5 Things To Check Before Riding That New Bike

OK. You've bought a bike and are about to ride it for the first time. Before getting on the bike, for safety and your riding enjoyment, it's wise to check a few things - even if you had a pro "tune" it up. Typically, few adjustments need to be made at all and it will only take a few minutes to complete. Here are the 5 steps that I follow:

1. Check tires for proper seating & inflation.
On several occasions, I've received a bike with the tire bead or tube protruding from the rim or with the tire seated in a way that causes the tire to rise and fall when spun. Typically, these situations can be resolved by deflating the tire, reseating the tire on the rim and inflating the tire, watching to insure that the tire seats properly around the rim on each side of the tire while inflating. Proper tire pressure depends on the tire's rating and your comfort level. Under inflation will prematurely wear the tire; over inflation will result in a harsh ride and possibly even a blowout (checking tire inflation pressure regularly is also a good idea because tires loose pressure with time).

2. Inspect all fasteners for tightness.
Quick releases should not be over tightened (as a rule, quick releases should begin to engage at 90 degrees but check with the bike shop that sold you the bike or the manufacturer).

3. Confirm that the front wheel turns smoothly.
Turn the handle bars left & right. If they bind or turn with unusual effort, check the headset as it could be too tight. Secondly, stand in front of the bike with your feet against each side of the front tire. Grasp the handlebars and gently turn the handlebars from left to right to confirm that the headset is tight enough.

4. Make sure that shifting is smooth from top to bottom.
Run through the gears a few times. The chain should move up and down the rear sprockets cleanly. If not, typically, there is a small thumb wheel to adjust on the derailleur. Go counter clockwise to make the chain go 'up' the sprockets and clockwise to make the chain go 'down' the sprockets.

5. Check the brake pads for proper alignment & braking power.
The pads should engage the wheel rims only when the brakes are applied. Spin each wheel, one at a time. As the wheel spins, watch whether the brake pads makes contact with the rim without engaging the brake lever (if it does, the brakes are too tight and must be adjusted). The next test is to apply the brakes, making sure that they grab with appropriate force. Lastly, be sure that the pads to not contact the rubber tire. It may be necessary to loosen the brake pads, set them, tighten, and test again.

The above checklist works for me; however, if you have any questions or concerns about your ability to check or adjust your bike, take it to a bike mechanic.

LL :-)