How To Get Your Bike Summer Ready With This Tune-up Checklist

With the arrival of warmer weather, most people are riding their bicycles a lot more. When mileage increases, maintenance issues can develop. So, we’ve prepared this quick and easy tune-up checklist to keep you riding all season long.

See you in the bike lanes.

Summer Tune-up Checklist: Street-ready Bike Maintenance Tips

DITCH THE DIRT

Wipe away excess dirt and debris from all parts of your bike with a rag.

CHECK FOR RUST

Check for visible signs of rust, especially on your brake cables and chain – rusted brake cables should be replaced.

LUBE YOUR CHAIN

Clean your chain by brushing it with a degreasing solvent, apply a chain lubricant and spin your chain through a rag to distribute the lubricant across all surfaces (all-in-one chain cleaning kits are useful for this job).

TIGHTEN CABLES

Tighten loosening brake cables and caliper brakes, or adjust squeaky disc brakes.

CHECK ALL NUTS & BOLTS

Check that all nuts and bolts are tight and rust-free – apply some grease to slightly rusted areas.

FIX YOUR FORK

Make sure your fork is properly seated and well-secured onto your front wheel axis (where it connects to your wheel).

LOSE THE LOOSE

Check all quick releases for signs of loosening.

PUMP YOUR TIRES

Inflate your tires to the recommended tire pressure.

CHECK YOUR LIGHTS

Replace worn out batteries in your bike lights, recharge rechargeable lights or check that dynamo lights are still working.

TEST YOUR GEARS

Take a short trip around the block, shifting through all of your gears to check for skipping (a sign of worn down teeth on your chainrings or cog, a malfunctioning derailleur or a problem with your internal gears).

GET A TUNE-UP

When in doubt, take your bike to your bike shop for a tune-up.

KEEP ON IT

Do regular tune-ups to keep your steed rolling smoothly.

Want to keep learning, here is an article on the five most important parts of the bicycle you need to know.