Children’s Bicycle Maintenance: A Practical Guide for Parents

A properly maintained children's bike will certainly serve much longer than one that does not get any attention. Most importantly, it will be safe for your little rider to use. Regular maintenance of your child’s bike will prevent possible accidents and injuries. So, what parts of the bicycle should we pay attention to?

This article will take you through the basic steps of maintaining a children's bike so your child can have a safe ride. And don't worry – you do not need to be a pro to master these basics.

Tyres are one of the most important parts of a bicycle. They define how well the bike sticks to the ground we ride on. We use the term adhesion for this. Tyres also have a direct influence on the rider's comfort. Due to that, it is necessary to check their condition and pressure regularly.

After checking the tyre condition, make sure they are properly inflated. A bicycle with underinflated tyres is harder for a child to ride and control, and there is a higher risk of a puncture. On the contrary, riding on overinflated tyres is very uncomfortable: the child will feel every little bump and stone they ride over. An over-pressurized tyre is also likely to burst, especially on hot summer days.

The correct tyre pressure depends on several factors: the child’s weight, the type of bicycle and the surface your little explorer will ride on. For mountain bikes and off-road biking, we recommend a lower pressure of around 1.4 Bar (20 psi). Lower-pressured tyres will absorb the bumps better and make the ride more comfortable. If your little one mostly rides on asphalt and paved roads, inflate the tyres to about 1.7 Bar (25 psi). The tyres will roll better and pedaling will be less strenuous.

Although every tyre has its maximum pressure values listed on its sidewalls, we recommend not exceeding 2.7 Bar (40 psi). Despite all the above recommendations, the rider's weight is always the main indicator.

Tip: To find the ideal tyre pressure value, use the Silca calculator from the manufacturer or the tyre Sram pressure guide.

Never underestimate any pure condition of the bicycle tyres. Check them regularly for cracks, cuts, or any significant wear and tear. Old tyres and tyres with a worn thread pattern need to be replaced. With a worn tyre, you are very likely to get a puncture and there is a danger of having a crash. Anyway, excessively worn rear tyres are quite common for children's bikes as little riders often have fun skidding with their rear wheel.

To save some money, people occasionally come up with a solution to swap the rear-worn tyre with the front one. But that makes the bicycle even more unsafe to ride. Concerning bicycle stability when ridden, it is more important to have a tyre with a good quality thread pattern at the front than at the rear. A front wheel fitted with a worn tyre can easily slip in a corner and cause an unavoidable crash. On the other side, a slipping rear wheel can be safely controlled.

Tip: Make sure the front tyre always has its thread pattern in good condition. Never replace it with a worn rear tyre!

Functional brakes are essential for speed control and safe stopping. Unreliable, unadjusted or worn brakes can turn even a skilled rider into an uncontrolled missile. When checking your brakes, focus on three main parts:

Check that the brake levers are working properly and are not too loose. Their correct size and settings are important. Children have smaller hands than adults, so on RASCAL children's bikes you find various small-size brake levers suitable for even the tiniest riders.

Make sure the brake blocks are not worn out. For disc brakes, check the brake pads. It they are worn out they must be replaced. For the bikes equipped with V-brakes, check that the rim braking surface is clean, free of grease, and with no signs of damage. We recommend leaving the replacement of hydraulic disc brake pads to professional service. You might get lost in the vast offer and the bleeding process might be needed.

Tip: If you find out that only the rear brake blocks/pads need replacement, teach your little racer to use both the rear and front brakes simultaneously when breaking. This will give them much better control over their bike.

Make sure the brake cables are not frayed or rusted. If so, replace them immediately. Replacing a brake cable is a rather straightforward procedure - but be careful to pick the right type. There are three basic kinds of cables bicycles use.  Therefore, go for the common brake cable. You can also get a road brake cable or gear shift cable, which will not fit.

To make the bike run smoothly and quietly, the chain and gears must be clean and well lubricated. This requires regular maintenance depending on how often, where, and in what weather your little cyclist rides.

Tip: Most RASCAL children's bicycles have a belt drive instead of a standard chain. This system is lighter, more reliable, and requires almost no maintenance. If your little one rides a RASCAL bike from the Classic Series, you can calmly skip this chapter.

Over time, a mixture of oil, and dust settles on the chain. This layer then significantly wears the chain, derailleurs and gears out, and causes inaccurate shifting. Therefore, clean the chain regularly using an appropriate bike cleaner and a brush.

Tip: After cleaning, rinse and dry the chain thoroughly so that the lubricant gets absorbed and stays on the chain.

Always apply a chain lubricant only on a clean and dry chain. Proper lubrication will prevent corrosion and extend the life of the chain, and the chain will run quietly and smoothly when pedaling and shifting.

If your child's bike has a multiple-gear system, check it runs smoothly. A derailleur that does not shift smoothly needs to be adjusted.

There can be several reasons why the derailleur might not work properly: a badly adjusted cable, a wrong angle of the derailleur, unset derailleur stops, or a crooked derailleur hanger that needs to be straightened. Therefore, we recommend taking it to the local bike shop to have the gear system adjusted.

Check the frame and fork regularly for any damage. Checking these main parts is especially important after the bike has crashed or been handled carelessly.

Look for cracks, signs of corrosion, bends or other significant damage.Hledejte praskliny, známky koroze, ohyby nebo jiná výrazná poškození.

Make sure that the fork is not dented or bent and does not show any other signs of damage. If you have a suspension fork on the bicycle, check that it springs properly. The inner legs of the fork should be clean and with no extra sign of oil or grease.

Bicycle handlebars must be tightened firmly and set at the appropriate height and ideal angle.

Tip: You can easily adjust the handlebar height by switching the stem upside down or placing the spacers under or above the stem.

As children grow up fast, it is advisable to check the saddle height. Younger kids should be able to reach the ground with both feet while seated. For the older ones, try to get closer to the ideal saddle height setting, when the leg is stretched out with their heel on the pedal in its lowest position.

Badly rotating pedals can make the ride hard and unpleasant. Check that they are not loosely fitted in the cranks, and they spin freely. If they do not turn easily, replace them with new ones. 

Tip: You can go for aluminium or composite RASCAL pedals. Both types have reliable industrial bearings.

Although regular maintenance of a children’s bike can prevent most issues, you should have it serviced in a professional bike shop at least once a year. The mechanics will thoroughly inspect your bike and make sure every component works well.

Regular maintenance of a children's bike is essential to ensure a safe and smooth ride. Although it may seem complicated, most of the basic tasks can be done easily at home. Just stick to these simple rules your child’s bicycle will be reliable and safe to ride.