Mechanic's Corner
by the friendly folks at Sammamish Valley Cycle
Pre-Ride Checklist
Airplane pilots go through a pre-flight checklist every
time they take off and a similar pre-ride check is a good idea of any bicycle.
Here are some quick things to check to help ensure a smooth ride.
Make sure your wheels are secured in your frame. If your bike has quick release
wheels, make sure you understand how a quick release lever works and that it is
properly secured. If you don't know how a quick release lever works, ask your
bike mechanic. He or she will be happy to show you. If you bike has bolt on
wheels, make sure that the bolts are tight.
Check your tires. First off, make sure that they are properly inflated. There
should be a pressure rating listed on the side of the tire, usually listed as a
minimum and maximum tire pressures. In general, a skinnier tire will run at a
higher pressure than a fatter tire. While everybody knows that a tire with a
puncture won't hold air, many people don't realize that bicycle tires and inner
tubes loose air gradually over time. Even perfect tires need to be pumped up now
and then. A good tire pump and a pressure gauge are a good investment for any
bicyclist. You can either get a pump with a built in pressure gauge or you can
purchase a separate pressure gauge.
While you are checking your tires, spin them around and check the tread. There
should be no obvious cuts, bulges or embedded chunks of glass or nails. Small
nicks are OK and are to be expected over time. If your tire is worn to the point
where you can see the cords under the tread rubber, you're due for a new tire.
As long as you're spinning your wheels, check that your wheels are true and that
your brakes aren't rubbing. A true wheel will turn freely with the rim staying
the same distance from each brake pad through the full rotation of the wheel. If
the rim seems to wobble from side to side, it needs truing. A wheel can go out
of true for a variety of reasons including crashes or hitting a pothole. While
truing a wheel is a skill that most people can learn, if you don't have the
proper tools (a spoke wrench and a truing stand), it's one of those problems
that is best addressed by your friendly local bike mechanic.
Assuming that your wheels are true, you should now take a look at your brakes.
When you are not squeezing the levers, the brake pads should not be touching the rim or tire at any point. When you squeeze the levers, the pads
should press solidly against the rim. No part of the brake pad should ever touch
the tire and no part of the pad should extend below the rim and hang off in
space. The brake cables should be tight enough that the brake levers don't press
up against the handlebars when you squeeze them. All the pressure you apply with
your hands should go into squeezing the pads to the wheel rim.
Make sure your brake pads have sufficient rubber on them. In our wet climate,
road grit mixes with rain to make an abrasive paste which can quickly wear
through brake pads and sometimes wheel rims. If you ride a lot in the rain, make
sure to keep a vigilant eye on your brake pads and rims. Your rims should be
smooth and straight without any obvious thinning and your pads should not have
any metal bits embedded in them. If you have any doubts about your brakes,
consult your mechanic.
This concludes the basic pre-ride list. You'll noticed we covered the parts that
roll and the parts that stop. We'll talk about the gears, chain and derailleurs
in a future article.
Keep 'em rolling,
Kent Peterson
Mechanic
Sammamish Valley Cycle |
