DIY Bike Service: How to Service a Bike at Home
If you own a bike, at some point, it will need a service. Whether you use it regularly and need to take care of well-used components, or you’ve neglected it in the garage and it needs a little TLC, regularly servicing your bike will keep it running efficiently and prolong its life.
You can pay a bike repair shop to service your bike, but it may be up to you if you’re low on cash. There is no reason why every bike owner shouldn’t know the basics of bike servicing. Our easy-to-follow guide will help you learn how to service a bike to help you on your way in a sticky situation or to help you save on your bike maintenance bills.
Table of contents:
- How much to service a bike
- How often should you service your bicycle?
- What is done in bike servicing?
- How to service a bike yourself
How much to service a bike
Bike servicing can cost anywhere between £30 to £150 depending on where you go and what level of service you require. You can get everything from individual component servicing to a full bike service, so even if you learn a little about how to service a bike, you can save money doing any amount yourself at home.
How often should you service your bicycle?
The frequency you should service your bike depends on how often you ride it and the weather and season. In the winter months, you will need to give your bike a mini-service every time you ride; just a once-over of the fundamental parts will be sufficient to keep your bike in good working order and a pleasant ride. Then, if you’re a frequent rider, a weekly service is also good to do in winter.
If you’re a frequent rider in summer, it’s ok to give your bike a quick look over once a week and a bigger, in-depth service every two weeks.
What is done in bike servicing?
Here is our checklist of everything you should do during a bicycle service
- A bike wash
- Check wheels for damage and maintain wear and tear.
- Check for any tyre wear and replace if needed.
- Inspect your brake pads and rotor/ rim for wear and replace them if necessary.
- Check that your brakes are functioning, bleed or adjust the cables if needed.
- Maintain your drivetrain indexing and check for any wear on the chain, chainrings and cassette, replace if necessary.
- Check the condition of the bearings and replace or re-grease if needed.
- Check if all the bolts are at the correct torque rating or worn.
- Take a look over the frame for damage and cracks.
- Lastly, check your accessories for wear and replace anything worn out, like bar tape or saddles.
How to service a bike yourself
If you’re planning on saving some pennies and servicing your bike yourself, especially if you’re a frequent rider and need it in top condition more regularly, here is everything you need and need to know.
Things you will need for a full service:
- Bucket
- Bike wash detergent
- Degreaser
- Chain lube
- Sponge
- Soft and firm bristled brushes
- Microfibre cloth
- Bike stand
- A multi-tool or set of Allen keys, preferably in torque wrench form
- Tyre pump
- Disc brake cleaner (only for bikes with disc brakes)
- Assembly gear
- Brake bleed kit (good if you have disc brakes)
- Tubeless tire sealant
- Tyre lever
- Spare tube (only for bikes with inner tube tyres)
- Cassette tool
- Chain tool
- Torque wrench
- Quicklink pliers
You need a lot of tools to do a full service. But if you gradually learn and build your collection, you can make an investment that will save you money in the long run by not paying someone else to do the service.
What you need to do to service your bike
If you’re attempting to service your bike at home, follow this checklist for a full bike service.
Clean your bike
Before tightening or adjusting anything, one of the best ways to service your bike and keep it running in tip-top condition is to wash it regularly, especially in winter when roads and tracks are muddier.
In addition, mud and dirt can conceal cracks and damage, so cleaning your bike first can help service it better.
Using a bucket of water and bike cleaning liquid, use your sponge or brushes to clean the frame and degrease to clean the drive chain and brake pads. Take special attention to any debris in brake contact points and components, as this will reduce wear and save you money replacing them more frequently.
Once you’ve finished cleaning, dry off components with your microfibre towel and re-lubricate your chain and cassette with wet or dry-weather lubricant.
Wheel servicing
Now, it’s time to get into the servicing. Place your bike on a bike stand and check that your wheels run true. If they look wonky while turning, you’ll either need to get your wheel tuned or purchase a new wheel.
If you have rim brakes, check the braking surface for wear. However, if it’s concave, you must replace the wheel. If not, just ensure it’s free of dirt. Don’t forget to check your hubs for issues. Hold onto the hubs and spin the wheel. If the wheel stops spinning quickly or the bearings feel rough or notchy, you may need to replace them.
Tyre servicing
You will have to check your tyres more regularly than most other servicing tasks because you’re not going anywhere if you have a puncture! Checking your tyres for wear, damage or nicks in the rubber, spotting them sooner rather than later and replacing them when needed will prevent you from getting unexpected punctures on your rides.
