Cycles are transport machines and machines wear over time and require maintenance. Here are the basics:

Safety Check – ABCDE

Best practise is to check the state of a a bike before riding it, this is especially important if it is the first time you ride a given bike:

A. is for Air – check tyres are pumped to the correct pressure (marked on the side of tyre)
B. is for Brakes – Do both brakes stop the bike when applied
C. is for Chain –
D. is to Drop the bike – Drop the bike to the ground from about 5 cm and listen for any funny sounds
E. is for the handlebar Ends – are the holes at the end of the handlebar covered?

In practise

In practise what is required is checking and likely topping up the tyre pressure once a month and lubricating the chain at the same time

For any household with a bike, it is worth having:

1. a T-handle Floor Pump with a pressure gauge,
2. a bottle of bicycle chain oil (as it is sticky to prevent it getting flung off as the chain spins around)
3. Chain checker – this measures how worn the chain is