You do not need a home workshop to look after your bike. Checking tyre pressure, keeping the chain clean and lubricated, and storing the bike somewhere dry are simple habits that help it stay ready to ride.

But home care does not replace professional servicing. A bike that still rides can still need attention. Wear, loose parts and small adjustments are not always obvious.

This guide covers everyday care for non-electric, chain-driven bicycles, including mountain bikes and kids’ bikes. Follow your bike and component instructions where they specify different requirements.

1. What can you do at home?

Check tyres and brakes before riding

Use a bicycle pump with a pressure gauge. Check the tyre’s pressure guidance and any wheel or rim limits; do not exceed the lower applicable maximum. The maximum printed on a tyre is not a target for every rider.

Look for cuts, bulges or repeated pressure loss. Test both brakes before setting off, and check that the wheels, handlebar and pedals are secure. If something feels loose or does not work correctly, do not ride until it has been checked.

For a fuller checklist, see Before Your First Ride: A Quick Safety Check.

Clean gently, then dry

Remove loose dirt with a soft brush and wipe the frame with a soft cloth and mild soapy water. Avoid pressure washers and forceful water jets around bearings, seals and suspension. Dry the bike after cleaning rather than putting it away wet.

Keep the bike stable and stationary while wiping it. Keep fingers, cloths and loose clothing clear of moving chains, sprockets and spokes. Do not use an oily drivetrain cloth on braking surfaces.

Keep the chain clean and appropriately lubricated

Check the chain regularly, especially after wet, muddy or dusty rides. A heavy layer of oily grit needs cleaning, not another coating of oil.

Use a bicycle-specific chain cleaner or degreaser as directed, then let the chain dry. Apply a suitable bicycle chain lubricant according to its instructions, allow it to penetrate, and wipe off excess from the outside. Avoid spraying lubricant around the bike.

Keep oil and lubricant off brake discs, brake pads and rim-braking surfaces. If contamination is suspected or braking becomes weaker, stop riding and have the brakes assessed.

A bicycle chain lubricant is different from a general-purpose penetrating spray. If you are unsure how to clean or lubricate the chain safely, ask a bike shop to demonstrate.

2. Storage matters—even when you are not riding

Choose a dry, ventilated and sheltered place. A bike left outside is exposed to moisture even when it is not being ridden. A cover can help with weather exposure, but covering a wet bike and trapping damp air is not a substitute for drying it.

An aluminium frame does not make the whole bike rust-proof. Chains, fasteners and other steel parts can corrode. Rain, coastal salt and prolonged damp storage deserve extra attention.

After exposure to salt or mud, clean the bike gently and dry it. If the chain has stiff links, heavy rust or damaged parts, get it inspected: adding oil does not reverse wear or make damaged parts safe.

3. What should a bike shop check?

A service is more than a wash. A mechanic can measure wear and check parts that are difficult to assess by sight alone.

• Brakes: pad wear, operation and any required adjustment.
• Drivetrain: chain wear, sprockets, shifting and cable condition.
• Wheels and bearings: wheel alignment, spokes, roughness and unwanted play.
• Safety-critical fittings: wheels, steering, cranks and pedals, using the correct procedures and torque specifications.
• Suspension, where fitted: condition and the manufacturer’s service requirements.

Brake repairs, wheel truing, bearing work and suspension servicing are not beginner cleaning jobs. Do not tighten every bolt “as hard as possible” or attempt unfamiliar repairs without the right knowledge and tools.

4. How often should you service your bike?

For Horacio bikes, we recommend a first service at around four months, sooner for frequent, wet, dusty, sandy, loaded or off-road use. This follows our Owner Care guidance; any earlier model-specific requirement takes priority.

That is a planning guide—not a reason to wait when a problem appears. New looseness, persistent noise, poor shifting or weak braking should be checked promptly.

After that first service, follow the bike and component instructions and the mechanic’s advice. A daily commuter and an occasional dry-weather rider will not necessarily need the same schedule. Do not assume a bike can go a year or two without attention simply because it still moves.

5. Maintenance and warranty: a short distinction

Routine servicing, adjustments needed through normal use and normal wear are part of bicycle ownership. If something seems wrong, contact us so we can assess the cause and advise on the next step. A product defect is assessed differently from ordinary maintenance or damage caused by use.

Our warranty policy explains our cover and your rights under Australian Consumer Law. This maintenance guidance does not exclude or limit those rights.