Bicycle spring check — what to inspect after winter

Why a spring check matters

The Berlin winter is hard on bicycles. Moisture creeps into gear and brake cables, into bearings and electrical contacts. Road salt attacks the chain, bolts and spokes. Brake pads harden with cold and standing time. And even bikes that spent winter in the cellar lose tyre pressure, develop gummy lubrication points and end up with flat batteries. What was flawless in autumn can be noticeably worse after three to four months' pause — often without being visible at first glance. That's why a spring check isn't a suggestion but a duty: brakes that don't grip or tyres that go flat are dangerous in Berlin city traffic.

What can I check myself — and what's better left to the workshop?

Easy to do yourself are visual inspections and simple function tests: check and correct tyre pressure, switch on the lights, pull the brake lever and feel the bite point, cycle through all gears while stationary, test the bell, clean and re-oil the chain. The workshop handles anything that needs measuring tools or safety-critical work: measuring brake pads with callipers, checking chain wear with a gauge, bleeding hydraulic brakes, truing wheels, checking bearings for play, checking the derailleur hanger for a bend. We do it in an hour — DIY without tools takes half a day and still often isn't quite right.

Brakes after winter — the most critical point

Brakes suffer most in winter. On rim brakes the rubber pads harden with cold and glaze over — braking distance can grow considerably. On disc brakes road salt can attack the disc, and pads may become contaminated if cleaning agents are used incorrectly. Hydraulic systems can draw in air through temperature swings — the lever feels spongy. In the spring check we inspect: pad thickness (under 1 mm = replace), disc thickness, lever bite point, even braking left and right. On hydraulic brakes we bleed the system when the bite point wanders.

Chain & drivetrain — measure wear instead of guessing

A chain that looks rusty isn't automatically broken — and a shiny chain isn't automatically fine. What matters is elongation. We measure with a chain wear gauge: up to 0.5 % elongation is ok, replace from 0.75 %, above 1 % the cassette is usually worn too. If the chain is only dirty and dry, cleaning and fresh oil help — that alone often makes the difference between a squeaky and a smooth-running bike. With aluminium chainrings a look at the teeth is worthwhile after a salty winter, too.

Tyres & wheels

Tyres lose air even without use — about 0.5 to 1 bar per month. If the bike stood all winter with too little pressure the carcass can develop cracks. Check the sidewall for fine cracks or bulges. Cuts or glass on the tread deserve a close look — if the puncture protection is damaged the next flat comes quickly. Wheels can pick up a wobble from potholes (Berlin has plenty). Lift the bike, spin the wheel and watch the brake pad or fork — if it wobbles noticeably sideways it's time to true it.

Lights & road-legality (StVZO)

Spring starts the bright half of the year — but Berlin weather brings rain fronts and early dusk even in summer. The StVZO (German road traffic regulations) requires a white front light, red rear light, white and amber reflectors and a bell. Battery and rechargeable lights have been permitted since 2017 — but they must carry the K-approval mark. Test all lights while stationary, check whether dynamo cables are rusted or damaged and whether batteries are charged. A fine for missing lights costs €20 — parts and fitting at our workshop often cost less.

E-bike after winter — check the battery in particular

If you rode your e-bike through winter, pay close attention to the battery after the cold season: how far does one charge take you compared with autumn? If remaining capacity has dropped noticeably it can be normal ageing — or a sign the battery suffered cold damage. Also important in the spring check: display contacts clean, all screwed connections on the motor tightened, torque sensor checked if the bike feels 'off'. More on this in the e-bike maintenance guide.

Frequently asked questions