How To Maintain A Bike
Do you shy away from maintaining your bike? Or perhaps you find yourself coming up with excuses as to why it’s not looked after properly? No garage? No shed? Maybe it’s because you’re not sure on the tools to get the job done? Well, it’s time to stop with the excuses as it really is a lot easier than you think. And most importantly, a well-maintained bike can help extend its life and the parts on it, as well as retain its performance.
So, from cleaning to lubrication, and tyre pressure checks, we’re here to help you with this step-by-step handy guide below:
Things you will need
WD‑40 BIKE Cleaner
WD‑40 BIKE Degreaser
WD‑40 BIKE Chain Lubricant
Clean rags
Water
Clean brush
Bike workshop stand
Garden hose
Step 1
Clean the entire bike
The first step in maintaining the bike is to clean it in its entirety. To do this, simply put your bike on a workshop stand, ideally outdoors. Using a garden hose, wet your entire bike. Then, spray and let it take action for a few moments. Using a clean brush, scrub the heavily soiled areas. Finally, rinse the entire bike and dry it with clean rags. Note: if your bike is particularly dirty, you may have to repeat this step twice.
Step 2
Degrease the brake discs
After you have cleaned the bike thoroughly, it’s time to clean the finer mechanisms on the bicycle such as the brake discs and chain. For this, we advise you to use WD-40 BIKE Degreaser. Simply spray the product on the brake discs and rub with a clean rag to remove all the dirt and dust that has accumulated over time. Finally, once the product has evaporated, it’s important to wipe the discs with a clean, dry cloth to remove any residue of the degreaser.
Step 3
Clean the bike chain
The chain is a key part of the bike and therefore necessary to take extra care of it. Cleaning and lubricating the chain are vital steps in the maintenance of the bike. Firstly, before re-greasing the chain, it must be cleaned in order to remove any residues of old oils, dirt and other deposits from the road. To do this, generously apply to the chain, derailleurs and cassette sprockets, and even cogsets, with minimal effort. Spray the fast-acting formula, letting it work into tight spaces and difficult angles. Then with a clean brush, scrub the dirt, before wiping away excess dirty fluid with a cloth. Rinse with water if necessary and then dry.
Step 4
Lubricate the bike chain
Once your chain is clean, you will be able to lubricate it. To do this, use a lubricant suited for all climate conditions, such as WD-40 All Conditions Lube. The PTFE-based formula is capable of handling anything the outdoors can throw at it, so you can be sure your bike will be fully protected from water ingression, corrosion, rust and wear. Apply the product directly to the chain whilst rotating it. Remember to change the gears so that the lubricant is liberally applied over all them.
Step 5
Check the condition of the bike parts
Last step in bike maintenance: check the condition of parts in general. It’s important to check the wear of your brake discs and pads. Check the condition of the tyres and re-inflate them if necessary. Also, think about the handlebars, the brake levers and the saddle! The shift cables can be lubricated with to restore flexibility and facilitate your braking action.
Top Tip
How often your bike is serviced will depend on how you use it. If you use it every day, weekly maintenance is required, or at a minimum, a weekly check of the condition of the bike. It’s important to maintain it after going out but before putting it away. Finally, if you have any doubts, contact a professional such as the manufacturer or the dealer who will be able to support your bike maintenance checks. For more bike maintenance tips check out our blogs on how to pump up a bike tyre or clean rust from a bike chain all with the help of WD-40!
The uses shown and described for WD-40 Multi-Use Product were provided to WD-40 Company by the users themselves. These uses haven’t been tested by WD-40 Company and do not constitute a recommendation of suggestion for use by WD-40 Company. Common sense should be exercised whenever using WD-40 Company products. Always follow the instructions and take heed of any warnings printed on the packaging.
Contact Us
© 2025 WD-40 Company.
All Rights Reserved