How Often Should You Service Your Bike?

Just like a car, your bike needs regular servicing to keep it running smoothly. But how often should you service your bike? The answer depends on how often you ride, the type of bike you have, and the conditions you ride in. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know.

First Free Service
When you buy a bike from Cycles UK we do a free service after about 4 to 6 weeks. This is because new bikes often need a little bit of adjustment as they bed in. Cables stretch and bolts work loose. The first service is designed to catch these kind of standard issues before they develop into a problem.

Quick Daily or Weekly Checks
It’s good to get into the habit of doing a quick check before and after rides, or once a week if regularly commuting. It’s often easiest to do this while giving your bike a wash. Things to check are:

Are the tyres pumped up to the correct pressure?
Are your brakes working and do you have plenty of brake pad left?
Is your chain dry, does it need lubrication?
Is anything obviously rattling, rubbing or feeling off?
While you are washing your bike keep an eye out for cracks, dents or loose parts
As with a car if your bike starts making weird noises get it to the shop and have someone look at it.