1. Life hack: Remove tires with a spoon
Sometimes it gets really tough. You pedal hard and suddenly you hear a strange noise coming from the tire area. Once you look closely you have already spotted the flat tire. Removing a tire from the rim can be a big challenge. Especially if you do not have the perfect tool available needed for the task at hand.
Our tip: just pack a spoon in your bike bag! You will also find instructions for changing a bike tube on our CyclingBlog!
2. Life hack: Vaseline for a rusty saddle
Everyone has had this problem before or knows it: You want to adjust the height of the saddle, but the saddle is stiff. It does not move an inch and is stuck due to rust forming on the seat post. There is a simple solution for this! The saddle can be easily removed if you use lubricant. To prevent the saddle from getting stuck again from now on, we have a great life hack for you. Lubricate regular petroleum jelly around the seat post. This will prevent future rusting and makes it easy to move the seat pad up and down. In addition, Vaseline costs almost nothing and is available in every chemist!
3. Life hack: Snow chains for bikes
City dwellers in particular like to cycle to work. However, it can be dangerous in winter when there is snow on the road or conditions are icy and slippery. However, there is no need to leave the bike at home on snowy days. With this life hack, cycling in winter becomes a real guarantee for fun. Grab some cable ties and attach them to the tires. For optimal protection, a cable tie should be placed between each spoke. Simply cut off the protruding ends flush with a Stanley knife. Make sure however that the lock always points downwards. That way, you achieve optimal grip on slippery and snowy surfaces.
4. Life hack: Grease + remove rust from wheel chain
A bicycle needs to be serviced and maintained just like a car does. It is therefore important that the chains are always well greased. However, there is a trick so that you do not get completely covered in grease and grime. Grab two old toothbrushes and tape them together at the bottom with duck tape. The toothbrush heads with bristles point towards each other. Now put some grease on the two toothbrush heads and clamp them to the chain. Simply turn the pedals a few times and you have a cheap and practical device for greasing the chains.
5. Life hack: Glowsticks for increased visibility
As a cyclist you should always make sure that you are clearly visible to motorists. This is particularly important in the dark. At night and when visibility is poor, a front and rear light are mandatory anyway. Reflective clothing is also recommended for added visibility. If you want to be on the safe side, we can present you with a great life hack on the subject of ‚light‘, glow sticks on the spokes. To do this, fix glow sticks firmly to the spokes with cable ties. The movement of the bicycle tire creates a beam of light that cannot be overlooked in the dark.