Getting a new bike can be fun, but we know that giving your old kit a new lease of life can be as equally satisfying. With a few simple tweaks, a bit of TLC, and the right upgrades, you can make your ride feel like new again.
So, get your bike back on the road, smoother, shinier, and ready to tackle your next adventure with our top tips.
Replace your tyres and inner tubes
Because rubber is perishable, your tyres and inner tubes are usually the first to go if they’ve been sat in a cold damp garage.
You should inspect them for bulges and cracks first, as if you ride with these defects, then you’re likely to end up with a puncture. If your tyres don’t have any signs of cracks or bulges, then you should check the tread. As your tyres wear down, the rubber gets thinner, and the puncture-protection layer becomes less effective, plus, you won’t have as much grip, especially in wet conditions, meaning that you could end up skidding and sliding around, which could land you in a spot of bother.
Getting yourself a fresh set of tyres can help to improve your rolling resistance, reduce your risk of a blowout, and make your overall performance on the bike better. While you’re changing your tyres, if you have them, change your inner tubes too, as you could have punctures that have been long forgotten.
Clean your frame
Next, clean the frame. Not only can layers of dust dull down your paintwork, but they can also hide problems. Get your bike out on a sunny day, a bright pair of rubber gloves, and give it a clean with warm water, bike cleaner, and a sponge. Then grab some degreaser, like that in the Halfords Cleaning Kit, to remove any remaining oil and muck.
Once your bike is clean, you should check over the main areas of your bike, such as the frame. Check for any dents or cracks as well as checking that the wheels still spin feely and the brakes are still functioning, as these points are critical to keeping you safe. If you see anything that looks broken or rusted, then you may need to get some parts swapped out.
Replace your brake pads
It’s important to have fresh brake pads, as they’re the only thing between you and a potential accident!
To check if your brake pads need changing, try gently pressing on the brakes, if your pads need changing, then you’ll have to pull more aggressively to slow down, and you’ll struggle to stop as quickly. You may even hear a high-pitched screeching sound when you brake, which is a sign of metal-on-metal scraping together, this indicates that the rubber is worn and the pad backing is scraping across your wheel rim or rotor. If you hear this sound, it’s important that you do not attempt to ride your bike, as you could fail to stop or damage your wheel rims, which may result in a costly, unwanted repair.
Upgrade your main points of contact
Bike technology is always developing and evolving, so the chances are that if you haven’t got your bike out for a while, your handlebars and saddle might be a bit dated – or perhaps you’re just looking to enhance your ride.
For example, if you’re using your road bike for commuting, then why not put a more comfortable saddle on, or swap out old clip-in pedals for some flats? Or perhaps you want to try out trail riding, and for that you might want to get some wide tubeless tyres for better grip. Or it could be something as simple as replacing broken cleat pedals, or worn handlebar grips and bar tape.
Whatever it is that needs replacing, making these simple swaps will be sure to give your bike an elevated look and feel.
Check your chain
Check in on your bike chain next. The likelihood is that if it hasn’t been used for years, it might have seized up, rusted, or come loose. If it’s not salvageable with a bit of a clean and some chain oil, then it was probably worn from the last time it was ridden, and therefore it’s time to get a new chain.
As a rule, you should replace your bike chain every 2,000 miles or so, but it depends on the quality of your chain and how much wear you’re getting out of it. If your chain looks in good nick but you still want to be sure, then a Halfords Chain Checker can easily determine this for you and is compatible with most bicycle chains such as KMC and Shimano.
If your chain needs replacing, then you should pick up a good quality new one, such as the Shimano Speed Chain. This chain comes in a variety of different speeds, from 6-speed to 12-speed, so we’re certain you’ll find a suitable variation for your set of wheels.
Book a Halfords Service
Finally, it’s time to get a professional to check over your ride before you head out.
At Halfords, we offer a free 25-point bike health check. In this 30-minute (approx.) session, we’ll look for damage and wear on everything from your brake system to your wheels, drivetrain and gears. We can then give you a full report on what areas of your bike need a bit of TLC.
If you want to tackle the jobs yourself, then shop our range of bike parts and tools, but if you’d rather let an expert handle it, we offer plenty of repair and maintenance services that we can offer to help.
And that’s everything you need to check before getting your old bike back on the road without any nasty surprises. Shop our full cycling range over at Halfords.com, or pop into your local store where one of our experts will be happy to answer any questions you may have.