Does the woom ORIGINAL 3 AUTOMAGIC require any special maintenance or involve more maintenance effort than other woom bikes?
No. The automatic hub gearing functions without a trigger shifter or gear cables, meaning no adjustments are required.
The sealed hub design means that the gearing is tucked away safely and protected against rain, snow, dirt and any external forces. The transmission parts have special permanent lubrication, so no routine lubrication is required. In fact, when used in regular conditions, the gearing will require zero maintenance.
There's little risk of dropping the chain whilst shifting thanks to the internal transmission. With just one external gear (running on the single front chainring and one rear sprocket), there's a consistent chainline and optimal chain tension at all times. This also increases the life of the chain, chainring and sprocket, compared to an external gear system.
Even though the hub gearing has a sealed design, avoid using a jet washer to clean your bike as water could enter the hub. Generally speaking, it isn't a good idea to clean bikes with a jet washer due to the risk of water getting in the bearings.
Please note: Even though the gearing requires little to no maintenance, the same does NOT apply to the woom ORIGINAL 3 AUTOMAGIC bike as a whole. Bikes are just like any other piece of technical machinery in that they need to be serviced.
To make sure your child is safe whenever they're out cycling, take their woom bike to be checked over by a specialist at regular intervals and perform these quick safety checks yourself before they set off on any bike ride:
1. Are all the screws, bolts and clamps securely tightened?
The most important fixings are found on the handlebar stem, the wheels (hexagon socket bolts/quick-release skewers) and the saddle (seatpost clamp/quick-release seatpost clamp).
2. Are the front and rear brakes working well?
You can test this by spinning the wheels and giving a few practice pulls on the brake levers. You will be able to determine if the brakes are able to deliver enough stopping power or spot if they are rubbing.
3. Are there any visible signs of damage to the tyres and wheels? Do the tyres have enough air?
Replace damaged tyres or wheels as soon as possible. In the meantime, your child should not ride their bike. If there isn't enough air in the inner tube, pump it up to the recommended tyre pressure. This will be noted on the sidewall of the tyres.
Inside the instruction manual for your child's woom bike, you'll find practical advice on looking after the bike, plus a list of all the recommended tightening torques for the fixtures on the bike.
In this article, we highlight the parts of your bike that need checking most regularly.