Bike packing prep: a mechanic’s essential tips!

1. Ensure your bike is working safely

• Brakes: check they are working well – are the pads (rim or disc) in good condition with plenty of life left in them?  
• Tyres: are they appropriate for the terrain you will be riding on? If you’ll be riding off-road, e.g., rough tracks, your tyres will need to be more substantial and have more grip than if you were riding solely on roads.  Are your tyres in good condition - no cracking, bulges, or worn tread patterns? 
• Gears: are the chain, rear sprockets and chainrings in good condition? 

If you aren’t confident in assessing the safety of your bike, your local bike shop will be able to assess your bike, give you valuable feedback, and arrange to service your bike to ensure it is ready for your ride.  

At Life Cycle, we offer a free Dr Bike service, to anyone living, working or studying in Bristol, where you take your bike to our Bristol Hub for a free thirty-minute safety check. We’ll also complete minor repairs at no cost.  

2. Familiarise yourself with key trailside skills

• Removing both front and rear wheels 
• Removing tyres and inner tubes
• Fixing a puncture 
• Refitting tubes and tyres  
• Refitting wheels 
• Removing a chain and fitting a chain with a “quick-link” (a quick-link will help you join your chain back together if it breaks). 

Have a good practice on your bike before you set off! If you aren’t confident in doing these tasks, our Cytech Home Mechanics course covers the basics and much more. It will help you build confidence in maintaining your bike, ensure a safer and more comfortable ride, and equip you to handle emergency repairs on the go. Find our upcoming course dates here.

3. Pack the correct tools and spares for mechanical issues

• An inner tube that is the correct size for your tyre and valve type  
• A puncture repair kit containing a range of sizes of patches  
• Good quality tyre levers 
• A small section of tyre sidewall from an old tyre, that can be used as a temporary “boot” in case of a tyre blowout 
• A pump that works well and that fits your inner tube valve type
• Allen keys to fit your bike’s components 
• A chain quick-link suited to your chain - it will vary according to how many cogs you have on your rear wheel, e.g. 9 speed, 10 speed, etc. 
• A chain splitting tool suited to your chain type. 

If you’re unsure, have a quick search to see which tools fit your bike, or double-check with the staff at your local bike shop.

Mastering a few basic skills and taking an essential repair kit and tools will enable you to keep rolling! If you’d like to take your skills to the next level, you can check out our Cytech courses to increase your confidence for your upcoming trip.  

Happy cycling!