Ready to ride! Spring cleaning and bike check

Let's be honest: When was the last time you really cleaned and checked your bike? And that doesn't mean the high-pressure wash at the gas station! The bearings and seals do not like that at all, by the way. Dust and dirt from the trail easily get into the tiniest crack of your bike - the sponge, however, unfortunately not so easy. So every now and then you just need a little more time and attention for your beloved sports equipment. So that you and your bike can start the spring at full throttle again after the long winter sleep, here are a few tips on care and service.

You need:

• Bucket with warm water
• Bicycle cleaner (alternatively washing-up liquid) - biodegradable!
• Microfiber cloths, old T-shirts
• Big brush soft, small brush hard (toothbrush)
• Chain oil

Luxury equipment:

• Bike stand
• Garden hose
• Chain brush
• Drive cleaner
• Frame protection spray

Rough wash: Lucky garden (hose) owner, otherwise a bucket of warm water will do. Dishwashing liquid or all-purpose cleaner is fine, but a biker cleaner is a good investment. Pay attention absolutely to the biodegradability! Large sponges and soft brushes are used here.

Precision work: On the toothbrushes, ready, go! Especially your drive is in need of love, because the more unkempt sprocket, chain and Co. are, the more your circuit will bitch. For cleaning the drive you need separate cleaning utensils. Again and again also the small wreaths and cogs with an old toothbrush or special chain brush free from dirt, which remains stuck by the oil like.

Lubricate: First clean - then oil! The right amount is the goal - neither too much nor too little oil is good for the delicate components. Caution: Make sure that no oil gets on your brake discs - the pads quickly soak up the oil and are then most likely unusable.

Finish: Finally, you can polish your bike pico-bello with a microfiber cloth and possibly give it the final touch with a protective spray. The protective spray has a water- and dirt-repellent effect.

You need:

• Allen wrench set (torque wrench)
• Damper pump
• Air pump

Spring cleaning is a good opportunity for an extensive bike check. Ideally, you should get into a quick routine before every ride, where you check the most important things on your bike.

• Frame and rims check: Check your frame and rims again and again for dents or cracks - especially carbon frames and wheels do not forgive large mats and must be replaced in case.
• Brakes: How does the pressure point of your brake feel? How far does the brake lever go towards the handlebar? If the brake feels quite spongy, it may be time to bleed it. If you can spare no effort, you can get a special bleeding kit - or go to the nearest bike repair shop. Also, make sure to never run your brake pads completely empty - otherwise you run the risk of ruining your brake disc.
• Tires: Check the tread of your tires - if the knobs are already worn down, it's time for a new investment. For now, you can also just get a new casing and keep the front tire as a rear tire. As a general rule, the tread pattern should be coarser at the front than at the rear - for maximum grip downhill and good efficiency uphill!

• Suspension elements set-up: Just like the tires, the shock and suspension fork also lose air over time. For this you need a special damper pump. For the suspension fork, there are different psi specifications depending on the manufacturer and rider weight, usually the table is located directly on the fork - otherwise on the manufacturer's website. For the rear shock there is no psi specification, here you have to include components like your weight and also your riding style/preference. The small rubber ring is an indication of whether you can use your suspension elements well or whether they are too hard.

• Tightenscrews: Several screws hold your bike together and can quickly loosen due to vibration while riding. Especially with new bikes, the screws should be tightened after the first rides. Check all screws, ideally with a torque wrench, and pay particular attention to the key points of the shock, rear triangle, handlebars and stem.

In Innsbruck there are also several workshops where your bike is in good hands:

• Veloflott
• The Exchange
• Bike Point
• Bike store Innsbruck

Tour tips for a visit to Innsbruck and much more about biking can also be found on this website.

Happy riding!