How to Perform a Safety Check on Your Bike

The “ABC” Bike Safety Check

Even seasoned riders can get into the habit of grabbing their bike out of the garage and heading out on the road or trail without taking the time to make sure everything is working properly. Neglecting to perform a safety check could be a costly mistake. Whether you ride every day, it is your first spin of the season, or you’re taking your bike down from a shelf and dusting off the cobwebs, there are a few things you need to check before EVERY ride. Luckily, you don’t have to be a pro mechanic!

What to Bring on the Ride

Don’t forget: a prepared rider rarely has problems! Everything you carry with you on a ride is meant to keep you safe and ready for whatever you may encounter on the road or trail.

Essentials:

What you bring with you is dependent on how long you plan to ride, where you will ride and if you are riding with others. For instance, if you are riding your mountain bike in a rugged environment far away from the nearest community, you should bring more supplies than if you are doing a quick road ride through your town. Still, it is always better to bring too much than not enough.

  • Water
  • Nutrition
  • Phone
  • Cash and Credit Card
  • Identification
  • Insurance Card
  • Bike Light
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Extra Layers of Clothing
  • Medications
  • First Aid
  • Wet Wipes
  • Etc.

Repair Kit:

These items are must-haves when you are going out for any ride. Even if you are only out for a quick five miles, you don’t want to have to push your bike home after getting a flat tire!

  • Spare Tube (That fits your tire!)
  • Patch Kit
  • Tire Levers
  • Multi-Tool (Make sure you have a tool with all the wrenches you need to work on your specific bike. It is also nice to have functions like a chain breaker.)
  • CO2 Cartridges
  • CO2 Valve
  • Hand Pump
  • Tire Boot (If you get a hole in the tire itself, it can be TEMPORARILY patched with a dollar bill or foil wrapper like one from the nutrition bar you just ate.)
  • Zip Ties and Duct Tape

Safety Check

Now that you have everything you need to be safe and prepared on your ride, here are a few things you want to look over on your bike before you head out on the road or trail.

A-     Air!

Do you think you need to check your tire pressure before every ride? Yes! Tires and tubes are made of rubber and, despite their function of holding air, are porous. Tubes can gain or lose pressure depending on temperature change (this can happen overnight) and will eventually lose pressure over time. You should check your tires before every ride to protect against pinch-flats and to ensure your ride is smooth and efficient! Your ideal pressure will depend on what type of tire you have, your weight and the terrain you are riding on. Road tires require 80-120 psi, hybrid 50-85 psi and mountain are generally 20-50 psi. Start in the middle of the range for a 150 LB/ 68 KG rider and go up or down for your weight. Also, take into account your riding style and how firm the surface is that you will be riding on. Firmer surface= firmer tire! (While you are checking your air pressure, keep an eye on the condition of your tire. If you begin to see threads poking through the rubber, it could be time to purchase a new tire!)

B-     Brakes!

Brakes are the most important safety feature on your bike. Make sure they are in good working order and the pads are in good condition BEFORE EVERY RIDE! First thing is first, spin each wheel and make sure the brakes pads are not rubbing the rim or rotor. If your brakes are rubbing, the first thing to check is that your quick release axle is evenly secured in the dropouts. If the rubbing persists and you are running rim brakes, you may loosen the bolt that holds the brakes to the fork, center the calipers, and tighten the bolt back down. If your bike has disc brakes, check out our video on how to adjust disc brakes. If you are uncomfortable doing this, take your bike into the shop and explain the problem. If your wheel is spinning freely with no brake rub, squeeze the levers of the brake to make sure the caliper is engaging and stopping the wheel. If either brake pulls back to the handle bar, then your brake is not working to its full potential (ie: it is not safe)! Make sure the brake release is down if you’re running rim brakes. If the brake lever is still not engaging, tighten your brake cable or bring your bike to the shop to have them take a look. If you have hydraulic disc brakes, you may need a brake bleed which is best performed by a professional mechanic. While you are inspecting your brakes, make sure to check the condition of your pads and replace them when necessary.

C-     Chain/ Clean!

This letter is working double-duty! Remember, your bike is a collection of moving parts. When these parts get dirty, wear and deterioration will occur. This means you will have to replace parts sooner! The drive train of your bike is where you will see deterioration first. So, make sure you are cleaning your bike after every muddy ride and, even if you only ride on freakishly-clean roads, you will need to DEGREASE and REGREASE every 100 miles! Cleaning your bike is easy with the right tools (rags, dish soap, a bike-specific degreasing agent, a big brush, a little brush, a sponge and chain lube. Don’t forget to give your chain and derailleur some extra love and scrubs. This is the hardest-working part of your bike and its job is easier when it is clean and well-lubed. However, more lube is not always a good thing. Excess lubricant will attract dirt and other abrasive particles; so, it is always good to wipe away any excess before the bike is ridden. While making sure your chain is clean, also make sure the derailleur is not making any scary noises and shifting properly. If anything sounds fishy, take your bike into the shop and describe what kind of noise you heard and where it was coming from; or fix your shifting yourself!

Now you have the tools you need to make sure you are riding safety. Don’t forget to take your bike to a professional mechanic every few months to get a proper tune-up!