Storage and Maintenance
How to keep a bike or e-bike safe, rideable and secure through a Lethbridge year. A two-minute pre-ride check, a simple maintenance schedule, e-bike motor and battery care, when to see a professional, storing bikes and batteries over winter, locks and theft, registering your serial number, and questions to ask your insurer.
On this page
The pre-ride ABC Quick Check
Most breakdowns and many crashes start with something you could have spotted in the driveway. The ABC Quick Check, widely taught in cycling safety programs and included in the City of Lethbridge Cycling Handbook, takes about two minutes.
- A is for Air. Squeeze the tires, or better, check them with a gauge against the pressure printed on the tire’s sidewall. Spin each wheel and look for cuts, bulges, worn tread or anything stuck in the tire.
- B is for Brakes. Squeeze each brake lever. It should feel firm and stop well short of the handlebar. Lift each wheel, spin it and squeeze the lever: the wheel should stop. Look at the pads; they should be clean and not worn down.
- C is for Cranks, Chain and Cogs. Grab the crank arms and wiggle them side to side; there should be no play. Spin the pedals backwards and check the chain runs smoothly and looks like clean metal, not rust or black gunk. If you have gears, check they shift.
- Quick is for Quick releases. If your wheels or seat post have quick-release levers or thru-axles, check that they’re tight and fully closed.
- Check. Make sure the seat and handlebars are tight and at the right height, then ride slowly for a moment to check that everything works.
Extra checks for an e-bike
- Battery charged, firmly clicked in and locked.
- Display turns on with no warning messages.
- Lights work.
- Brake-lever motor cut-off works: start pedalling gently, squeeze a brake, and the motor should stop helping.
- No loose or chafed cables near the handlebars, motor or battery.
Be the bike inspector! Before every ride, a good rider checks their bike, just like a pilot checks a plane. Remember it as A-B-C:
- A for Air: squeeze your tires. Are they hard, like a ripe apple, not squishy like a peach?
- B for Brakes: push your bike forward and squeeze each brake. Does it stop the wheel?
- C for Chain: is the chain shiny, not rusty or falling off?
Wonder: why does a squishy tire make pedalling harder? (A soft tire squashes flat where it touches the ground, so it has to keep squashing and un-squashing as it rolls. That takes energy, which comes from your legs.)
Try this: do the ABC check with a grown-up on every bike in your family before the first ride of spring. Let the grown-up use the pump and gauge if a tire needs air.
A maintenance schedule
These intervals are a starting point. Ride a lot, ride in rain or gravel, or ride an e-bike, and things wear faster. Your bike’s manual is the final word.
| How often | Every bike | E-bikes, also |
|---|---|---|
| Every ride | ABC Quick Check. | Battery charge, display, lights, motor cut-off. |
| Weekly, or every few rides | Check tire pressure with a gauge. Wipe the chain if it’s dirty. Listen for new creaks and rattles. | Check the battery seats firmly with no rattle. |
| Monthly in riding season | Clean and lube the chain. Check brake pad wear. Check bolts on stem, handlebars, seat post, racks and fenders. Look over the tires for cuts and wear. | Wipe the battery contacts and the bike’s battery terminals clean and dry. Check cables and connectors for wear. |
| Each spring | A thorough clean. Check cables, housings, chain wear, wheels for wobble and loose spokes, and headset and bottom bracket for play. A tune-up at a shop is a good habit. | Ask the shop to check for motor and display software updates and read any stored error codes. |
| Each fall | Clean off summer grit before storage. Note anything that needs fixing so the spring tune-up is quick. | Prepare the battery for winter storage (below). |
| Yearly | Professional tune-up. Hydraulic brake check. Suspension service as the maker recommends. | Motor system check by a dealer who supports your system. |
Tires, brakes, chain and shifting
Tire pressure
Tires lose air slowly even when you’re not riding. Correct pressure gives a lighter, safer ride, fewer pinch flats and more e-bike range. Use a pump with a gauge, and stay within the range printed on the tire. Heavier riders, heavier loads and e-bikes generally need pressures toward the upper end; wider tires on rough surfaces, the lower end. Cold weather lowers pressure, so check again when the temperature drops.
Brakes
- Replace pads before they wear down to the metal backing. Worn pads stop poorly and can damage rims or disc rotors.
- Keep oil and chain lube off disc rotors and pads. Contaminated pads squeal and won’t grip; they usually need replacing.
- Hydraulic brakes that feel spongy, or levers that pull to the bar, need a shop check.
- Heavy e-bikes wear pads faster, especially with coulee descents.
Chain cleaning and lube
- Wipe the chain with a rag while turning the pedals backwards, until the rag comes away cleaner.
