Get your bike ready for spring's first ride

Wake your bike from its winter hibernation

Spring is in the air and it is soon time to get ready for asphalt, gravel, and perhaps the occasional turn with the wind in your hair.
But how is your bike actually doing? Was it put away last autumn with love and care – or was it thrown into the shed after the last ride?

Do not despair. Here is a simple and effective recipe on how to prepare your bike for a new season – so you avoid unexpected problems and can enjoy the ride from the very first pedal stroke.

Step by step

1. Give the bike a proper wash 🧽

Skip the pressure washer – it can do more harm than good. Use a garden hose or a bucket of water, and preferably a dish soap spray or pine soap. Go carefully over the entire frame, handlebars, fork legs, and the underside of the down tube.

2. Clean and lubricate the drivetrain ⚙️

Use a dish brush and soapy water to clean the chain, cassette, and chainrings. If it has been a long time since the last clean, you can disassemble and leave the parts in degreaser overnight. Remember to lubricate well afterwards – preferably in several stages.
A clean and lubricated drivetrain gives you more power and less trouble.

3. Tires and tubes 🛞

Take off the wheels, check the tires for cracks and wear, and replace the tubes if necessary. A little baby powder (talcum) on the inside prevents the tire and tube from sticking together. Wipe the rim thoroughly before mounting everything back and pumping to the correct pressure.

4. Brakes and gears 🚲

Check that the brakes grip properly and replace pads if necessary. Next, shift through all the gears while spinning the pedals. Does it work? Superb.
If it hitches – look up a video and adjust it yourself, or take a trip to the local bike shop. The most important thing is that everything works before you speed off.

Enjoy spring and summer – and all the bike rides that await

A freshly washed and tuned-up bike actually feels like a brand new one!
Take the time now, so you avoid fixing things along the way. We at Expa Travel believe it should be joy – not gear trouble – that characterizes the first miles of spring.

And who knows – maybe we will see each other on an Expa Travel trip this year?