Knowing what service is best for you and when to get it done is imperative for maintaining your bicycle and riding experience, preventing accidents and improving rider safety. This short but sweet guide aims to provide you with some useful information on when you should get your bicycle serviced and what service to choose.

Key indicators that your bike is not running at its optimal performance and is due for a service:

• A squeaking chain can be a sign of insufficient lubrication.
• Grinding, skipping or clicking noises from the gears indicate that they need adjustment.
• Your bike chain should never fall off the sprocket; if it does, your derailleurs may need adjustment.
• Both brakes should engage smoothly and quietly, with only a short pull on the lever.
• Both brakes should engage smoothly and quietly, with only a short pull on the lever.
• Any rattles, wobbles or creaks should be investigated early; usually it's an easy fix, but it's best to catch it early.

If you're noticing any of these, or you notice that your bicycle feels different whist you're out on a ride it may be time for a service or a tune-up. As with any mechanical device, prevention is better than cure.

While bicycle mechanics all offer their own unique service, it's quite common to find 3 price plans which we've called:

• Premium/Gold Service
• Standard/Silver Service
• Basic/Bronze Service

We recommend:

Basic/Bronze - Every 6 months

General faults after 6 months:

• Brakes require slightly more force than before
• Squeaky chain when riding
• Clicking or rattling from the gears, and the gears not always shifting first time.
• Tyres slightly deflated

Standard/Silver - Every 12 months

General faults after 12 months:

• Brakes require excess force to engage
• Chain showing signs of rust and stiffness
• Clicking or rattling from the gears, and gears not shifting first time
• Tyres and valves worn/damaged from use.
• Wheel spokes look uneven
• Handlebars do not look straight

Premium/Gold - Every 18-24 months

General faults after 18-24 months:

• Brakes require full pressure to engage or do not engage.
• Chain completely stiff or 'over stretched'
• Any bearings such as the hubs, headset or brackets showing signs of wear through squeaking or grinding
• Gears require excess force to shift or do not shift
• Any cracks or damage to the frame

Here's what you should expect to receive from different service price plans:

Basic/Bronze:

• Frame and Fork alignment checked.
• Adjustment of the gears and brakes.
• Chain lubricated and checked.
• Tyres inflated to specified pressures.

Standard/Silver - Everything included in Basic/Bronze plus:

• Frame and fork - General inspection
• Wheels removed, trued, tensioned and bearings adjusted.
• Tyres and Valves checked for wear and damage.
• Headset and bottom bracket checked for movement and adjustment.
• Chain, cassette and chain set cleaned and checked for wear and lubricated.
• Bottom bracket checked for operation and adjustment.
• All cables checked for wear and fraying.
• All brakes checked for wear and alignment.
• Front and rear derailleurs checked for condition and function. Adjustment of indexing and limits if required.

Premium/Gold - Everything included in Basic/Bronze and Standard/Silver plus:

• Full strip down to frame and forks, frame cleaned and alignment check.
• Hubs disassembled, cleaned and inspected.
• Headset removed, cleaned re-greased and checked for movement.
• Bottom bracket cleaned, re-greased and checked for movement.

Despite these different servicing plans being broadly similar across different mechanics, it must be noted that all services will vary slightly. Therefore, please take this into consideration and we urge you check the details of each service displayed on each mechanics profile.