- For a dirty chain, scrub with a brush and a bike-specific degreaser or soapy water, rinse lightly and let it dry. Avoid blasting water at bearings with a pressure washer.
- Apply bicycle chain lube, one drop on each roller, while turning the pedals backwards.
- Let it soak in for a few minutes, then wipe the outside of the chain thoroughly. Lube belongs inside the chain; on the outside it just collects grit.
Dry lubes suit our dry, dusty summers; wet lubes last longer in rain and winter. Chains stretch as they wear and then wear out the cogs. A shop can measure chain wear in seconds; replacing a chain on time is much cheaper than replacing the whole drivetrain.
Shifting
Cables stretch, especially in the first few weeks on a new bike, so gears may start to skip or hesitate. Small adjustments with the barrel adjuster where the cable leaves the shifter often fix it; your manual or shop can show you how. If shifting is still poor, the derailleur hanger may be bent (common after a bike falls over on its drive side), which is a quick shop fix.
E-bike motor and battery care
- Keep it clean, gently. Wipe or rinse with low-pressure water and a soft brush. Don’t use a pressure washer, and don’t submerge the motor or battery. Take the battery off before cleaning.
- Electrical connectors. Keep the battery contacts and the bike’s terminals clean, dry and free of grit. Check that plugs are seated and cables aren’t pinched or rubbing. Follow your manual if it suggests a contact protectant.
- Charging habits. Charge indoors at room temperature with the original charger, on a hard surface away from anything that can burn and away from exits, and don’t leave it charging overnight while you sleep. See battery fire safety.
- Software and firmware. Many e-bike motor systems have software that a dealer can update to fix bugs or improve performance. Ask at each service. Never install unofficial software to raise the speed or power; it can take the bike outside Alberta’s power bicycle rules and void the warranty.
- Battery faults. If the display shows an error code, look it up in the manual. Many simple faults come from a loose battery, dirty contacts or a cold battery. Try reseating the battery and warming it to room temperature. If the error stays, or the battery is losing charge quickly, gets hot, or has any damage, stop using it and have a dealer check it.
- Replacement parts. Motors, displays, controllers and batteries are often specific to one system. Use the manufacturer’s parts. Health Canada advises replacing batteries with original parts from the manufacturer or dealer.
- Local dealer support. Keep your receipt and warranty papers, and know which local shop can diagnose your system.
When to see a professional
Many jobs are fine at home. Take the bike to a shop for:
- Brakes that feel spongy, pull to the bar, squeal after cleaning, or don’t stop you well.
- Any crack, dent or bend in the frame, fork or handlebars, especially after a crash.
- Wheels that wobble, have loose or broken spokes, or rub the brakes.
- Play or grinding in the headset, bottom bracket or wheel bearings.
- Suspension service.
- Hydraulic brake bleeding.
- Any e-bike motor, display, wiring or battery problem you can’t fix by reseating the battery.
- Persistent error codes and software updates.
- A yearly tune-up, so small problems are caught early.
Never open an e-bike battery or motor. Battery packs store a lot of energy and can short, overheat or catch fire if opened or rebuilt. Damaged batteries are hazardous waste; check lethbridge.ca or call 311 for safe drop-off.
Where to keep it
Garage and shed
Hang light bikes on wall or ceiling hooks to save floor space and protect tires. Heavy e-bikes and trikes are safer on the floor or in a floor stand. Keep bikes away from fuel cans, lawn mowers and car doors. Lock the bike to a wall or floor anchor, even inside, and keep the garage door closed.
Apartments
Ask about bike rooms and your building’s rules on e-bikes and charging batteries indoors. A wall hook or vertical stand saves space. Don’t block hallways, stairwells or exits with bikes.
RVs and campgrounds
Lock bikes to the RV or a fixed object, and cover them at night. Bring batteries inside, but charge them only where you’d charge at home, with a smoke alarm. See RVs and campgrounds.
Batteries indoors
Store e-bike batteries indoors, somewhere dry, above freezing and out of direct sun, away from heat sources, beds, couches and exit routes, on a hard surface. Not in a bedroom or by the front door.
Covers and condensation
A breathable cover protects a bike outdoors from sun, dust and rain. A plastic tarp wrapped tight does the opposite: it traps moisture, and as temperatures swing between day and night, condensation forms on metal parts and rusts the chain and bolts. Leave airflow underneath, and park on a dry surface rather than bare earth or wet grass.
Protecting expensive parts
- Take the battery and display (if removable) off when parked in public.
- Lights, bags and computers walk away easily; take them with you.
- Security skewers or locking bolts make wheels and saddles harder to steal.
Winter storage, step by step
If you put the bike away for the winter, an hour of care in the fall saves trouble in spring.
