Why a maintenance calendar changes everything
Most bike breakdowns aren't accidents: they're delayed maintenance. A chain never measured that ends up destroying the cassette, forgotten brake pads that score the rotor, a headset that develops play and damages the bearings. A regular maintenance calendar takes a few minutes per week and avoids £200 repairs.
This guide gives you what to do, when, and how often depending on your riding type. Bookmark it and work through each section.
The checklist by frequency
| Frequency | To do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Before every ride | Tyre pressure, wheel quick release tightness, brake test | 2 min |
| Weekly | Chain cleaning + lubrication, tyre inspection | 15 min |
| Monthly | Chain wear measurement, headset play, spoke tension, brake pads | 30 min |
| Quarterly | Brake bleed if spongy, full drivetrain clean | 1 h |
| Annual | Bearing overhaul, systematic bleed, cable/housing check | 2–3 h |
Before every ride: the 3 vital checks
1. Tyre pressure. This is the adjustment that changes bike behaviour the most, and it drops naturally by 0.3 to 1 bar per week depending on the tyre. Too low = pinch flats and punctures; too high = loss of grip. The right figure depends on your riding type and weight — see our bike tyre pressure table.
2. Quick release / axles. Check that your wheels are properly secured. If you're unsure between quick release and thru-axle, we compare both in quick release vs thru-axle.
3. Brake test. Lock each brake and push the bike: it shouldn't move. Lever touching the bar = needs a bleed.
Weekly: the drivetrain
The chain is the fastest-wearing part and drives everything else. Once per week (or after every muddy ride):
- Degrease if the chain is black, otherwise just wipe it
- Relubricatealink by link, wipe off excess
- While you're at it, inspect tyre sidewalls for cuts or bulges
Key point: when to replace your chain? A chain worn to 0.75% will destroy your cassette if you wait. The exact method is in bike chain: when to replace.
Monthly: the points that develop play
Chain wear — with a checker, 0.5% = monitor, 0.75% = replace (11/12-speed transmission).
Headset play — lock your front brake and rock the bike back and forth: a click = play. Full diagnosis in headset play: diagnosis.
Spoke tension — a wheel that's starting to warp often begins with a loose spoke. See spoke tension and replacement.
Brake pads — less than 1 mm of pad material = replace immediately before you score the rotor.
Odd noises — a creak, a rattle? Don't ignore it, it's often a bearing or BB. We list causes by noise in bike noises: diagnosis.
