Make sure you have the right tools

You’re not going to cook if you don’t have a stove or plate, and it’s the same issue for your bike: you will not be able to take care of it if you don’t have the right tools. So, let’s look at what you need.

Some bike maintenance can be realized with daily tools. Some other tasks require specific tools, and some others need to be done by a professional. Our first advice is to buy a multi-tool, which will serve you when you’re out on a ride and for performing basic adjustments at home. It will also be useful when you’re riding a race like L'Étape by Tour de France: the idea is not to bring every tool with you as it’s heavy but to bring a multi-tool, it's better than nothing.

In addition to a multi-tool, here is a list of tools which would be important to get:

Hex heys
Bike pump (both a quality one for home and a smaller one to bring with you during your ride)
Tyre levers
Puncture repair kit

And if you want to be the most complete possible, you could also get:

Torque wrench
Chain breaker tool
Chain checker

Learn how to check your bike

You have to observe your bike regularly to be able to see you if something is going wrong. You can particularly pay attention to :

The wheels which have to be attached securely to the bike
The disk and the brake pads: the wheels has to run cleanly otherwise you should adjust the brakes
The cables pull brakes which has to be firm and decisive
Gears and chain : test at home that there is no problem when you change your gears, it has to be fluid without fits and starts
Brake pads : they should be more than 3mm thick.
Handlebars and frame : you will be in trouble and have to see a specialist if you can twist the handlebars out of place
Helmet : you must wear a secured helmet, it has to be attached with the strap. If you see any damage of if you crash, you have to change it

Learn how to check your bike

You have to observe your bike regularly to be able to see you if something is going wrong. You can particularly pay attention to :

The wheels which have to be attached securely to the bike
The disk and the brake pads: the wheels has to run cleanly otherwise you should adjust the brakes
The cables pull brakes which has to be firm and decisive
Gears and chain : test at home that there is no problem when you change your gears, it has to be fluid without fits and starts
Brake pads : they should be more than 3mm thick.
Handlebars and frame : you will be in trouble and have to see a specialist if you can twist the handlebars out of place
Helmet : you must wear a secured helmet, it has to be attached with the strap. If you see any damage of if you crash, you have to change it

Learn how to check bike tyres

You can anticipate a puncture by having a look at your tyre as often as possible. Examine the bead where the tyre contacts the wheel rim. Make sure the bead looks uniform all the way round: if not, you have to reinstall the tyre.

Don’t wait a puncture to learn how to repair

You have to try to avoid this mistake: learn how to repair a puncture before being in front of the situation beside the road. A lot of videos are available on the internet: take time at home to practice when your tyre is worn for example. Search on Youtube, GCN is a good start.

If you want to practice at home, we recommend you to learn few different things:

How to fix a puncture (as we just saw)
How to adjust brake pads
How to adjust front derailleur
How to care and change your chain

Clean your bike daily to avoid a mechanical problem

It seems logical but you will need to repair less often, or to fix mechanical problems, if you take care of your bike daily by cleaning it. For example, depending on the lubricant you use (or not), your chain can last 2 000 km or 15 000 km. It seems worthwhile, isn’t it? So, lets’ see some advice to clean your bike daily, to ride faster, longer and stay safe.

Cleaning has to be done after every kind of ride: even in dry weather, dust and pollen accumulate everywhere on your bike. Here’s a list of a basic cleaning kit that you must buy: clean rags, brushes, sponges; liquid soap; bucket; garden hose with a spray head; lubricant. When you will have all these stuffs to clean your bike, follow our step-by-step cleaning process:

Rinse off loose dirt and grime
Appling cleaner and scrub
Rinse and dry
Apply lubricant

To avoid major problems, you can clean up your bike every 25 rides.

Don’t hesitate to take your bike to a specialist

It’s important to know how to repair and how to clean your bike daily, but it’s also important to be aware that you’re probably not able to fix everything and you will need the help of a specialist (and don’t worry that’s normal, we're not superheroes). So, when should you take your bike to a professional?

You should see someone when you don’t have the specialized tools and skills: if you’re experiencing persistent issues with complex gear adjustments, with hydraulic brakes, with wheel truing or with suspension maintenance. If you fall or suspect structural damage for other reasons, a professional can assess your bike’s frame and fork for integrity. This is crucial for safety. You don’t want to ride on a compromised frame and risk a major failure.

Don’t panic whatever the situation is

It’s easy to say but: don’t panic! It will not arrange the situation. All we’ve seen seem to be simple to set up but when you will be in front of the situation, everything will be different. Whether you’re training or you’re racing L'Étape by Tour de France, try to stay calm and think about what we’ve learned before: check your bike, try to identify the problem, try to fix it with the tools we spoke about. And if you’re not able to fix it, try to get some help. Cycling community is a huge one and you will never be alone beside the road!

By learning how to clean and how to repair your bike, you will save money and time, and most of all you will ride in safety, with a lot of pleasure with a fluent ride. Enjoy your training and L'Étape by Tour de France, and don’t forget to take care of you and of your bike!