), and wipe clean with a dry rag. Apply lube when you've finished. Adjust your brakesIf your brake lever reaches the handlebar before it stops your bike, either your pads are worn or your cables are stretched. Worn pads should be replaced - but that's another

When faced with winter, a triathlete generally makes one of three decisions about cycling: keep riding; move the bike inside to the turbo trainer; or shift emphasis to a different activity - Wii Fit, anyone? - until the warmer weather returns

Easy-as-pie psiTop Dog St Deluxe pump, £46.99Tyre pressure affects your bike's comfort, speed, handling and even your safety. And although your road tyres may have a maximum pressure of 125 psi, that might not be the pressure you should use; most

. To work out a chain's size on your own, line up the jaws of a pair of calipers over the centre of the ends of a chain pin. Five- or six-speed bikes need a chain with a diameter of 7.5 to 8mm; seven- and eight-speed bikes need a chain with a diameter of 7

Squeaky seatYour peaceful ride is interrupted by a distracting sound coming from somewhere on your saddle - like a broken spring in a mattress. The problemYour seat and seat-post clamp bolts may not be properly lubricated. The solution Remove your saddle from your post and treat...

and learn about bike maintenance.The race began in Ongar Leisure Centre, with competitors starting at 30-second intervals, snaking 300m up and down each of the six lanes of the pool. The bike course consisted of two laps of mainly quiet country lanes

this simple guide to DIY bike maintenance:TyresCHECK: Keep an eye on both tyres, checking for wear on the tread as well as cracks on the sidewalls that might indicate they have started to perish. Worn tyres lead to slower performance and punctures.FIX IT: You

is that it encourages you to think like a cyclist. Training and socialising with experienced cyclists allows you to broaden your horizons in terms of training, routes, equipment, bike maintenance, aerodynamics and where to find the best tea-shops. A good starting point

of runners who after a good run say, “The amazing thing is that I missed several days training last week, because I fell off my bike/had a cold…”. A little rest will always do you good in the short term, and the harder you are training, the more benefit you

extras you can fit yourself: a bell to let people know that you’re approaching, and a bike water-bottle cage for long, hot runs. Buying TipsAlways try before you buy – with your child. Make sure that the handlebar height is right for everyone who