{"id":1219,"date":"2025-04-22T13:46:46","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T12:46:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/?p=1219"},"modified":"2025-04-22T15:30:36","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T14:30:36","slug":"bike-maintenance-handy-tips-to-keep-your-wheels-on-the-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/2025\/04\/22\/bike-maintenance-handy-tips-to-keep-your-wheels-on-the-road\/","title":{"rendered":"Bike Maintenance: Handy tips to keep your wheels on the road\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>We\u2019ve all been there &#8211; the sun\u2019s shining, you\u2019ve got your cycling clothes on, water bottle filled, ready to hit the road\u2026only to discover an issue with your bike. Whether it\u2019s a flat tyre, faulty brakes, or grinding gears, we\u2019ve teamed up with our friends at WATBike to share some simple maintenance tips that\u2019ll keep your bike in a roadworthy condition.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"887\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/files\/2025\/04\/image-7.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1220\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:16px\"><strong>1. Bike storage&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Where you store your bike matters. Storing your bike in a safe place is not only important for security reasons, but it can also help keep your bike in good condition.&nbsp;Leaving a bike outside for extended periods (such as in a garden\/backyard over winter) will expose your bike to the elements which, over time, will cause the parts to corrode and eventually lead to failure of the gears, brakes etc.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tips for smart storage:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep it in a <strong>secure, dry place<\/strong> \u2014 sheds, garages, or covered bike shelters are ideal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid long-term exposure to <strong>rain, frost, and direct sunlight<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On campus? Check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/newcastle.sharepoint.com\/hub\/estates-and-facilities\/Pages\/cycling.aspx\">University\u2019s cycle storage facilities<\/a> to find the best option near you, and our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/1\/viewer?mid=1C3a2rlzvQP6pvU05GkYR1GiWeZZdQko&amp;ll=55.026770693322796%2C-1.6149338088867182&amp;z=11\">Sustainable Campus Map<\/a> for their locations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:16px\"><strong>2. Tyres<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your tyres are a critical component of your bike\u2019s performance and safety. Maintaining the correct tyre pressure and regularly checking their condition is vital!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tyre care tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check tyre pressure regularly, ensuring the PSI is at the required level (these can be found on the tyre wall). &nbsp;Ensuring the correct pressure helps to prevent punctures.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep a small hand pump with you to ensure you can always pump your tyres. Or you can use the University cycle repair stand near Hatton Gallery (location shown in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/1\/viewer?mid=1C3a2rlzvQP6pvU05GkYR1GiWeZZdQko&amp;ll=55.026770693322796%2C-1.6149338088867182&amp;z=11\">map<\/a>). This stand is equipped with allen keys, screwdrivers, spanners, adjustable fit bike pump and a tyre iron.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inspect your tyres for cracks or holes &#8211; replace tyres if they\u2019re showing serious wear.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:16px\"><strong>3. Bike Cleaning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regular bike cleaning will prevent rust and corrosion, helping your bike parts last longer and be more effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cleaning checklist:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use a hose (light pressure!) to rinse off loose dirt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scrub with bike-friendly brushes, especially around the chain and cassette (gears). It is also important to keep the braking surface of your wheels clean and dry.&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check out this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QvzVRxlIUL0\">5-minute bike wash tutorial<\/a> on YouTube, or if a deeper clean is needed, this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5ak4AzlUz5Q\">30-minute bike wash tutorial<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:16px\"><strong>4. Chain Care<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the easiest and most effective maintenance tasks: <strong>lubricating your chain<\/strong>. It ensures a smoother ride with less clunking when changing gears and extends your bike chains lifespan. There are two main types of chain lubricant; wet and dry, and it depends on the type of riding you do and the time of year as to which lubricant you should use.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Choosing the right chain lube:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dry lube<\/strong>: Best for people who mainly ride on roads. It\u2019s thinner and won\u2019t pick up as much dust in the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wet lube<\/strong>: Designed for wet, muddy conditions. It is thicker than dry lube, which helps it&nbsp;repel water and keep your chain lubricated.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re not sure which to use, ask at a local bike shop, or at our regular Dr Bike sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:16px\">5. <strong>Loose parts\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If something on your bike feels loose (especially pedals) \u2013 don\u2019t ride it! Bring it to a Dr Bike session or bike repair shop straight away. A quick tweak when a problem first arises can save big mechanical issues in the future if you leave it unresolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"6000\" height=\"4000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/files\/2025\/04\/Bike-Sale-WAT-Bike.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1225\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:16px\"><strong>Maintenance at Dr Bike<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you require more help with bike maintenance, our <strong>regular Dr Bike sessions on campus<\/strong> are a great place to start. Whether it\u2019s a quick fix or a maintenance question, expert advice is always on hand.&nbsp; WATBike are here every two weeks throughout the year and are happy to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;re also excited to announce <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainable-campus\/events\/event-items\/bike-week\/\"><strong>Bike Week<\/strong><\/a>, taking place at <strong>The Boiler House from Monday 12th to Wednesday 14th May<\/strong>, in partnership with <a href=\"https:\/\/watbike.co.uk\/\"><strong>WATBike<\/strong><\/a> and supported by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclinguk.org\/\"><strong>Cycling UK<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During Bike Week, Bike technicians will be available on campus from 10:00-14:00 each day to provide more detailed support on how to maintain your bike, with guidance and advice from the team at WATBike. There will also be a sale of lovingly refurbished bikes across a range of styles and sizes across the event. Buying second hand is not only great for your wallet, but also for the planet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:16px\"><strong>Useful Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Find out more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainable-campus\/events\/event-items\/bike-week\/\">Bike Week<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/newcastle.sharepoint.com\/hub\/estates-and-facilities\/Pages\/cycling.aspx\">University\u2019s cycle storage facilities<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/1\/viewer?mid=1C3a2rlzvQP6pvU05GkYR1GiWeZZdQko&amp;ll=55.026770693322796%2C-1.6149338088867182&amp;z=11\">Sustainable Campus Map<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/watbike.co.uk\/\">WATBike<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclinguk.org\/\">Cycling UK<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Email us at sustainable-campus@newcastle.ac.uk to join the universities Bicycle Users Group!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019ve all been there &#8211; the sun\u2019s shining, you\u2019ve got your cycling clothes on, water bottle filled, ready to hit the road\u2026only to discover an issue with your bike. Whether it\u2019s a flat tyre, faulty brakes, or grinding gears, we\u2019ve teamed up with our friends at WATBike to share some simple maintenance tips that\u2019ll keep [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12007,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[151,11,13,22],"tags":[156,158,36,56,29,157],"class_list":["post-1219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all-blogs","category-carbon","category-lifestyle","category-news","tag-bike-week","tag-dr-bike","tag-get-involved","tag-sustainable-action","tag-sustainable-campus","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12007"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1219"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1219\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1233,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1219\/revisions\/1233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}