)
Ensuring that your derailleurs are properly adjusted will help to keep your shifting smooth
Give your wheels the once over ahead of the summer season
Prevention is better than cure when it comes to replacing a brake cable
Use a torque key to make sure all the key bolts on your bike are tight
A fresh wrap of handlebar tape can make a big difference to the feel of your ride
It's easy to be lured in by the prospect of a bargain but make sure you get the right size frame (Pic: Media24)
Do your research beforehand to work out what you want from your bike

Check the brakes/cables

We don’t need to state the important of ensuring that your brakes are well maintained so use this opportunity to check the cables and pads.

With the wheel off the ground, spin it and pull the brakes – it should lock immediately. Check the pads are making contact with either side of the rim at the same time and that they’re wearing at an even rate, and that they don’t need replacing. If you haven’t already checked the rim for wear, then now’s the time.

How to replace brake pads

Check that the brake lever is not ‘sticky’ and that the cables have enough tension in them. If you’re giving your bike its first service in a while, it’s worth checking all cables, not just the brake cables, and ensuring they are in good conditions.

Video: how to replace a brake cable

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to checking and replacing cables. Replacing a worn brake cable is an important task to prevent lasting damage to the shifter, as it can otherwise place additional strain on the internal mechanism, and a cable that splits can be extremely difficult to remove.