Bicycle Maintenance Schedule
Before Every Ride
The following is a list of basic pre-ride checks that every rider should complete before heading out.
- Check tire pressure and inspect the tire. Remove any stones caught in the tread. (an under-inflated tire is
the most common cause of tire failure)(min. and max. tire
pressure is indicated on the sidewall of the tire).
- Make sure that the chain is properly lubricated. (NEVER oil a dirty chain, clean it first)
- Make sure that front and rear brakes grab firmly.
- Make sure the wheels are centered in the frame and that the quick releases are firmly closed.
- Check that the brakes are properly aligned with the wheel rim and that the pads are in good condition.
- Check hydraulic brake lines for kinks or splits. (applies to disk brakes
only)
- Bounce the bike to detect rattles that might indicate loose
or mis-adjusted parts.
- Squeeze the front hand brake hard and rock
the bike forward and back. This will reveal a loose headset.
- Spin each wheel with a finger on the axle. A slight vibration as the wheel spins may indicate that your wheel bearings need attention. Listen
carefully as well. A rubbing sound may indicate that the wheel is out of true and is “kissing “ the brake pad.
- Make sure that your handle bars are tight, but not so tight that they won’t move in a fall. The weight of a rider falling on the bars should move the bars before the
bar ends do any damage to the rider.
- Make sure that bags and
panniers are secure and that no loose straps can get caught in the wheels.
- Check that your air pump and repair kit are present and complete.