Your bike will perform at its best when it is kept well maintained by following this simple ABC guide to bike maintenance.
For more information on simple DIY bike maintenance tips, sign up to one of our free bike skills sessions on maintaining your bike.
Here are some simple tips to help keep your bikes and scooters safe from theft.
If you live in multi-residential housing, it is recommended to store your bike or scooter in your residence as opposed to the communal carpark.
Take note of your scooter or bike serial number. This number can also be registered with Queensland Police Services, and in the unlikely event that your bike or scooter is stolen, this can be used to identify and return the vehicle to you.
Consider concealing a small GPS tracker on your vehicle so it’s whereabouts can be tracked at all times.
Ensure your tyres are inflated to the pressure marked on the side of your tyres. It always helps when your pump has a pressure gauge. Properly inflated tyres will reduce your chance of getting a flat and make pedalling far easier. You should check your tyre pressure before every ride.
The brake pad comes down on the wheel as you squeeze the brake levers. To test your brake pads, check that they are hitting the rims or disc (depending on your kind of brakes) evenly and aren’t missing the rim or disc at any point. It’s good to keep an eye on general wear and tear on the surface of the pads. Most rim brake pads have grooves that act as markers, and once they are worn away, it’s time to replace them.
Your chain should be clean, lubricated and quiet! If you hear anything more than a smooth clicking noise, you should check it for any maintenance issues. It’s important to lubricate your chain regularly, but be careful not to get any on the wheel rims.
Council is installing bike repair stations along Brisbane's bikeway network. Instead of worrying about bringing toolkits along for your ride, you can rest your bike against the fixed blue stand and use a variety of attached tools (such as screwdrivers/allen keys/levers) to make basic repairs to your bike, or to inflate a tyre.
Stations are located at: