Spring Cleaning: 6 Signs Your Bike Needs a Tune-Up

Originally published Feb 18, 2020, Refreshed April 16, 2024

Hey there, fellow pedal pushers! Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of bike maintenance because, let’s face it, our trusty steeds deserve some pampering, especially after braving the fall and winter seasons. Between the rain, grit, the grime, and the chilly air, your bike’s been through a lot. And just like any good relationship, communication is key. Your bike might not be able to speak up, but it sure sends signals when it’s craving a little tune-up love.

Ignoring your bike’s subtle hints for help? That’s a one-way ticket to Strugglesville, population: you and your not-so-happy bike. Regular tune-ups are the secret sauce to keeping your rides smooth and avoiding the whole “it cost me how much to fix?!” drama down the line.

So, armed with the mission to keep your cycling game strong, we’ve rounded up the ultimate clues that point towards your bike needing that all-important maintenance check. Read on to get savvy about tune-ups and keep your ride rolling smoothly.

1 | Squeaking

Well-maintained bicycles don’t squeak. It could be time for repairs if your bike sounds like a songbird flying down the street.

At its simplest, you might just need to clean and lube the chain. Use a wet-weather lube in case of spring showers.

If it’s the brakes squeaking, it’s probably time for new brake pads. Regular commuting through the winter can wear rim brake pads down in two weeks. Disc brake pads should be checked every two months with regular riding.

2 | Difficulty Shifting Gears

If you’ve noticed that your gears aren’t shifting as smoothly as they used to, it could be time to change the gear cables and housing.

Dust, dirt, and other contaminants find their way into the housing and reduce the effectiveness of the system. This is particularly true with all of the grime on the roads during winter.

If you have to hold down a shifting lever before it works, or your gears are skipping, it’s time to get it checked out.

3 | Difficulty Braking

The effectiveness of your brakes will also be impacted when your cables & housing need to be replaced. If your brake pads are fine but you still find it difficult to come to a stop, or the brake levers feel harder to compress, your bike is telling you it’s time to replace those cables.

4 | Visible Gunk

This is a simple one, but often ignored. If your bike is very dirty, you are causing undue damage to the drivetrain. The drivetrain consists of all the bits that you use to push (or pull) your bike along including the pedals, cranks, chainrings, chain, cogs (cassette) and derailleur. Keeping your bike clean is one of the easiest ways to ensure its smooth functioning and prevent future mechanical failures.

If your drivetrain sounds gritty, is visibly dirty, or is leaving a grease tattoo on your calf every time you get on it, it’s time for a cleaning.

A simple on-bike clean could suffice if it’s not too bad. But if it’s been a long time since you’ve last cleaned it, and you’ve been riding through winter, it could require taking the drivetrain apart to give the whole system some love.

5 | You Haven’t Replaced the Chain in a While

Poor shifting could be a sign that you need to replace your cables and housing, but it could also mean your chain is stretched.

As a general rule of thumb, you should replace your chain every 3,000km or so to ensure the functionality of your drivetrain, and to prevent wear & tear on the more expensive parts like your cassette and chainrings.

It doesn’t cost anything to get your chain measured and is one of the easiest ways to prevent much more costly repairs in the future.

6 | Rust

Now this one seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people continue riding their bikes when the moving parts are visibly rusted. Not only does this cause damage to the machinery that will be more expensive or difficult to fix later, but it just sucks to ride.

If your bike looks like the one below, you definitely need a tune-up!

 

---

Cycle City is located at 646 Hornby St, in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Our full-service repair shop is open 7 days a week with a quick turnaround time.