Before your first spring outing, you should take a close look at your bike. Laypeople can also check for themselves whether everything is working properly. What is important – and when a workshop is the better choice.
On the saddle, ready, go? Even if the first warm rays of sunshine may tempt you to do so, the bike should have passed a thorough spring check beforehand – especially if it was mainly stored in the basement or garage during the winter.
You don’t necessarily have to go to a workshop; laypeople can check many things themselves and fix them straight away if necessary. René Filippek and Joachim Hase from the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) explain how best to go about it.
First visual inspection: Nothing suspicious to see?
The first step should be to remove dust and dirt from the wheel. “The best way to do this is to use lukewarm water with a little detergent, a cloth, a sponge and a brush. Then simply dry it with a cloth,” advises Hase. After all, the bike is easier to visually inspect when it has been freshly cleaned.
“Is everything OK on the frame, the fork and the sides of the rim? Or are there any cracks or deformations visible there? What about the handlebars, stem, seat post and saddle? Are all screw connections tight?” According to Filippek, these are the questions you should ask yourself.
If nothing suspicious appears during the visual inspection, we recommend that you next inspect the brakes more closely. They should also be given special attention because they absolutely have to function perfectly, warns Hase from the ADFC. “For example, the brake levers must not be able to be pulled all the way to the handlebars.” If this is the case, the brake must be adjusted.
If you are unsure about brakes: it’s better to go to the workshop
According to Filippek, you can tell whether new brake pads are necessary for rim brakes by looking at the transverse grooves on the so-called brake shoes. If these are no longer clearly visible, it is a sign that a change is imminent. Inspection is more difficult with disc brakes because the brake pads cannot be seen as easily. What is important, however, is that they should not be less than a millimeter thick. With disc brakes, changing the pads also demands a lot from laypeople. The basic rule is: “If you are unsure about the brakes, you should avoid experimenting and go to the nearest workshop,” advises Filippek.
The chain also requires special attention. To counteract wear and corrosion, it must be regularly lubricated with chain oil or grease. Before doing so, however, it is important to remove dirt and grease from the chain and sprockets using a brush or cloth. After oiling, all gears should be shifted through so that the oil is distributed to all gears. If the chain jumps over the sprockets during a test drive, the chain should be replaced.
Make sure your tire pressure is correct
Checking your tires is also important. “If the bike has been standing for a long time, there is certainly not enough pressure in the tire,” says Filippek. So it should be pumped again. A pump with a pressure gauge can provide information about how much. The minimum and maximum air pressure is indicated on the tire sidewalls. You should then take a closer look at the inflated tire. “Are there small stones or shards stuck in the treads? Then remove them quickly, otherwise they can work their way into the tire over time and cause a puncture,” advises the cycling expert. Also: Check the tire sidewall for cracks. If deep cracks are visible there, changing the tire is recommended.
The gear shifting can be easily checked during a short bike ride around the house. It is important to test all available gears once. “Can you get into the lowest and highest gear easily? If not, you have to adjust the gear shift,” explains Hase. Setting up a derailleur gear can be quite tricky. This is usually done using knurled screws on the handle, or in older systems also on the gearshift – if in doubt, it’s better to visit a workshop.
Last but not least: check the lighting and bell for functionality. Headlights, taillights and reflectors should be cleaned well beforehand if they have not already been done. If the lighting doesn’t work, you should first check whether the contacts are plugged in correctly. “If everything fits here, then as a layperson you don’t have many options left to track down the error and fix it. Then it’s a case for the workshop,” says Filippek.
If the battery is defective: stay away
With e-bikes there is another central component: the battery. It is important that it has been stored properly over the winter. Then it can usually be used again straight away. ADFC expert Hase has another tip: “Ask your workshop whether there is new software for your system. The workshops will then install it for you.” However, if the battery no longer moves at all, then it’s time to “stay away and definitely don’t try around with it yourself,” warns Filippek.
If you want to leave the inspection completely in the hands of professionals, you should hurry up – and not wait for nicer weather. “In most workshops there is a long waiting time; in large cities it can be several weeks,” says Filippek. He recommends going to the dealer where you bought the bike. “Customers are generally given priority.” According to Filippek, the costs for a basic check are between 40 and 80 euros, depending on the workshop and the extent of the work. After that you should definitely be able to start the cycling season safely.