Yes, spring is here! With nice weather on the way, cycling becomes even more fun. To make your rides as safe as possible this spring, it's wise to give your (electric) bike the necessary maintenance. Some of it you can easily do yourself, while others are best left to a specialist. With these spring maintenance tips, you'll be on the road safely and comfortably.
What can you do yourself?
Cleaning
Whether you have an e-bike or a regular bike, always start by cleaning the frame and wheels. This is especially important if you used your bike regularly last winter. Your bike will have endured a lot of road grit, wetness, and road grime. You can clean it with a bucket and soapy water, but handy cleaners are also available these days. Whichever you choose, always dry it with a clean, dry cloth.
Lubricating the Lock
After the winter, your lock may be a bit stiff to close, and you might have trouble turning the key. This is easily solved with a multi-purpose lubricant. Apply this to the locking ring while your bike is locked. Open and close the lock with the lubricant a few times to make it smooth again. This lubricant is also useful for polishing away small rust spots on metal parts. Do this while the spots are still small. This immediately creates a protective layer, which can help prevent larger rust spots.
Lubricating the Lock
After the winter, your lock may become a bit stiff to close, and you might have trouble turning the key smoothly. Drivetrain
Do you have a bike with a chain drive? Then it's wise to lubricate it with an all-purpose oil. This applies to a closed chain guard, but especially to a bike with a derailleur, as the chain will be exposed to more dirt.
Does your bike have a belt drive? Then lubricating it with oil isn't necessary. However, it is wise to brush the belt (dry) after the winter to remove road grime. This prevents unnecessary wear. Do you often ride in the rain and cover long distances, for example, when cycling to work? Then a water-repellent protective spray for the drive belt can be useful.
Check your tires
Simple, but so important. Carefully check your bike's tires for dry cracks. These are often caused by road salt spread during the winter. Also check the tire pressure; for a city bike or e-bike, it should be between 3 and 4 bar. For a cargo bike, the recommended pressure is 3-3.5 bar. This is due to the rounded tires combined with a wider rim. Softer tires can sometimes be better in winter for more grip, but they wear out your tires faster, and with an e-bike, this also affects the range. In any case, a properly inflated tire is always better during the warmer months.
Expert Maintenance
While you can do quite a bit yourself, there are things you're better off having done by a bike mechanic for your own safety and to extend the lifespan of your bike. These include checking and maintaining all electrical connections, the condition of the brakes, any dangerous play in your handlebars, the tension of the spokes, and ensuring all nuts and bolts are still securely tightened. Fortunately, there's always a bike shop near you where your Batavus is in good hands.
Prefer a new bike?
Would you rather have a new bike to start this new cycling season off right? Your Batavus bike shop is happy to provide personalized advice to help you find the bike that best suits your needs. You can also take one or more bikes for a test ride to see which one you enjoy riding most.
Happy cycling!
