Sometimes it’s necessary to visit a bike service and there are lots of them in Prague. We highly recommend if you’re a keen cyclist to do so before and after the season.
In spring, bike services will make sure that all the components are in good shape, they will inspect the wear of tires, chain, brake pads and other parts to make sure that your bike is ready for the season and you won’t have any unexpected surprises when planning your weekend ride or some other bike related activities.
After the season, they will make sure that you have all your bearings greased, brakes bled, refilled sealant in the tires, and that the bike is in good shape to either continue riding into the winter or wait for the warmer days.
There are certain things you can do yourself to lengthen the lifespan of your components.
First and foremost, it’s necessary to keep the drivetrain in a good condition. Cleaning the chain, wiping it down after every ride, especially after a muddy one is a good start.
In Czech, there is a saying: “cleanliness is half of health” and a similar can be said about bikes. Keeping your bike clean will help ensure that you get most of it.
Here and there you will need to visit a bike shop anyway. In case of bike part failure, annual service, upgrade, or while purchasing a new bike it’s important to go to a place where they will be able to understand your needs.
We have a few tips for bike shops with English-speaking staff.
If you need to service your bicycle or get a vintage bike, you can try Pavé Cycles in Žižkov, it’s a small independent bike shop, servicing all kinds of bikes, with a great offer of restored vintage bikes, Pavé Cycles also organize regular bike rides and bikepacking tours.
Another small shop located in Letná is Koa, this shop focuses more on performance, you can get a bike fit by one of the best bike fitters in Prague, or you can take part in their training programs focusing on cycling, swimming and fitness in general.
If you’re in need of a new bike, Sterba Kola is a traditional shop run by cycling enthusiasts with great bike offerings.
About Me
I’m a lifelong cyclist who runs a small independent bike shop in Prague’s Žižkov. My riding abilities range from mountain biking all the way to BMX. I spent several years living in one of Europe’s cycling capitals, Copenhagen. Together with my friend I attempted to cycle from Europe to Japan and had to stop due to the pandemics.
Those two months on the bike gave me an understanding of bike-packing. If you’re new to cycling, looking for cycling partners, or need anything related to cycling, you can text me or stop by my shop Pavé Cycles for coffee or a public bike ride.
