Bike Safety Checklist Before You Ride

Though they might seem like simple machines, bicycles have a lot of moving parts. Having a complex system involving several components that move means there’s more potential for problems. Monitoring and inspecting your bike’s parts is a great way to ensure a safe ride.

While you can’t take your bike into a bicycle repair shop before every ride, there are certain preventive measures you can take to make sure everything is working as it should before you set off.

Here are some bike parts you should check in addition to a full safety checklist you should refer to before each trip:

Tire pressure

This should be one of the first things you inspect before you take a bike ride. If you haven’t ridden for a while, it’s possible that your tires could have lost some of their air. You can check this by pressing down on the top of the tire and seeing how deep your finger can go into the tire.

The tires themselves should have the recommended psi (pounds per square inch) written on them, and you can inflate them accordingly.

Wheels

After you check the tire pressure, you should take a gander at the wheels. This means all parts of the wheels, from the rims to the spokes to the connection to the frame. Look for any wear on or near the rim or any cracks that might have formed.

You can take your hand and grip a few spokes at once to monitor the tension. Spin the wheels when they’re off the ground to make sure that they don’t wobble and that there’s no give if you try to move them back and forth while they’re spinning.

Brakes

Being able to stop quickly is obviously very important, which is why you should always check your brakes. Press the brake levers for both the front and rear brakes, and make sure that they grip the rims, engage correctly and function how they’re supposed to.

If you notice any issues with your brakes, head down to your local bicycle repair shop, and see if they can help you get them fixed.

Chain

Some of the most important bike parts are the chain and its accompanying gears. You can start by performing a visual inspection of your chain. It should be well-oiled and clean so that it can shift gears seamlessly. A well-maintained chain will also prolong the life of the bicycle’s drivetrain.

Bolts

Take stock of all the bolts on your bike, as it’s possible some could have come loose. One of the bike parts more prone to movement is the suspension pivot. This is an important part of the bike, so make sure that it and the other bolts are safely and securely fastened.

Suspension

If everything is good up to this point, you can take your bike for a quick spin around the parking lot to test the suspension. You should feel an adequate amount of rebound and preload in the suspension, and the ride should be stable. If it isn’t, you’ll need to find a bicycle repair shop to have it fixed.

Call for your bike parts today

If your bike fails a pre-ride safety checklist inspection, give us a call at Bicycle Doctor House Calls. Wherever you are, we can come to your location, fix your bike and make sure you have a great day of bike-riding.

Categorised in: Bike Safety

This post was written by Writer