Look after your bike
Your bike will perform at its best when it is kept well maintained by following this simple ABC guide to bike maintenance.
For more information on simple DIY bike maintenance tips, signup to one of our free bike skills sessions on maintaining your bike.
The ABC of bike maintenance
Air
Ensure your tyres are inflated to the pressure marked on the side of your tyres. It always helps when your pump has a pressure gauge. Properly inflated tyres will reduce your chance of getting a flat and make pedalling far easier. You should check your tyre pressure before every ride.
Brakes
The brake pad comes down on the wheel as you squeeze the brake levers. To test your brake pads, check that they are hitting the rims or disc (depending on your kind of brakes) evenly and aren’t missing the rim or disc at any point. It’s good to keep an eye on general wear and tear on the surface of the pads. Most rim brake pads have grooves that act as markers, and once they are worn away, it’s time to replace them.
Chain
Your chain should be clean, lubricated and quiet! If you hear anything more than a smooth clicking noise, you should check it for any maintenance issues. It’s important to lubricate your chain regularly, and be careful not to get any on the wheel rims.
Bike repair stations
Council is installing bike repair stations along Brisbane's bikeway network. Instead of worrying about bringing toolkits along for your ride, you can rest your bike against the fixed blue stand and use a variety of attached tools (such as screwdrivers/allen keys/levers) to make basic repairs to your bike, or to inflate a tyre.
Stations are located at:
- at the end of Victoria Street cul-de-sac in Riverside Drive Park, West End
- at the base of the Wheel of Brisbane, South Brisbane
- behind the River Quay Green lawn area, South Bank.
Your next bike service
It is important that an experienced mechanic services your bike every 12 months. As a Cycling Brisbane member, you have access to a number of bike service deals and discounts from sponsoring businesses. Find your closest service provider and take advantage of your membership.