10 Signs Your Bike Needs a Service

Bikes tell you when something's wrong — if you know what to look and listen for. Here are ten signs your bike is overdue a service.

1. Gears skipping or slow to shift

If your chain skips under load or gears hesitate, cables have stretched or indexing is out. Left unchecked it wears out your cassette and chainrings.

2. Brakes feel weak or spongy

Pulling the lever further than usual before anything happens means worn pads, slack cables, or on hydraulic brakes, air in the system. A safety issue.

3. Squealing brakes

Persistent squealing usually means contaminated or glazed pads, or a misaligned calliper. Read our full brakes guide.

4. Clicking or creaking noise

Rhythmic clicks matching your pedalling are usually a worn chain, loose bottom bracket, or dry pedal threads. None go away on their own.

5. Chain looks rusty

A rusty chain is a worn chain grinding metal off your cassette with every pedal stroke. Check chain wear here.

6. Wobbly or loose wheels

Rock the wheel side to side — any play means worn hub bearings. A buckled rim (wobbles as it spins) needs truing.

7. Stiff chain links

If the chain doesn't flow smoothly over the jockey wheels you have a stiff link. These cause the chain to jump unpredictably.

8. Cracked tyre sidewalls

Old rubber develops cracks in the sidewall even if tyre pressure looks fine. If your tyres are over 3–4 years old, replace them.

9. Bike pulls to one side when braking

If the bike veers under braking, one brake is gripping harder. Usually a cable tension imbalance or seized calliper piston.

10. It's been over a year since the last service

Even without the above symptoms, annual servicing catches problems before they develop. How often should you service your bike?