If you have left your bike or e-bike completely neglected in the cellar during the winter, you are now faced with the task of an annual spring check. This is very simple and can be done quite quickly. We'll explain it here.
Swing the rag first
On a neat and cleaned bike or e-bike, errors and damage will be noticed more quickly. That's why the check starts with cleaning. With a hand brush (we here in southern Germany call it a "sweeper") first of all the wheel is cleared of dust and spider webs before the entire bike is wiped clean with a wet cloth. Areas that you cannot reach with the rag are best cleaned with an old toothbrush.
Finally, rub the wheel dry. Done.
Check the bike for road safety
Lighting
In spring it still gets dark early in the evening, so functional lighting is essential. Therefore, the lighting system and reflectors are tested first. Therefore switch on the dynamo or switch on the light by the button and spin the wheel on which the dynamo is sitting. All lights are bright? Wonderful. If not, this may be due to a defective dynamo, a broken cable or a burnt-out lamp. You can usually simply remove the lamp and check the filament if it is not a modern LED light. LED lights don't break down that quickly anyway.
Reflectors
Then, you should check the reflectors. Are there still two cat's eyes in each tyre? Modern tires have a reflective stripe around the sidewall. This should not be dirty. If it's dirty, you didn't do the first point properly ;-) So you go back to the rag!
Brakes
Now we check the brakes. Are the brake levers easy to pull? If not, the brake cables must be lubricated slightly. With hydraulic disc brakes, i.e. brakes that have no brake cables, the brake fluid may have to be changed if they are difficult to pull or push through. The best place to do this is a bicycle repair shop. Also check if the brake cables have fringes somewhere. If this is the case, the cable must always be replaced in a workshop.
Wear parts maintenance
Screws
Check all the screws you can find on the bike and tighten them with a wrench, spanner or Allen wrench. Especially the screws on the stem and handlebars are important. The wheels / tires should also be firmly fastened, so also check whether the quick releases are properly tightened there, as should the saddle.
Tyres
Is there enough air in the tyres? It is best to have a floor pump with an integrated pressure gauge. So unscrew the valve cap and check the pressure. You probably need to top up the air, because there is always some air leaking from the tyres. The exact pressure for your tyres is shown on the side of the tyre.
Now you'd better check all the spokes. These have to be under tension and must not be able to be moved. While you're at it, make sure you don't have a bent wheel.
Chain
The care of the chain is very important. The best way is to spray the chain with a chain cleaner and rub it clean with a rag. Alternatively there are also special cleaning devices with built-in brushes, with which the chain can be cleaned quite simply. After cleaning it is important to lubricate the chain again. It is also important that the oil does not drip onto the rims and tyres. Don't use too much oil, less is more here.
It also makes sense to remove dirt and grease from the chainrings, the rear cassette and the sprockets with a screwdriver or a metal pin.
Bike Spring Check - Prices at a specialist dealer
If you prefer to have your bike checked directly at a specialist dealer, that's not a problem. Many offer a spring check for bicycles or e-bikes, especially in spring. The costs are about 50 to 60 € (without material and wearing parts).
