With enough riding, your bike can slowly feel as though it’s an extended part of you. Every scratch and scuff carries a memory (mostly painful), while every other imperfection is proof of its use.
However, over time, your bike may start to feel like an old dog, and may sound like one, too. Things may not function like you remember and you’ll likely start lusting after something new and shiny.
That's not necessarily the only answer, though, so here are some handy ways to bring new life into that well-loved ride, and keep those family relationships intact.
Editor's note: this list was updated on 3 October 2025 with additional information on replacing your pads.
1. Replace your tyres
When did you last replace the tyres on your bike? If they’re road bike tyres, are they starting to get a flat centre and show small cuts throughout? If it’s mountain bike tyres, are the side knobs still intact or are they showing tearing at the edges?
Beyond the obvious wear signs, the rubber in your tyres will get harder over time. Nothing brings quite as much life back into a new bike as a fresh set, especially if you’re upgrading to something better, too.
For road cyclists, do your frame and fork offer enough room to go fatter? Why not experience the smoother and more controlled ride of wider tyres?
It's the same for mountain bikers. A 2.4in tyre no longer looks strange on a cross-country bike, with many pro riders currently using them
While replacing your tyres, check your tubes if you're running them, and your rim strips. These won’t make much difference to the feel of your bike, but hey, you’ll love that old bike more if you’re not stopping to fix a flat.
If you are running tubeless, make sure you check there's sealant in your tyres – finding out there isn't mid-ride is never a good option.
2. Replace your pads
With the tyres sorted, check the other rubber part on the bike (if you have rim brakes) – the brake blocks. Uneven wear or glazing is sure to be causing lost braking efficiency and possibly even harming your rims.
While the pads aren’t rubber for disc brake users, be sure to keep a close check on pad life and uneven wear here, too. Any severe squealing or lack of bite is a sign that they’re contaminated and you should look at getting that stopping ability back.
3. Replace your contact points
It’s said commonly that fresh bar tape or grips bring immediate youth to a bike. While this is certainly true, it’s important not to ignore your other touch points.
Saddles do wear and over time the foam and shell will lose the firmness, shape and support they once offered. If your saddle is collapsing in the middle, or there are significant creases in the cover where the foam once was, it’s likely time to get yourself a new perch.
If you were always comfortable with your past saddle, look for the closest replacement. If not, consider visiting your local bike stores and asking to trial a selection.
It’s a similar story for the pedals.
Clip-in type pedals have multiple moving parts that won’t last forever. The surface of the pedal is something to consider, too. While most have become far more durable in recent years, some older pedals, such as original Look Keos, are likely to have worn bodies by now and will let your feet rock in a way they shouldn’t.
Depending on your pedal system, consider giving them a quick service.
Then there are your cleats. When did you last replace them? Have you forgotten what the wear indicators even look like?
If replacing, a handy tip is to draw around the outside of your old cleats with a marker pen. This will enable you to install your new cleats into the exact position of the old ones.
4. Replace your cables
Consider a worn, dirty or rusted cable like a clogged artery – it’s bad news for your bike. Replacing your cables and housing isn’t expensive, and will bring a whole new smoothness to your brakes and shifting.
If your shifting is sluggish and inconsistent no matter how you adjust it, it’s likely the cables are at fault.
While it’s possible to buy fancy (expensive) sealed-cable systems and low-friction coated cables, my preference is to use common stainless steel cables and standard housings, and just replace them more often. For Shimano users, this means something such as a SP41 housing and ‘SUS’ inner cables.
If you have electronic shifting, then you needn't worry about cable wear.
Brakes are a similar story to mechanical shifting systems, but are typically less susceptible to showing issues from cable contamination. I probably replace my brake cables with every third set of gear cables.
For those with hydraulic brakes, consider a bleed. Brakes using DOT fluid will benefit greatly from some fresh fluid and you’ll be amazed at how nice it is to have that lever ‘snap’ back.
5. Replace your worn chain
A worn chain is likely to feel sloppy and slow. More likely, though, a worn chain will be met with an equally neglected drivetrain covered in muck.
Use a new chain as an excuse to give that whole drivetrain a going over, because chain wear can damage the rest of your drivetrain.
Not only will a new chain increase efficiency, it will also help keep your drivetrain from wearing out so quickly.
6. Replace worn bearings
There are many bearings used on bikes, and even more on full-suspension mountain bikes.
The good news is that many modern bikes use ‘sealed bearings’, also known as ‘cartridge bearings’.
When these feel rough or form play, the best solution is to replace them. Unfortunately, depending on how they’re installed, you may need some specialist tools to replace them.
If you're swapping out worn bearings, you’ll be amazed at the difference a high-quality bearing can make to the feel of your bike, with brands such as Enduro Bearings and CeramicSpeed claiming serious watt savings.
Making sure all the parts of your bike move the way they should not only makes it faster and easier to ride, but it can also increase the lifespan of components and even your frame.
7. Service your suspension
If you're a mountain biker, servicing your suspension can make a night-and-day difference to how it feels on the trail.
The oil within your fork or shock degrades over time, which greatly affects the functionality of the product.
Suspension manufacturers will always be conservative with their suggested service intervals, with Fox recommending an overhaul around every 100 hours of use, and RockShox suggesting you do a similar service every 200 hours.