What is bike servicing?

Did you keep the “Owner’s manual and Technical Handbook” that came with the bicycle you purchased? Some brands do supply that.



You should try to service your bicycle by referring to the schedules noted in the manual. Eg, some parts like your chain, derailleurs, brake levers and brake calipers need to be lubricated on a weekly basis, while other components on a monthly or yearly basis. However, if you enjoy cycling in the rain, you will have to lubricate moving parts more often. These are servicing that you can easily do on your own if you are able to buy the correct lubricants for the components.




The more you ride, the more frequent maintenance for moving parts or components that are not running as efficiently will be required. It is best that you send your bicycle to a professional bicycle shop if you have doubts about your experience or ability to properly disassemble to repair or maintain your bicycle. Moreover, some components, such as, the suspension fork and parts on drivetrain or wheels are difficult to disassemble to fix or replace parts as special tools are required.

If you are planning a long ride or you are participating in an event, sending your bicycle to the shop will enable the mechanic to check if any parts are loose or missing or need to be replaced. They will also inform you if your gears need to be set if they are not shifting efficiently. A good bike shop will also lubricate moving parts on your bicycle and clean it up for you on your request.

You can also check with your bike shop what they will do for you if you send your bicycle in for full servicing. Then decide if it is time for your bicycle to go through these services. You may have to leave the bicycle at the shop for more than a day.

Regular maintenance services and adjustments that you can carry out on your own or with the help of a mechanic from a bike shop will keep the bicycle in good operating condition.

Why do some people still buy brand new bicycles without gears?

I noticed that cyclists, especially the younger ones still schooling, would prefer to choose the type of bicycles their friends are ridding, which are usually single speed bikes, like BMX 

or fixie.

Parents would rather buy their children single speed bicycles if they think that their children do not know how to care for their belongings. Maintenance cost will be lower if there are less parts there for them to damage.

What is so unique about bicycles?

Do you want to know what is so unique about bicycles as a form of recreation or exercise compared to other form of transport?

When you cycle on a bicycle, you can call yourself “The Champion of the Earth” because you do not require fossil fuel to get you around. It is a recreation where you can get everyone in the family involved because none of you will require a license to start cycling.

For the younger ones, who do not know how to cycle yet, an extension can be added to the bicycle.

You can even bring along a wee one on a front mounted child seat.

When it is too hot to cycle or if it is raining, you can mount your bicycle on a trainer to ride indoor.

Maintenance cost is low as parts and components are generic so you can easily find them in any bicycle shop and get your problem fixed no matter where you are. In fact, some repair work are not too technical that you can learn how to fix them personally.

While you are out exercising on your bicycle, you can also run errands. Just make sure that you have a carrier or a rack installed to hold any purchase. Here is a solution if you can’t install a carrier or rack.

There are many places in your home or its compound where you can easily store your bicycle as it does not take up too much space. You can even hang it from the ceiling right above your shoes cabinet.

You can ride your bicycle anywhere you want to build up your fitness without worrying about leaving a carbon footprint.