So you've got a new bike for Christmas, now what?

Wow! You’ve got a new bicycle for Christmas, congratulations! Cycling is an incredible hobby, it’s great exercise and allows you to explore new places, have fun with friends, or transform your morning commute.

With all this excitement, you may want to rush straight outside and head off on your new bike...but wait!

Before you can go out on your new bike, there are a few things you need to know; from understanding various parts of your new bike, to setting it up properly and making sure your bike is safe and secure.

How to setup a new bicycle

Upon opening the box, locate and read the user manual. This will guide you through all the necessary steps you need to take to properly set up your new bicycle and contains lots of useful information.

Set up and organise your workspace

Before you start, it’s essential to have a clean and organised workspace with everything you need to hand.

Protect your work surface

You will need to protect your floor or work surface from any grease drips or accidental damage. Lay a cloth, cardboard, old sheet or piece of plastic on top of the work surface and keep some cloths or rags on hand to clean up.

Organise your bike tools & equipment

To set up (and later, maintain) your bike, you’ll need a set of basic tools and equipment.

This starter checklist gives you an overview of what you need:

Socket Set – for tightening and loosing nuts and bolts. These sets often feature deep and shallow sockets along with a ratchet handle.

Allen wrenches (also known as Allen keys, or hex keys) - Allen wrenches are small L shaped tools with a hexagonal profile. These are used to turn bolts with hexagonal socket heads. Most sets will have a good range of sizes.

Screwdrivers - a multi-bit screwdriver set will have interchangeable heads in a variety of sizes and shapes including Phillips, slotted (flat head), Torx and Pozi Drive.

Tyre levers - tyre levers are used to install and remove tyres without damaging them. They have a thin end that slides between the tyre and the rim, and a hooked end that hooks onto a spoke to hold the lever in place.

Chain cleaner – this device has rotating brushes that work a degreasing agent through the chain.

Cleaning brush - this helps to clean those hard-to-reach spaces on the bicycle.

Bike stand – a bike stand supports your bike during cleaning, repair and maintenance.

Lay your tools out so you can find them easily whilst you assemble your new bike.

Bike lubricants

There are different types of lubricants you’ll need for set up and maintenance:

All-purpose - this is used for freeing stuck parts and making brake cables shift smoothly.

Bike grease - this is made by mixing lubricating oil and soap, which is used for lubricating the bottom bracket, headset, pedals and wheel hubs.

Bike Wax - this is made by a combination of wax and a carrier solvent, which is used to lubricate the bike chain and is less likely to attract grime.

Bike Oil - this is used mostly on chain links but attracts more grime than wax-based lubricants.

Remove all plastic and packing material

Carefully open the box and locate the instruction manual. Keep it to hand, you’ll need to read it carefully and reference it as you assemble your bike.

Take every part of the bicycle out the box and place in the work area.

Ensure there is no wrapping or packing material left on any of the bike components.

Especially check the smallest parts, and any pre-assembled moving parts, as any packaging trapped will affect the operation of the bike.

Fit the seat post

Insert the seat post given by sliding it into the frame. Make sure it goes past the minimum insertion point which varies on the type of seat post and frame from 100mm to 150mm.

Tighten the seat post collar to secure it in place. This will be either a quick release collar, which is opened and closed with a lever, or a bolted collar, which is opened and closed by tightening and loosening a bolt.

You’ll need to adjust the seat post later to govern the height of the seat.

Centre the saddle

Once the post is secure, centre the saddle and tighten all its bolts.

Fit the bar & stem

Mount the stem to the handlebar if not pre-installed. Align the handlebars with the front fork.

Tighten the stem bolts, but do not fully tighten yet. Adjustments may be necessary later.

If the fork is not installed, insert it into the headset and tighten the stem cap slightly, ensuring it's firm but doesn’t restrict the steering.

Test the handlebars by twisting to ensure everything is secure and moving freely.

Install the front wheel

Check the tyre direction. Make sure the disc lines up with the calliper and the tyre’s arrow points to the front.

Position the bike by holding it at the stem and slowly lower the fork over the wheel.

Insert the wheel by slotting the wheel’s hub into the fork’s ends.

Secure the axle. The method for this varies depending on the type of axle:

Quick release axle - with the lever in place, tighten the nut on the opposite side, and close the lever.

Thru axle - line up the hub with the fork’s holes, push the axle in through the opposite side, and turn the lever clockwise.

Check the wheel’s alignment by making sure it is centred and not leaning to one side.

Spin the wheel to ensure that the brake pads aren’t rubbing the rim or rotor. If the wheel does not spin, it might be crooked in the fork.

Installing the Pedals

Identify the right and left pedals (they are often labelled "R" and "L"). The left pedal has reverse threading.

Apply grease to the pedal threads.

Use a wrench or Allen key (depending on the pedals) to install:

Right pedal: Tighten clockwise.

