Spring check safety and appearance: Making your bike look like new

Have you really thought of everything when looking after and maintaining your road bike? If the paintwork no longer shines or the handlebar tape flutters loosely on the handlebars, this is immediately noticeable. The start of the season is the ideal time to take care of the finish.

However, there are also a few things on road bikes and gravel bikes that many people don't have on their radar. These include, for example, the condition of the seat post shaft in the seat tube of the frame. The correct tightening torques on all screw connections, especially on the cockpit and seat clamp, are also particularly relevant to safety.

Seat post

A seized seat post in the seat tube can turn a beautiful bike into a total loss. Carbon seat posts in aluminium or steel frames can also be affected. To prevent this, it is advisable to pull the seat post out of the seat tube regularly, even during the season (after riding in the rain), to check the lubrication. Classic assembly grease is recommended for metal, while special assembly pastes are available for carbon, both for the metal-carbon and carbon-carbon combination.

Torque

The clamps on the cockpit or seat post are safety-relevant and must be checked regularly and tightened with a torque spanner. To do this, loosen the screws slightly and tighten them again to the correct torque (usually printed on the component).

Handlebar tape

Well-maintained bike - well-maintained handlebar tape. As additional motivation for a new tape at the start of the season, it might be a good idea to change to a different colour. If you don't have much experience with wrapping, you can practise with the old handlebar tape first. Any adhesive residue should be removed before wrapping the new tape.

Paint care

Dull paintwork can be refreshed after washing with a paint sealant. This protects the paintwork and allows rain to roll off more easily. Dirt adheres less well and the next wash is easier. Good products are available from Sonax or Dr Wack Chemie from 20 euros, suitable for all vehicles in the fleet.