If you have tubeless tyres, check the sealant is topped up, although this only needs to be checked every other month. Only unseat your tyre if you have an issue with the sealing, as this is a messy and unnecessary job.
Next, check your tyre pressure, although you should check it before every ride. Check the side of your tyre for recommended tyre pressure. If you find you have a flat or puncture, your bike servicing is a great time to replace the inner tube. Read our guide on How to Fix a Bike Puncture to get you on your bike again.
Brake servicing
Because of their safety implications, your brakes are one of the most important components to focus on when servicing your bike. Whether you have rim or disc brakes, remove your wheels while your bike is on the stand to check them.
Check for wear and debris on the brake pad. If the pad is running thin, it could damage the rims or roots, and if it’s significantly worn, you won’t be able to stop. Regularly change your brake pads to keep your bike safe to use.
To properly service your brakes, check and adjust the cable tension if needed. Use an Allen key or barrel adjuster or pull the cables through manually to adjust the cable tension. Read our guide “How do Brake Cables Work, and How to Adjust Them” for more instructions on servicing your brakes.
If you have disc brakes, check that they have a spongy feeling when you pull the levers. If so, you may need to do a brake bleed with a brake bleed kit. However, this is one of the more fiddly and advanced servicing steps.
Drivetrain servicing
As you know from our guide “What is a Drivetrain on a Bike and Why is it so Important?” multiple components make up a drivetrain.
First, use a chain wear gauge to determine whether the chain needs replacing. But, you can also probably tell this if the chain links are loose or slide side to side.
Then, check the cassette and chainrings for wear, as these consist of moving parts. If the teeth look sharp or there is wear in between them, they may need replacing. In addition, if the chain does not sit properly on the chainrings or cassettes, this can be a sign of wear for them and the chain, so it’s best to check both simultaneously.
It’s also really important that you check your bike gears and that they’re running smoothly and are corectly indexed. If your gears are jumping, you may need to index them. Learn everything you need to know about gears and how to maintain them in A Guide to Bike Gears: Bike Gears Explained.
Bearing servicing
As well as checking your wheel bearing while servicing your wheels, you will also need to check other bearings on your bike, such as the headset, bottom bracket and jockey wheels.
You don’t always need to take your bike apart to service the bearings, but it can be easier. If they feel rough or stiff, this could indicate wear. For example, turn your headset to see if it turns freely without resistance or noise. If it resists, you must replace it, as it can be dangerous to ride without this control. Similarly, with the bottom bracket and jockey wheels, simply spin them to see if you can sense any resistance and replace them if needed.
Bolt servicing
It’s also wise to check over all the bolts on your bike to ensure they have the correct torque rating, are working and are not rounded off. Use a torque wrench and set the torque rating recommended by the manufacturer. The torque wrench will click when it has reached the correct rating.
If any of your bolts look rounded off, it’s best to replace them, as you won’t be able to tighten or loosen them.
Damage check
Regularly checking for damage like cracks and dents in your bike frame is always wise. Use natural or artificial light to thoroughly examine your bike to see if you have any cracks or corrosion.
If you find damage, consult a professional to check if the bike is structurally sound. If you have a carbon frame and find a crack you can use this trick to check yourself. Tap a metal Allen key on the frame. If you hear a high-pitched noise, it’s ok, but if there is a low-pitched noise, it will need repairing or replacing.
Of course if your bike has sustained significant damage or badly rusting, it’s time to find a new bike or frame.
Accessories servicing
Lastly, checking your accessories for wear and tear is always a good idea. For example, check your bar tape or grips; if they’re ripped or no longer comfy, swap them out for some new ones. And the same with the saddle; if it is no longer comfy or the material is worn, repalce it.
Ensure your pedals are still grippy, or you can still clip in safely to ensure they perform at their best.
Service your bike at home with everything you need from Swinnerton Cycles!
Regularly servicing your bike is essential for your safety, whether you do it yourself or pay someone. But, if you want to start taking more care of your bike at home to save money, to keep it going for longer or for the sheer joy of tinkering in your garage, find everything you need to complete a full bike service at Swinnerton Cycles.
Whether you’re looking for tools or bike oil to tighten components and ensure your bike runs smoothly, browse everything you need in our Workshop collection. Or, if your bike parts look a little worse for wear or need replacing, our extensive Components selection will have everything you need.
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