Bike Skills & Maintenance — Watch & Learn
You don't need a mechanic. You need 30 minutes and these videos. Learn to fix a flat, adjust your brakes, fit your bike, and ride with confidence.
1. How to Fix a Flat Tyre (You Will Get One. Be Ready.)
What You'll Learn
Fixing a puncture is the single most important skill in cycling. Every woman cyclist should be able to do this independently — it takes 10 minutes once you've practised.
Key Takeaways
- Carry a repair kit always: tyre levers, spare tube or patch kit, mini pump. Total weight: 200 grams
- Steps: remove wheel → remove tyre with levers → find the hole (inflate and listen/feel) → patch or replace tube → refit tyre → inflate
- Check the tyre: after removing the tube, run your fingers inside the tyre to find what caused the puncture (thorn, glass, wire). Remove it or you'll puncture again immediately
- Practice at home first — don't learn this skill on the roadside in the sun
Practice Exercise
Buy a cheap tube (₹150). Deliberately poke a hole with a pin. Practice patching it at home with your repair kit. Time yourself. Goal: under 10 minutes.
What You Need (₹500 total)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tyre lever set (2-3) | ₹100 |
| Patch kit (glue + patches) | ₹80 |
| Spare inner tube | ₹150 |
| Mini pump | ₹200 |
2. Basic Bike Maintenance — The 5-Minute Pre-Ride Check
What You'll Learn
A quick check before every ride prevents 90% of mechanical problems. This takes 5 minutes and could save your life.
The M-Check (Do This Every Ride)
Follow the shape of the letter M across your bike:
| Check Point | What to Check | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Front wheel | Tyre pressure (squeeze — should be firm), quick release tight | Pump if soft, tighten if loose |
| Handlebars | Straight, stem bolts tight, grips secure | Straddle front wheel and try to twist bars |
| Saddle | Height correct, not wobbling, clamp tight | Sit on it, try to twist it |
| Rear wheel | Tyre pressure, quick release tight | Same as front |
| Brakes | Both front and rear stop the bike | Squeeze each lever — wheel should stop |
| Chain | Not dry, not rusty, no clicking | Drop of oil if dry; if clicking, skip to a mechanic |
| Gears | Shift through all gears smoothly | Spin pedals and click through all gears |
The Rule
If brakes don't work, don't ride. Everything else can wait. Brakes cannot.
3. How to Ride in Traffic (Without Fear)
What You'll Learn
Indian traffic is chaotic but predictable once you learn the patterns. This video covers positioning, signalling, and asserting your space on the road.
Key Takeaways
- Take the lane — ride 1 metre from the kerb, not in the gutter. Riding too close to the edge invites cars to squeeze past dangerously
- Be predictable — ride in a straight line. Don't weave between parked vehicles
- Signal clearly — extend your arm fully for turns. Make eye contact with drivers at junctions
- Assume you're invisible — never assume a driver has seen you. Especially at junctions and roundabouts
- Avoid the "door zone" — ride at least 1 metre from parked cars. Doors open without warning
5 Rules for Indian Traffic
- Ride with traffic, never against it — wrong-side riding is the #1 cause of cycling accidents
- Own the left lane — you have as much right to the road as any car
- Make eye contact at junctions — if the driver isn't looking at you, they haven't seen you
- Use a bell/horn — not aggressive, just "I'm here." Ring approaching pedestrians and junctions
- Use lights after sunset — front white, rear red. Non-negotiable. A good set costs ₹500
Discuss with Your Club
- Share your scariest traffic moment. What would you do differently now?
- Ride your regular route together. Point out the 3 most dangerous spots. What makes them dangerous?
- Practice hand signals together in a park before taking them to the road
4. Bike Fit — Adjusting Your Bike to Your Body
What You'll Learn
A bike that fits right doesn't hurt. Period. If your back aches, your neck strains, or your hands go numb — the bike is wrong, not you.
Key Takeaways
- Saddle height: sit on the saddle, put your heel on the pedal at the bottom. Your leg should be completely straight. When you pedal normally with the ball of your foot, you'll have a perfect slight bend
- Handlebar reach: elbows should have a gentle bend (15-20°), not locked straight
- Saddle tilt: start level. Women often benefit from 1-2° nose-down tilt to relieve pressure
- Most important adjustment: if only one thing, get the saddle height right. It fixes 70% of comfort issues
15-Minute Fit Session
Do this with a friend (one holds the bike, one adjusts):
- Set saddle height (heel method) — 3 minutes
- Check saddle fore/aft (knee over pedal spindle) — 3 minutes
- Level the saddle with a phone spirit level app — 2 minutes
- Test ride around the block — 5 minutes
- Fine-tune: raise or lower handlebars if neck/back is strained — 2 minutes
For the complete guide, read the Bike Fit Guide for Women.
5. How to Clean and Oil Your Chain
What You'll Learn
A clean, oiled chain makes your bike faster, quieter, and your gears last 3x longer. This is 10 minutes of maintenance that saves thousands in repairs.
Key Takeaways
- Clean the chain every 2 weeks (or after every wet ride)
- Use a rag + degreaser: wrap the rag around the chain, spin the pedals backward 20 times
- Oil sparingly: one drop per link, then wipe off excess. Too much oil attracts dirt
- Chain oil types: wet lube for monsoon (stickier, resists water), dry lube for summer (cleaner, lighter)
- Replace the chain every 2,000-3,000 km. A worn chain destroys your gears (₹300 chain replacement vs. ₹3,000 gear replacement)
What You Need
| Item | Cost | Lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Chain oil (wet or dry) | ₹200 | 6 months |
| Degreaser spray | ₹300 | 6 months |
| Old rag/cloth | Free |
Learning Together
The best way to learn bike maintenance is hands-on with friends.
Club Maintenance Workshop Format (2 hours)
- Watch one video together on a phone/laptop (10 min)
- Demonstrate — one person does it on their bike while others watch (15 min)
- Practice — everyone does it on their own bike (30 min)
- Troubleshoot — help each other with problems (15 min)
- Next skill — repeat with the next video
Skills to Learn in Order
- Fix a flat (most important — do this first)
- Pre-ride M-check
- Adjust saddle height
- Clean and oil chain
- Adjust brakes
- Traffic riding skills (practice in a group)
"The woman who can fix her own flat tyre is the woman who can ride anywhere."