BEFORE EACH RIDE

In the name of safety and the long life of your bicycle here are 5 things you should check before you take a ride.

LOOSE BEARINGS

A bicycle has four sets of bearings: front wheel, steer tube, bottom bracket (where the cranks are), and the rear wheel.

TIRE PRESSURE

Most tires have the proper range of pressure printed on the sidewall. The higher the pressure the faster you’ll go, the lower the more comfortable the ride.

BRAKES

Make sure the bicycle is stopping. Examine calipers, pads, and cables.

CHAIN

The chain is one of the most important components on a bike. It should be free of rust and dirt and not make any squeaking sounds.

ALIGNMENT

The saddle should be pointing straight ahead and adjusted to the correct height and the handle bars perpendicular to the front wheel.

If any of these things are wrong with your bike you should consult your local bike shop.