- Clean the bike thoroughly, especially road salt and grit if you’ve ridden into late fall. Dry it.
- Lube the chain and wipe off the excess, to protect it from rust.
- Pump the tires to normal pressure, and recheck once or twice through the winter; or hang the bike so the tires aren’t bearing weight.
- Store it somewhere dry, out of the weather. A cold garage is fine for the bike itself.
- Bring the e-bike battery indoors. Store it above freezing and away from heaters.
- Set the charge level your manual recommends for long-term storage. Most manuals advise a partial charge rather than completely full or completely empty, and checking the level every month or two, topping it up if it drops.
- Disconnect or remove the display and lights if they draw power when off.
- Note what needs fixing and book a spring tune-up early, before the shops get busy.
When overnight lows start dipping below freezing, it’s time to bring e-bike batteries in from the garage. Watch the lows on the forecast page. In spring, chinooks can bring a warm week in February; resist the urge to charge a battery straight from a cold garage.
Riding through winter?
Some Lethbridge riders keep going all year on cleared paved pathways. Rinse salt and sand off often, lube the chain more frequently, consider studded tires for ice, and store e-bike batteries indoors between rides. Charge only once the battery has warmed to room temperature.
Locks, theft and registering your bike
Locking
The City of Lethbridge Cycling Handbook recommends a rigid steel U-lock, or a cable lock with braided steel, locking both the frame and the wheels to a fixed object.
- Lock to something solid that can’t be cut, unbolted or lifted over: a bike rack bolted down, not a small tree, a sign that lifts off its post, or a chain-link fence.
- Lock the frame, not just a wheel. Use a second lock or cable for the other wheel.
- Fill the lock. A U-lock with little space left inside is harder to lever open.
- Choose busy, well-lit spots, in view of people and cameras.
- Take the battery, display and accessories with you.
- At home, lock the bike inside the garage or shed too. Many thefts happen from garages left open.
Record and register it
- Find the serial number, usually stamped under the bottom bracket, where the pedal cranks meet the frame. Write it down, with the make, model, colour and size.
- Take clear photos of the whole bike and any unique marks, and keep the receipt.
- Register it with Bike Index. Lethbridge Police Service partners with Bike Index, a non-profit bicycle registry, and the City’s handbook recommends it. LPS says registration is free and takes a few minutes. Include a phone number so officers can contact you if your bike is found; LPS says only law enforcement can see it. Register at Lethbridge Police Service: Bike Index.
- Use the sticker. LPS notes free Bike Index stickers, available at participating local shops, may deter thieves. Put it on the seat tube with the QR code visible, scan it and link it to your account.
If it’s stolen
- Report it to Lethbridge Police Service, online or by phone, with the serial number and photos.
- Mark it as stolen on Bike Index.
- If you see it for sale online, don’t contact the seller or arrange to meet. LPS is clear: tell police instead.
- Before buying a used bike, check the serial number on Bike Index.
Insurance questions to ask
Coverage for bikes and e-bikes varies a lot between policies. Call your insurer or broker and ask:
- Is my bike covered for theft at home, in a locked garage or shed, in an open carport?
- Is it covered away from home: locked at a store, on a vehicle rack, at a campground or in an RV?
- Is there a limit for bicycles or for a single item? Is my e-bike over it?
- Is an e-bike treated differently from a pedal bike?
- Does coverage pay replacement cost or depreciated value? What’s the deductible?
- Do I need to list the bike, its serial number or a receipt?
- Am I covered for liability if I injure someone or damage property while riding?
- Would a fire caused by an e-bike battery charging at home be covered? Are there conditions about chargers or certification?
- Is a bike rack damaged in a collision, or the bikes on it, covered by my auto policy?
What it means for you: a five-minute call before you buy an expensive e-bike can save a lot of grief later. Keep the answers, your receipt and your serial number in the same folder.
Sources
- U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, ABC Quick Check: nhtsa.gov (PDF)
- City of Lethbridge, Lethbridge Cycling Handbook (July 2020), ABC check, locking and registration: lethbridge.ca (PDF)
- City of Lethbridge, Cycling page (Bike Index and stolen-bike reporting links): lethbridge.ca/roads-parking-transit/cycling
- Lethbridge Police Service, Bike Index: lethbridgepolice.ca/bike-index
- Bike Index, “Bike Index is now a nonprofit”: bikeindex.org
- Health Canada and Transport Canada, Misuse or modification of lithium-ion batteries in e-mobility devices (2023): recalls-rappels.canada.ca
- Health Canada, Factsheet: Larger lithium-ion battery systems (2025): canada.ca
- UL Standards & Engagement, 5 Electric Bike and Scooter Safety Tips (charging temperatures): ulse.org