Whether or not you’re a brand new bike owner or a seasoned rider, it’s all the time a good suggestion to examine your bike earlier than a trip to verify it is in good working order. Some issues — just like the ABCs (Air, Brakes, Chain) beneath — ought to be checked earlier than each trip; others could also be checked much less steadily.
In case your bike hasn’t been utilized in a very long time otherwise you’ve observed a particular downside, take it to a motorbike store for a tune-up. If you wish to do the tune-up your self, learn our Bike Upkeep Fundamentals article, take a category or get a guide that teaches the fundamentals of motorbike upkeep.
Video: Pre-Experience Inspection
Bike ABC’s: Air, Brakes, Chain
- A is for Air: Having correctly inflated tires helps forestall flats. Verify the sidewall of your tire for the beneficial tire strain. When you’re checking the air, take a second to search for cracks or extreme put on in your tires. Additionally take the chance to make sure your quick-release levers and through axles (you probably have them) that connect your wheels to the bike body are correctly tightened. Then, earlier than you trip, be sure to have your patch equipment and pump with you.
- B is for Brakes: Squeeze your entrance and rear brake levers to make it possible for the brakes have interaction correctly and easily. See our Bike Brakes: How one can Verify and Regulate article for extra data on bettering the efficiency of your brakes.
- C is for Chain: Have a look at your chain and all of the gears. Preserving your chain lubricated and every little thing clear will guarantee your bike shifts simpler and the drivetrain (made up of the entrance chain rings, rear cassette, rear derailleur and chain) last more. Learn our Bike Chain Cleansing and Upkeep article for extra data on caring to your chain.
Verify Your Bike Measurement
If it has been some time because you’ve been in your bike, otherwise you’re borrowing one from a good friend, be sure that it suits you. As a common rule, if you’re standing over the bike along with your ft flat on the bottom there ought to be a minimum of 1– 2 inches of clearance between your crotch and the highest tube (bar) on a highway bike and a minimum of 2–three inches on a mountain bike.
To be taught extra about tips on how to accurately dimension a motorbike, learn our Bike Becoming Fundamentals article.
Bike Seat Top and Positioning
Verify that the saddle (seat) is adjusted on the proper top and place for you.
- Having the saddle on the proper top for pedaling is essential to your knees: When your leg prolonged within the 6 o’clock place, your knee ought to be barely bent.
- The proper fore/aft place is when your knee is straight over the middle of your entrance pedal when your ft are parallel to the bottom.
- Private desire determines whether or not the saddle ought to be tipped ahead, stage or backward.
To be taught extra about adjusting the peak and place of your saddle, learn our Bike Becoming Fundamentals article.
Bike Rims
Carry up the bike and spin the wheels. The edges ought to be straight and never wobble noticeably from side-to-side or up-and-down. In the event that they do, which means your wheel isn’t true (straight) and that you must carry your bike in for service.
Bike Gears
Spin the crank and shift by means of the gears. The chain ought to switch easily from gear to gear. If the chain needs to leap up or down a gear in your rear cassette, then the shifting must be adjusted.
Be taught extra about bike gearing in our Bike Gears and Shifting Fundamentals article and see our Bike Creaks, Squeaks and Clicks article for extra data on tips on how to fine-tune the shifting in your bike.
Bike Cranks
Cranks are the arms that connect the pedals to the bike. Give every one a pull to verify it’s tight. Don’t trip a motorbike with a free crank.
See our Crankset Care article for data.
Bike Body and Headset
First, examine the body for cracks. Then, maintain the entrance brake and rock the bike forwards and backwards. Extreme play means the headset wants adjusting. Don’t trip a motorbike with a cracked body or free headset.
