Ride with niggles and they will eventually become problems. Ride with problems and you will regret it. Small adjustments to your bike make a lot of difference, and it's remarkable how much better a bike can operate after as little as an hour's work.

You will need lots of old rags, so don't throw out those old jamies or pairless socks. The best place to start when you intend to do a wee bit of maintenance is with a clean bike. Regularly cleaned parts last longer; for example clean rims will not wear brake pads out so quickly. Surface dirt needs to be washed off before it works it's way into concealed parts, such as inside a cable housing and into bearings. Here's how to clean your bike good and proper.

Frame

Brush off any dry, loose mud. Remove the wheels to make it easier to get in between the stays. Use warm soapy water and a sponge, and rise off afterwards with fresh water. Pressured water from a hose is a no-no, it pushes out grease from vital areas. Polish the frame after you have cleaned it. Mud does not stick as well to a smooth, polished surface, so the bike stays clean longer. Check for cracks in the frame - they first appear as fine lines into which dirt gets stuck. Wheels. Keep the braking surface of the rims as clean as possible. Brake pad residue accumulates on wheel rims, limiting the effectiveness of braking. If necessary, wipe the rims over with white spirit. Riding down a tar-sealed road at speed removes most of the mud from tyres (don't get too roadie though!). Scrub off the rest with warm soapy water.

Drivetrain

The chain, block (sprockets), front chain rings and jockey wheels are the elements that constitute the drivetrain. The sprockets in particular wear very quickly if not kept clear of muck. Chains last as little as a week in bad conditions if neglected; the dirt they pick up gets carried around the drivetrain and forced into the holes between the chain plates. Ideally, wipe the chain once for every six hours riding. Keep a selection of soft brushes, bottlebrushes and toothbrushes. Washing up brushes with an angled head are perfect for getting into gaps behind brakes and gears.

The chain

Lean the bike up against a wall. Crouch down on the bike's right hand side. Wrap a cloth around the chain with your left hand. While pedalling backward with your right hand, hold the cloth around the lower section of chain where it comes off the chain ring. Gradually increase the pressure with your left hand so that you are cleaning the muck off the chain as it passes through the cloth. As the cloth gets dirty, move a clean part onto the chain. Repeat until the cloth remains clean. Chain cleaning should be done at least once a week in good conditions, and after every ride in bad conditions. Often for a better clean, you will need to use a degreaser. Use the above technique but apply a small amount of degreaser to the cloth. After applying degreaser, use detergent and clean water to wash away the remaining solvents. Cleaning the chain with harsh solvents and detergent will drive the lubrication off the links of the chain, so re-lube carefully afterwards. Water promotes rust so try and drive out or wipe off any water that may be sitting on the chain.

Extra tips

    * Rags always come in handy

    * Never throw away an old toothbrush

  Bike Stands are fab if you can get hold of one - an old tube hanging off a tree is a good budget method!