What bike maintenance should I do myself?

JAMES TRIGG, HALFORDS CYCLING CATEGORY MANAGER

“You won’t always have time to wash your bike after every ride – but it’s important that you wipe down your chain to prolong your drivetrain’s life and add a few drops of lube afterwards to keep the chain running smoothly. Check your wheels are true. On a rim-brake). Loose or tight bolts on your bike can lead to parts failing. Fortunately, many bolts have their torque ratings (how much they need tightening) printed on them. With a bike-specific torque wrench you can set your desired torque so the tool clicks when you reach that rating, leaving the bolt perfectly tightened. Finally, if something sounds, looks or feels wrong on your bike there’s no harm in getting a pair of trained eyes on it. You know your bike better than anyone else, try not to ignore it.”