It’s a Great Time to Get Productive.
Getting your bikes into proper shape for the season is a necessity and and can be truly rewarding if you have enough patience and a little guidance. We’ve ferreted out some of the better youtube videos that provide tips and step-by-step instructions. If you have a bike stand, that’s a plus, but don’t let that stop you — it’s not a must. Bucket, brushes, hose, dish soap, chain lube and that’s really about all you need.
Take an additional step and start the season with new handlebar tape and new saddle — cheaper than a new bike and a definite improvement to key touch points.
Chain cleaning: Georgena’s classic how-to:
Pro Bike Cleaning with Deceuninck/Quick Step:
Replacing Handlebar Tape:
Choose a New Saddle (use our interactive saddle selector):
Different people will prefer varying procedures when tuning up their bike, but I recommend you tune up your bike once every 6 months at least. The important first step in a full bike tune-up is a thorough cleaning of the entire vehicle. Next, work on the headset and handlebars. It is important to clean and regrease the headset bearings — both the top and bottom ones. Clean everything else here; this goes for the handlebars, shifters, and brake levers. Worn-out bar tape will lose its grip, so make sure to replace that as well.