Maintain and operate a cycle or small car? (9)
I believe the answer is:
runaround
'small car?' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'maintain and operate a cycle' is the wordplay.
'maintain and operate' becomes 'run'.
'cycle' becomes 'round' ('round' can be a synonym of 'cycle').
'run'+'a'+'round'='RUNAROUND'
'or' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for runaround that I've seen before include "deception" , "small car" .)