Pre-ride Check

8 things to check to make your ride enjoyable

1. Tyres

Don’t expect your tyres to be how you left them. Inner tubes loose air gradually and need topping up to between 40-50psi for MTB’s and around 100psi for road bikes. Follow the makers recommendation for exact pressures.

2. Brake pads

Release the straddle wire and inspect the blocks for wear; some brands have wear limit marks. Take into account the rigours of the ride to come and if the pads will be useless at the end of the ride; change them.

3. Brake levers

Squeeze the brake levers hard – if they touch the bars/ grips you need to improve the cable tension.

4. Tyre tread

Inspect the treads of road tyres carefully for tiny fragments of glass or flints which could but through the inner tube. Check MTB tyre side-walls for abrasions caused by brake blocks. Your safety depends on good tyres – replace them if they’re worn.

5. Chain

Check for stiff chain links (especially if the bike is new) by back-pedalling the cranks and watching the chain as it passes through the rear mach. If chain is worn, replace it.

6. Wheels and spokes

Lift and spin each wheel. If the brakes rub, check there are no broken spokes – they usually break at the hub end.

7. Saddle

If your saddle has dropped at the nose, remove the bolt or nut and apply a little grease to the bolt thread. Tighten the bolt or nut using a ring spanner. Check the saddle height and mark the seatpost with a pen – this makes it easy to set the saddle at the same height if you have to remove it.

8. Wheels tight

It’s essential to be familiar with the correct way to operate a quick release skewer. It is secured by turning in a clockwise direction until it is reasonably tight, then adjusting the lever position, using the nut on the other side, so that it’s in line with the wheel axle. The lever should then be pressed home using the palms of your hands.