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7 things you should check before every bike ride

Banish unexpected mechanical hassles by giving your bike a quick check over before every ride

Giving your bike a quick check-over before you head out onto the road will help you stay safe and could save you money by averting expensive mechanical issues. A minor adjustment could avoid a major problem.

Let’s be realistic, if you’re riding most days – maybe twice a day if you’re cycle commuting – you’re not going to check every single part of the bike in detail before each ride, and no one is suggesting that, but here’s what we think is sensible between rides.

You might do some of these checks as soon as you get in from a ride – like making sure your chain is clean and lubed so it doesn’t rust – some you might do before you head out – like checking there’s enough air in your tyres.

This isn’t a comprehensive list of everything you should ever check – not by a long way – and we’ve not included accessories like lights or bike computers that you might have fitted, or spares that you carry, because those can vary massively from one rider to the next.

It might look a lot when written down but if nothing is wrong – and the vast majority of times that’ll be the case – each of these individual checks takes seconds. We did a quick run-through in the office and you’ll get through the lot in a couple of minutes.

Clearly, if you find issues, sorting them out will take time, but perhaps less time than if you don’t identify a small problem and it gradually gets worse.

Before anyone gets the wrong end of the stick, we're not suggesting you check every bolt on your bike with a torque wrench before you ride, but we have included links where you can find out how to put right any issues you uncover.

Brakes

Spin the wheels to make sure the brake pads aren’t rubbing on the rims (if you have rim brakes) or rotors (if you have disc brakes).

Brake pads

Make sure that you can apply enough braking pressure to stop in an emergency without the levers contacting the handlebar, and if necessary make adjustments – it might be a two-second job via the barrel adjuster to dial the brake pads in on a rim brake bike, or you might need to take more cable through the calliper.

Check that the cables aren’t sticking (assuming you have cables rather than hydraulics) and that the calliper arms are returning fully after braking.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - front disc brake.jpg

Whatever type of brakes you have, do a quick visual check every few rides to make sure the pads aren’t worn out.

 Find out how to get the most from your bike's brakes with our video. 

Here’s our guide to fitting calliper brake pads. 

Find out how to fit disc brake pads. 

Here’s how to stop your brakes from squealing. 

Chain 

If you didn’t clean and lube your chain at the end of your last ride – which you definitely should do if it was wet – check it over before you head out.

Moda Finale Shimano 105 Di2 - chain.jpg

While you’re about it, run your eye over the chain to check there’s no damage to the side plates and that the pins are seated correctly. Turn the cranks backwards and make sure there are no stiff links. 

This might sound over the top and the chances of any damage to your chain are slim, but a snapped chain can be really dangerous.

Here’s how to clean and lube your chain. 

Find out when you should replace your chain. 

Wheels

When you spin your wheels (see above), make sure they’re running true.

2022 Velobello Soho - front brake 1.jpg

If you have rim brakes, you’ll sometimes notice a non-true rim rubbing on a brake pad while you’re riding, but a small wobble isn’t always obvious.

2022 Hunt 32 Aerodynamicist UD Carbon Spoke - spoke detail.jpg

If a wheel isn’t true, find out why: it could be a loose or broken spoke.

Here's our video that shows how to keep your bike's wheels road, tight and true.

Find out how to replace a spoke here. 

Skewers and thru-axles

Quick-release skewers and thru-axles can sometimes loosen in use so check that they’re done up correctly before you ride.

Vitus Razor - rear quick release.jpg

If your bike has quick-release skewers, check that the levers are fully closed.

mavic speed release3.JPGThere are various thru-axle designs out there. Make sure yours are correctly tightened to the manufacturer's recommendation.

Tyres

If you’re out on the bike most days you’re unlikely to pump up your tyres or check the pressure before every single ride but it’s a good idea to at least squeeze the sides of the tyres to make sure they’re there or thereabouts. Pinching the tyres like this isn’t a perfect gauge but you’ll probably have an idea of what they should feel like.

Moda Finale Shimano 105 Di2 - tyre and rim.jpg

Take a quick look at the tyre tread to make sure that it’s not worn out, there are no cuts, and nothing is stuck in there that could lead to a puncture. You can often hook out pieces of flint and other sharp stones before they work their way through.

2022 Vittoria Corsa Next tyres  - 2.jpeg

Also, check for nicks and cuts in the sidewall that could eventually lead to tyre failure. It takes seconds.

Here’s how to fit clincher tyres. 

Bolts

No one is suggesting you check every bolt on your bike before each ride but at least make sure the stem bolts are tight – you just need to clamp the front wheel between your knees, grab the handlebar and try to move it side to side and up and down.

Moda Finale Shimano 105 Di2 - bars and stem.jpg

You might want to check the bolts that hold your cranks in place too.

2022-reilly-fusion-aero-road-disc-bottom-bracket-1

If you do notice that anything needs adjusting and you want to get things bang on, component manufacturers suggest a specific tightness for each bolt and a torque wrench will allow you to get everything set accurately.Torque bolts - 1.jpg

What’s a torque wrench? 

Gears

If you have time, quickly run through your gears to make sure the shifting is smooth – although if it’s not you’ll probably have noticed on your last ride.

2022 Chapter 2 Toa - cassette.jpg

If the chain is struggling to change sprockets and you have mechanical shifting, it might just be a case of twisting the barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur to get things right. 

Here’s how to adjust and tune indexed rear derailleurs. 

2021 Specialized Aethos Pro Ultegra Di2 - rear mech.jpg

Different electronic shift systems are micro-adjusted in different ways, but they’re all pretty simple. Here's how to micro-adjust Shimano Ultegra Di2, for example. Rather than going through the lot here, just make sure you know the method for your particular system.

Check out our video that shows you how to adjust your bike's gears for maximum shifting performance.

Oh and check that your battery or batteries are sufficiently charged.  

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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3 comments

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Basemetal | 2 years ago
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If you're cycling daily, all except the tyre checks  can be ticked off in your last 100m riding so you're ready for the next day. Latex tube users will pump tyres every day...

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ktache replied to Basemetal | 2 years ago
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For me it was every 3, 2 when very warm weather.

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hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
9 likes

Check that your licence plate is straight and legible and your liability insurance hasn't lapsed. Also, make sure that your citizen papers are stamped and ready for inspection by any official.

Also, if you've got Ultegra/Dura-Ace cranks then it's worth checking for cracks.

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