BONFIRE BIKE MAINTENANCE

Your Bonfire Night ride is calling but before you roll out, follow the black ‘n’ red team’s bike maintenance preparation so you can enjoy your route to the max.

Lube, clean and protect all moving parts like your chain, derailleurs, pedals and wheel hubs with your best kept secret.

Chain

Grit, mud and spray will eat through your chain if you ignore it. Grab your GT85 can and an old rag and give it a good seeing to until it shines.

Derailleurs

Brush off the grime and give it a light spray of lube. Check your cable tension – if your gears hesitate or skip, get it sorted. Don’t be fighting your gear levers all the way up a climb, get your backside into action.

Pedals

Clipped in or running flats, doesn’t matter. Take the pedals off occasionally, clean the threads and regrease them. For clip-ins, make sure the springs aren’t sticky and your cleats aren’t worn to nubs. For flats, check the pins have some bite left.

Wheel hubs

Lift your ride and give each wheel a spin, it should glide silently. If you spot any resistance or grinding, then it’s time to regrease or get them serviced. Wipe down the hub shells too, a bit of lube on the axles will make sure everything is snug and protected against rust.

Don’t be that person who turns up with a bike that’s squeaking and covered in muck – get stuck in you’re the bike maintenance prep. Whip off the dirt, wipe it down and hit every moving part with your favourite lube.

Inspect your tyres for cuts, bulges or low pressure – pump them up or change them out.

Check your tyre pressures

We’re not talking about an old squeeze test, use a gauge or a decent track pump. Soft tyres lead to punctures and rock-hard tyres can make the ride not your best. Sticking to the guide on the sidewall will keep you on the straight and narrow.

Check your wheel alignment

Spin each wheel to make sure it’s straight and not wobbling about. Make sure valves are tight, caps are on and listen up for air escaping.

Don’t be lazy, get your hands dirty and give your tyres a proper bike maintenance check. Run your fingers round the tread and sidewalls, feel for cuts, bulges or anything sharp lodged in there.

Check lights and reflectors – small effort but big difference.

Bonfire Night or not, it’s dark and wet and the fireworks can dazzle those on the road. Remember that your bike maintenance should include charging your lights or sticking in new batteries and making sure they’re pointing where they should be – front on the road and rear straight back.

Up front, run a bright white LED, you want at least 400 lumens for town, 800+ if you’re flying through unlit lanes. Rear lights should be a solid red LED, ideally with a steady beam and a flashing mode to catch attention.

USB rechargeables are easiest. Plug them in with your phone after a ride. If you’re on batteries, keep spares handy; nothing kills your buzz like a dead light halfway home.

Reflectors are your safety net: pedals, spokes and seat post — keep them clean so they do their job.

Bonfire Night riding hacks

We get the draw to a Bonfire Night ride, we do. But it can be absolute chaos, be in the know by keeping the following in mind.

1. Plan your route
   Don’t just wing it. Bonfire Night leads to road closures and half the village stood in the middle of the road holding sprinklers. Check your route beforehand so you’re not weaving through pushchairs.
2. Suit up
   Get your base layer on, jacket, gloves and something reflective so you’re seen. Warm, dry and visible is the way to go.
3. Pack a flask
   Stay warm. Before you head out, make a coffee and stick your flask in the bottle cage – you’ll be thankful when you stop for a breather.
4. Protect your melon
   Fasten on your helmet, it’ll keep you protected and warm.
5. Keep your wits about you
   Expect the unexpected. Fireworks going off near the roads, dogs barking and drivers looking up at the sky. Ride steady, leave space and don’t assume you’ve been seen.

MORE ABOUT GT85
Grab a GT85 Triple Pack from our Amazon shop so you can blast your way through your bike maintenance before Bonfire Night. Use it on your bike, motor and tools to keep things ticking along.

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