A courier bike accumulates in one month what a leisure bike does in a year. Manufacturer intervals, designed for moderate use, don't apply: you need a routine adapted to high intensity, or breakdown hits mid-delivery — the worst time.
Daily (5 minutes)
- Tire pressure: checked before the day. Under-inflated tire flats more and rides harder.
- Brakes: test on the first turn. Hard point, noise, long travel = stop.
- Chain: a glance, a drop of lubricant if dry (especially after rain).
Weekly (20 minutes)
- Transmission cleaning: degreasing + relubrication. A dirty transmission wears fast and destroys the cassette.
- Tightening: wheel axles, stem, seat tube, rack. Vibration loosens everything.
- Brake pad wear: they wear fast under loaded use.
Monthly
- Chain wear by ruler or gauge: replace at 0.5-0.75% elongation to avoid destroying cassette + chainring (much more expensive).
- Wheels: wobble, spoke tension, hub play.
- Battery (e-bike): monitor range; a sharp drop signals aging.
