Identifying your bicycle by its serial number

You don’t need a serial number to know what type of bicycle you have.

If you can share a photo of the bicycle, it will be easier for Quorans or members of bicycle related forums to answer you just by looking at it and its parts or just its frame. You can see many types of bicycles available in the market from this image I found at AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons).

Do you see any there that looks like yours? If you do, click on their link to “Different Bikes for Different Cyclists” for the name of the type of bicycle you have.

If you wish to identify its brand or model number, look at its frame. They are either:

-painted or
-embossed or
-printed on a sticker or
-with an emblem attached, as shown below for a Seven Up brand.

If the information you require are lost as the frame is badly rusted or had been painted over, the serial number can be used to identify them based on the format used to build it by its manufacturers. If you are able to decode the format used, you will also be able to discover when and where it was manufactured.

The easy way to do it is do a search for “bike forum serial numbers” which will lead you to forums with members discussing on matters related to serial numbers. By doing that search, I found link to "Serial Number And Date Code Information" at “The Cabe” which is short for “The Classic and Antique Bicycle Exchange”. If you are sure that your bicycle is an antique, you can go through the serial number charts they shared on that link. You can also start a thread there to enquire about your bicycle by sharing its photo and serial number.

Your other option is do a search for “bicycle serial number chart” or “decode bicycle serial number ”. Click on link to “image” to look for chart with serial numbers shared similar to yours.  Once you have found it, you can click on the link to the chart to read details posted about it.

What are the best tips to maintain a bike in the proper way?

When you buy an equipment, a manual will be provided with it. A good manual will provide instructions on how to install the equipment correctly. It will provide information on how to use it safely and maintain it so that it will run efficiently.

Even though not all brands/retailers for bicycles will provide such a manual, if you google “owner's manual for bicycle” you should not have any problem in finding one online. From it, you can even learn if you are getting the right frame size for your height.

Though you get your bicycle fully assembled from your bike shop, in the manual you will learn how it is assembled and the type of tools and the sizes you need to do the job. That way if any of the parts are loosen, you will know how to fix it back correctly and with the right tools.

You will learn the name of the parts on the bicycle which will enable you to tell the mechanic clearly what needs to be fixed if professional help is required. I like this image extracted from an old manual for Centurion Road Bike:  

A manual also provides a schedule on when and what on your bicycle should be cleaned, serviced and lubricated. It also inform you what you should not do with it. Eg, here is a tip on how to set your gears so that you will not wear out your chain earlier than it should.

I like the instruction manual provided by Green Line for its Single-speed and Multi speed Beach Cruisers, it provides very clear information with lots of images.

The link to ”Owner's Manual Single Speed and Multi-Speed Bicycles” from Dynacraft Bikes is also very good.

If you take the time to read the manual, you should not have any problem maintaining your bicycle in a proper way.

How do you find dedicated bike paths in London?

You can make where you want to go on your bike in London safe for you by joining London Cycling Campaign (LCC).

If you sign up for LCC newsletter, they will keep you up to date with the best rides, events and all matters regarding cycling there.

If you are not staying there on a long term basis, you can write to “The London Cycling Projects” to ask if they have a list of dedicated bike paths in London.

cyclingprojects@lcc.org.uk

Tel: 020 7234 9310

Meantime, you can download this “Making Space for Cycling: A guide for new developments and street renewals” and learn what you can do with your local council, to make roads you are cycling on safe for you. Found it at Making Space for Cycling.