How often should a bike be serviced? The key signs you should look out for
As to be expected, there is no one right answer to the question of how often a bike should be serviced. If you’re regularly putting your bike through rigorous mountain biking or road riding sessions, you’ll likely need to have it checked out more often than not. If you only get your bike out when the sun’s here and you fancy a casual trip to the park, then you can maybe go a few months between services.
There are also a few different ways to assess when to service your bike. Some say bikes need to be serviced for every 25 hours’ worth of riding time. You can also break down service checks by distance. Every 500 miles or so could involve a once over of the wheels, while the 6,000 mile mark may warrant a more thorough bearing system review, for instance.
You may want to follow a basic schedule to ensure nothing gets missed, or to get into an easy routine. Some basic checks you could do yourself daily, while a full on service could be booked in every 3 months. Your bike could follow the seasons!
Ultimately, how often should a bike be serviced will be dependent on your circumstances. A bike’s condition can be influenced by how often it’s ridden, where it’s ridden, its age, your physical traits and riding style, where it’s stored, and so on.
Of course, if you’re ever unsure, you can always bring it in! Our friendly team have the skills, knowledge, and expertise to ensure you know your bike’s ins-and-outs. Still, if you’d like to know some of the key things to look out for, we’ve got you covered.
Signs your bike needs a service
In addressing the how often should a bike be serviced question, you don’t want the answer to be “It’s too late”! A stitch in time saves nine, and it’s always worth addressing an issue before it worsens.
Thankfully, some of these issues will be easy to spot, so long as you know what to look for. If you see any of these signs, don’t waste time wondering “is a bike servicing necessary” just bring it to us so we can help.
To start with, there are the obvious red flags. The kind that likely first make you think about how often should a bike be serviced!
- Your brakes need to be in tip-top condition. If they feel sluggish, don’t seem to have the stopping power that they use to, or simply feel “off”, you need to get them looked at.
- Same with the gears. We want them working as smoothly as possible. If they feel jerky, stiff, or even sound clunky, they’ll need a review before anything worsens. Gears can be complicated, or particularly intricate, so having a professional look at them is advisable.
- Also, keep an eye out for rust. Put as simply as possible, rust has no place on a bike, especially any moving components. Rust should be easy to spot however so if you do see it, act as soon as possible.
- There are other warning signs too which may not be so obvious, or cause initial concern. But they may be harbingers of things to come. Unusual noises, bald patches on tires, or rigid seats should be checked out – if only to rule out less serious issues.
What to know before getting your bike serviced
We can help you with the how often should a bike be serviced question, but you can get the ball rolling ahead of a visit. We can advise you on when to service your bike, but you can also handle some of the basic checks yourself. Checks that we’re happy to break down and demonstrate.
For instance, we can guide you on tyre pressure, and identifying when some pumping will be needed. We’ll show you how to wipe off dirt and not your bike’s paint job. We can walk you through the tools you might need on the road, how to conduct an M-check, tackling a puncture when you’re in the middle of nowhere, and more.
A professional service vs. DIY
When you visit us, we’re happy to discuss any concerns you may have, and identify if your bike could benefit from a service.
With our bronze service, our expert mechanics will safety-check your bicycle, review all its nuts and bolts, and fix certain issues as necessary. We also have our silver and gold service tiers that offer more robust checks. We can also service individual parts of your bike where necessary, such as the gears, breaks, and hubs.
We understand you’ll need to consider your decision carefully. But, with our expertise, we’re more likely to spot issues that you may miss if you try to maintain your bike yourself.
You may think that bit of rust is no big deal, but we’ll know if it’ll lead to a dramatic deterioration a few months down the line. Also, a gold service review will likely cost you a lot less than completely replacing a bike that’s fallen apart!
However, there are some basic things you can do to keep your bike in good condition, like wiping off dirt or keeping your tires pumped.
Where to get your bike serviced?
So, now you know how often should a bike be serviced. But where should you get it done?
Thankfully, all our repair services can be accessed via our TEAMMC Cycles hub in London. We set up an amazing Moroccan-themed bike café in Whitechapel, where you can have your bike repaired, while you enjoy a delicious karak coffee or chaii!
Our café is a welcoming, central spot for all bike enthusiasts, as well as those looking to enter the cycling world. We have an incredibly professional team at the ready, who are some of the friendliest bunch of enthusiasts you’ll ever meet. If you don’t say hi to our store manager Jon first, he’ll be sure to make sure you receive a passionate welcome!
What’s more, all TEAMMC Cycles’ profits go to charity. The café was launched by Muslim Charity, an organisation dedicated to creating a world of harmony where people of all backgrounds can appreciate life with good health, education, and a livelihood. Across the world, it helps feed and educate children, safeguard families, and support communities in dire circumstances.
So, if you’d like to have your bike looked over, or find out more about the causes we support, please visit us at 9 Hessel Street, London, E1 2LR.