Left pedal: Tighten counterclockwise.

Make sure the pedals are snug, but don’t over-tighten.

Adjust your seat post

Make sure that the seat is at a comfortable height by loosening the seat collar and moving the post up or down, keeping in mind that you need to be able to easily place your feet on the pedals and the floor.

Your saddle height is correct when you have:

a level foot on the floor with no excessive toe or heel down

a stable pelvis with no rocking of the bike side-to-side

a smooth pedal stroke that maintains consistent contact with the pedal, even at the bottom of the movement

Adjust the brake levers

Ensure that your brake levers are in a comfortable position on the handlebars, and you can access them easily.

Centre your brakes

Hold the brake calliper in one hand, loosen the bolt holding the cable and squeeze (or release) the brake callipers a little.

Retighten this bolt using the calliper, secure the cable, and test how the brakes feel at the lever. Continue until the brake lever feels comfortable to you. To straighten the brake, loosen the bolt at the back, realign and firmly tighten.

Align the brake pads

Ensure that the brake pads are positioned in the middle of the braking surface. They should not come in to contact with the sidewall of the tyre and should not be lower than the braking surface. You can spin the bicycle wheel to check the alignment.

Test your brakes by spinning the wheel again, and then pulling the brake lever. If your brakes are working properly, the wheel will stop when the lever is pulled.

Check your tyre pressure

You will need either a pressure gauge or a pump with a built-in gauge. Remove the valve cap from your tyre and press the gauge firmly onto the valve until the hissing sound stops. You will get a reading.

Compare this reading to the minimum and maximum recommended pressures listed on the side of your tyre.

Protect your Bicycle

Understanding bike security is an essential aspect of bike ownership. There are several things you should do.

Get a bicycle lock

Ensure that you purchase a certified “Sold Secure” lock as these are the most effective and reliable locks for keeping your bike safe.

Many bicycle insurance policies will only be valid when you use locks approved by the insurer, so it is worth checking out.

Mark your bike

This is another safety measure, providing a way for police to trace your bike back to you in the event that it is stolen and recovered.

Go to the BikeRegister website and submit information about your bike. Choose whether you want to purchase a marking kit, and then click complete registration.

Most standard marking kits includes a stencil and a tube of marking compound.

You can mark your bike by following these steps:

1. Clean an area on the bike frame with an alcohol wipe, you can get a pack of these at your local supermarket or pharmacy, and use any clean cloth to dry the spot after.
2. Apply the stencil by peeling the backing off and ensure it is completely stuck to the bike. Use a small piece of card (an old business card is perfect) to smooth out any air bubbles and creases.
3. Apply the marking compound by squeezing a small amount into the stencil holes and spread the compound evenly using the old business card.
4. Ensure the stencil is fully covered and leave it on the bike for 30 seconds so the compound can etch onto the bike frame.
5. Dab off any excess compound with a tissue paper and carefully remove the stencil from the bike frame

Consider also applying a tamper-proof sticker to the frame to signal to potential thieves that it is a traceable bicycle.

Get covered with bike insurance

A bicycle insurance policy protects you in the event of theft or accidental damage. Eversure cycle insurance cover is new for old, which means if your bike is stolen or damaged beyond economical repair, Eversure will replace it with a new one of similar value and specification.

Using your new bicycle for the first time

It is finally time to put your new bicycle to the test, here are some guidelines on what to do on your first outing to ensure that your bicycle is up to speed:

Plan a simple route. As your bicycle is brand new, it may need some breaking in.

For those using a fold up bike for commuting, we recommend a short journey to the nearest train station so you can practice getting there, folding and unfolding your bicycle.

For mountain bikes, a local off-road trail may be best. You can locate your nearby trail using the Trailforks Mobile App.

For road bikes it is easy to take your bicycle a short distance around your local area.

Layer clothing. Make sure you are comfortable and protected when using your new bike. If you are cycling off-road ensure that you are wearing an outfit that you don’t mind getting dirty. Dress for the weather and then some - a long-sleeved top, a thin waterproof or windproof jacket, and special cyclist shoes and socks.

How to maintain your new bike

Keeping your new bike well-serviced and clean is important to maintain its lifespan.

While cleaning your bike you should:

Remove any dirt, mud, or debris from the frame, wheels, and the groupset by washing it with soap and water, and a soft brush.

Them, rinse the bike with clean water, and dry with a soft cloth.

To clean the bike chain

The bike chain is likely to attract dirt which can trap moisture and cause corrosion. To clean it:

1. Apply a degreaser solution to the chain
2. Scrubbing the chain with a brush or cloth
3. Rinse the chain with clean water
4. Dry using a cloth
5. Apply chain lubricant to each link, wiping away any excess
6. Test the chain is moving smoothly by spinning the pedals

Final Thoughts

With this guide, you are now equipped with the knowledge to set up your new bicycle, to enjoy it and take care of it.