Give your whole bike a good cleaning with a bit of water, dish soap, and an old rag. Never use a pressure washer on your bike and be sure to dry it well. This is also a good time to give your bike a thorough once-over and make sure that every screw and bolt is tightened—just be careful not to overtighten anything!

A. Lubing your chain

Add some oil to the “inside” of your chain, while turning your crank backwards.

If you’ve added too much lube, remove the excess with the rag. Like the fine art of saucing poutine, you want just the right amount of gravy so it’s not too dry or too wet! Note that you shouldn’t use WD40 to lube your bike, but you can use it to clean your chain first.

For the creative types out there, here’s an old grandpa trick for cleaning your chain with toothbrushes and tape.

B. Lube your cables

To reduce friction and add a bit of life to your brake and derailleur cables, put a bit of JIG-A-LOO at every point where the cable enters the housing. Be very careful not to get any on your rims or brake pads.

Checking your brakes is a two-step process.

First, stand next to your bike and, while pressing down on your brake levers, try to push your bike forward along the ground. Be sure to check your front and rear brakes separately. If your lever comes too close to your handle bar, that means that you either need to tighten your brake cable or that your brake pads are worn out.

Start with your brake pads.

Check how much rubber is left on them by looking at the grooves (a little bit like a car tire). If you can barely see the grooves anymore, then you need to pay your bike shop a quick visit.

If there’s enough rubber left on your brake pads, but the brake lever crushes your fingers, then your brake cable needs to be tightened.

To tighten your brake cable, unscrew the barrel adjuster on your brake lever. Keep testing your brakes until the lever is far enough away from your handlebars. If your barrel adjuster is already maxed out, you have to tighten the cable at the brake itself with a wrench.

Having properly inflated tires means you can enjoy pedaling with less effort, but it’s also important for preventing frequent flat tires and wear.

Use a pump with a pressure gauge to check the tire pressure.

The wider your tire, the less pressure it needs. The narrower your tire, the more pressure it needs. A hybrid city bike generally requires 50–60 psi.

Tip: the max pressure is usually written on the side of your tires.

These two are an absolute must. Your best bet are lights that you can easily take on and off your bike so that you can slip them into your pocket when you pop into the grocery store or lock up your bike to join your friends for a drink. Lights are often stolen, so make sure you get into the habit of taking them off.

Fenders are lifesavers all year round.

They’re easy to install and there’s a model for every kind of bike. Just ask your local bike shop what they’d recommend for your ride.

A bike baskets is so much more practical than a backpack.

The classic milk crate attached to your rear rack with zip ties is by far the most budget-friendly option. I myself prefer the slightly more upscale front basket, so that you can keep an eye on your croissants, groceries, and six packs of local beer while you ride.

Here again, it’s best to ask the staff at your local bike shop what they think. They’ll be able to tell you which basket is right for your bike and for what you normally carry.