Spring is here and with it the desire for a little bike ride.
But first you should clean your bike.
As soon as the temperatures rise in spring, the sun comes out more often and the flowers sprout from the ground, the time has come for many recreational athletes to get their bikes out of the basement again: Because what could be nicer than the awakening nature to look at on a small tour through the countryside?
But before it really gets going, the bike should be whipped into shape.
Why clean the bike at all?
It is important to keep the bike in good condition so that you can enjoy it for a long time: dirt and, over time, rust make the bike's cables more sluggish and affect the gears and brakes.
How often it should be cleaned depends on how you use it: a city bike doesn't need a wash after every ride, but a mountain bike that's been blasted down country lanes or through woods shouldn't be left dirty for too long leave.
Even after the winter break, it is important to remove dust and dirt from your bike.
+
If the bike has been sitting around for a long time, you should clean it and check its functions.
© Westend61/Imago
Make your bike spring-ready: Remove simple dirt
First of all, you should look for a suitable place to clean the bike.
It's best to choose a garage, a garden or a driveway - if you don't have any of these available, you can clean it in the bathtub if necessary.
Now start with the bike frame: If you have already cleaned it before winter, a damp cloth that you run over the frame, the saddle and the handlebars is usually sufficient.
The pedals come last, because these are usually the dirtiest due to the footwear.
On this occasion you will also quickly notice when screws have become loose and need to be tightened.
How do I get rid of heavy dirt on my bike?
However, if it is very dirty or you have just returned from a tour through mud, it sometimes takes a little more.
If the mud is still fresh, it can be removed quite easily with a cloth, but if it has already dried, it is best to get some washing-up liquid to help.
Moisten the dirt a little and then add washing-up liquid to warm water to work on the dirt crust again.
After a short exposure time, you can use a brush to slowly scrape off the dirt.
An old toothbrush can also be used for hard-to-reach corners of the bike.
Finally, wash the bike again with clear water, for example from a garden hose.
Remove rust on the bike with home remedies
Over time, signs of wear and tear appear on bikes, often in the form of rust.
But you can easily remove this with home remedies.
Take a halved lemon and use it to rub the rusty spots on your bike to bring them back to shine.
Coke and aluminum foil are also said to work well as rust removers.
To do this, crumple the aluminum foil into a ball and dunk it in a cup full of cola.
Then use the foil to carefully scrape the rust off the surface.
Checklist for the bike: What you should also check before your first ride
Before you start your first ride, you should also check the functionality of your bike again.
The
ADAC
recommends the following measures:
Test that the brakes are working properly.
Check the lighting system: Battery-powered lamps should have their battery charged.
If a light doesn't work, either a rusted contact has to be cleaned, a broken cable has to be replaced or the lamp has to be changed.
Lubricate the bicycle chain with an acid-free oil such as sewing machine oil or lubricating oil.
Check whether there is still enough air in the bicycle tires.
You should also check how worn they are - both on the casing and on the sidewalls - and replace them as necessary.
Test if the bell still works.
Check that the gear shifts smoothly and easily.
Check that the saddle and handlebars are adjusted correctly.
List of rubrics: © Westend61/Imago