Basic Bike Maintenance
Six short modules that take you from naming the parts of your bike to keeping it safe and running well. Most jobs need only a few simple tools, and each module ends with a quick check of what you've learned.
6 modules, 24 lessons, about 2 hours. Level: Beginner.
Who it's for
Anyone with a road or gravel bike who'd like to stop guessing. You don't need any tools or experience to begin.
What you'll learn
- Check your bike is safe before every ride
- Wash your bike and look after the chain
- Fix a puncture at the roadside
- Check and replace your brake pads
- Measure chain wear and adjust your rear gears
- Tighten bolts correctly, including on carbon parts
Course outline
1. Know your bike
Learn the parts of your bike, the tools worth owning and the quick check to do before every ride.
- Road and gravel bikes: what's different (free preview)
- Parts of the bike
- A sensible home tool kit
- The M-check before every ride
2. Clean and lubricate
Wash your bike, keep the chain clean and choose the right lube for your riding.
- Wash your bike in ten minutes
- Clean and lube the chain
- Choosing wet or dry lube
- After a muddy gravel ride
3. Tyres and punctures
Set the right pressure, fix a puncture and understand tubeless tyres.
- Tyre pressure for road and gravel
- Fix a puncture (free preview)
- Tubeless basics for gravel
- What to carry on a ride
4. Brakes
Understand your brakes, check your pads and know when a job needs a mechanic.
- Rim and disc brakes explained
- Check your brake pads
- Replace your brake pads
- When to see a mechanic
5. Gears and chain
See how your gears work, measure chain wear and make small adjustments.
- How your drivetrain works
- Measure chain wear
- Adjust your rear gears
- What's that noise?
6. Bolts and routine care
Tighten bolts correctly, take care with carbon and build a simple maintenance routine.
- Check your bolts with a torque wrench
- Carbon parts and torque limits
- Your monthly maintenance routine
- When to visit a bike shop
Questions
- Do I need any tools?
- Not to begin. The first module explains which few tools are worth buying and which can wait.
- Is it suitable for complete beginners?
- Yes. The course starts with the names of the parts and builds up one job at a time.
- How much does it cost?
- The course is free while we're building it. You only need an account to save your progress.
- Can I skip ahead?
- Yes. All the modules are open, so you can start with the job you need to do today.
- Does this replace a bike shop?
- No. The course explains what's safe to do at home and when a job needs a professional mechanic.