Spring Tune-Up - Getting Your Bike Ready

Right, no more excuses.

Spring is approaching and it’s time to dust off the bike and get cycling. 

We know it's tough leaving the comforts of your duvet to brave the winter conditions or wrestle with your own inner voice telling you it’s okay hitting snooze one more time and taking cycling seriously come September. 

We suffer with those same challenges. 

But now, time has officially run out and we need to dish out some tough love. 

September is around the corner and if you want to enjoy your rides this spring and summer, the only way is to get fit and consistent. 

But before we even start talking about you, the rider. 

We need to talk about your bike. 

At Velosure we’re very lucky to share the same passion our customers do, and we also happen to know a little bit about bikes.  

Walking from desk to desk here at Velosure HQ and talking to the team, we’ve put together helpful tips to ensure your bike runs smoothly before you attempt the first Spring ride.

‍Clean your bike
‍Finishing a grueling gravel or mtb ride and looking at your dirty bike is special, there’s a real sense of accomplishment, what’s not special is riding a dusty rusty creaking bike after it’s been unused for a period of time, do your bike the biggest favour, give it a good wash. 

‍Clean and lubricate the chain
‍Now that the bike is shiny and clean, lube the chain, make sure you lube both top and bottom and we suggest lubing the night before your ride, that way the lube sets in nicely. Is there a better noise than a chain making no noise?  

‍Check the wheels and tyres
‍Tyres are an obvious one and you should always check pressures before every ride, when the bike’s been standing for a while and you’re running tubeless, the sealant may need to be replaced. We suggest doing this anyway before the start of a new riding season. Also check your spokes and eyelets for any rust or damage that may have occurred and make sure the wheels are tightly secured to the frame by tightening the axles. 

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‍Check your brakes
‍Super important, make sure the pads have life in them. If you’re running rim brakes, quickly test if they are tight and in the correct position when the brakes are engaged, you don’t want the pads to be rubbing against the tyre. 

‍Show some love to your bolts
‍The last thing you want is your bike falling apart. We suggest quickly checking for any loose bolts (handlebar, seatpost, water bottle holders) and if you want to take it one step further, we suggest loosening the bolts, cleaning and greasing them up before putting them back in place. 

‍Take care of your pedals and seat post
‍Lastly, we suggest taking your pedals off and removing your seatpost, giving these a good clean and grease. Seatposts can often get stuck if we don’t regularly take care of them, and pedals can cease, before that happens, show them some love too. 

We would love nothing more than to see you stack up the rides and kudos this Spring, so before you take to roads or trails, think of your beloved bike who also wants to be in tip top shape for you. 

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