An exercise bike looks simple, yet inside the housing there is a whole mechanism: the pedals turn a pulley, a belt transfers the motion to a flywheel, and magnets brake it smoothly according to the resistance level set on the console. An electronic board controls the modes and displays your workout data.
Even in a dry room dust settles on the trainer, and the main enemy is sweat. It contains salts and fats that attack paintwork, fasteners and connectors. Regular care removes squeaks, keeps the ride smooth and adds years to the machine's life.
What you will need
Important: Unplug the trainer or disconnect the power adapter before opening the housing. Keep lubricant off the saddle, grips and pedal surfaces that touch your body so they do not become slippery.
Step 1
Clean off sweat and dust regularly
Wipe the handlebar, saddle and frame with a dry microfibre cloth after every session. Once a week, dust the machine and then wash the outer surfaces with warm water and a mild detergent. Do not pour water onto the console or into openings in the housing.
Always dry everything thoroughly: leftover moisture combined with salt from sweat quickly causes rust on bolts and brackets.
Step 2
Open the housing and inspect the mechanism
Check the internal mechanism at least once a year, more often with daily use, even if everything still turns easily. Remove the pedals: the right one unscrews anticlockwise, the left one clockwise because it has a left-hand thread.
Undo the screws and remove the side covers. Vacuum dust and fluff from the flywheel, pulley and board.
Step 3
Check the belt and lubricate the drive
The drive consists of the pedal axle, the pulley and the belt that turns the flywheel. The belt must be intact and properly tensioned. If it is slack, check the tensioner pulley on its spring-loaded arm: the spring should move freely.
Apply WD-40 Specialist Silicone to the tensioner axle, arm pivots and moving joints. Silicone reduces friction and is safe on metal, rubber and plastic. Do not spray the running surface of the belt.
Step 4
Replace the belt if it is cracked
Cracks, fraying or partial tears mean the belt needs replacing. Loosen the flywheel axle nuts, slip the belt off the pulley, fit the new one, routing it correctly around the tensioner, and refit the flywheel.
After replacement, turn the pedals by hand: the motion should be even, with no jerks and no sideways belt drift.
Step 5
Check the magnetic system and connectors
Make sure the magnets do not touch the flywheel and move towards it evenly when you change the resistance. Apply a little WD-40 Smart Straw to the pivots and cable of the adjustment mechanism: the thin straw reaches tight spots without overspray on the board.
If the console freezes or readings jump, treat sensor plugs and connectors with WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner. It evaporates quickly and leaves no residue.
Step 6
Reassemble and lubricate the adjusters
Refit the covers and pedals. Apply a little WD-40 to the saddle and handlebar height clamps, hinges and threaded joints so they are easy to adjust. Wipe off any excess.
Replace or charge the console batteries so a workout is never cancelled by a flat power supply.
Tip: Stand the trainer on a rubber mat and away from radiators or open windows: temperature and humidity swings in winter cause condensation inside the housing and corrosion of fasteners.
What next
Clean the outside weekly and inspect the mechanism every 6-12 months. For other home fitness equipment, keep WD-40 Multi-Use close at hand.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».