Do you check your bike before every ride?

"Fred Fragger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Went for a ride through some local woods this afternoon
and, after some fairly heavy terrain followed by a
particularly hard climb, I decided to pull over for a
break because I was knackered. I got off the bike and

lifted

Quoted message said:

the rear end by the saddle to swing it round and lean it
against a tree

and

Quoted message said:

the bloody rear wheel fell out! To make things worse, this
happened just

as

Quoted message said:

a group of walkers went past and they had a good snigger.
Thankfully the wheel went back in and there was no damage.

Anyway, got me thinking, I clean and lube my bike after
every ride (it's only 2 months old :-] ) but I never check
all the fixtures and fittings. Guess I need to reconsider
my priorities?

Yes!

In "]news:[email hidden],
Fred Fragger <[email hidden]> scribbled:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Went for a ride through some local woods this afternoon
and, after some fairly heavy terrain followed by a
particularly hard climb, I decided to pull over for a
break because I was knackered. I got off the bike and
lifted the rear end by the saddle to swing it round and
lean it against a tree and the bloody rear wheel fell
out! To make things worse, this happened just as a group
of walkers went past and they had a good snigger.
Thankfully the wheel went back in and there was no
damage.

Anyway, got me thinking, I clean and lube my bike after
every ride (it's only 2 months old :-] ) but I never
check all the fixtures and fittings. Guess I need to
reconsider my priorities?

Later,

Fred

Before every ride I: -Check tire pressure -Clean & Lube
drivetrain if needed -Check brakes

About every 2 or 3 rides I: -Check QR's -Check shock
pressure

About once a week I: -All of the above -Check
pivots/bushings/bearings all around -Clean entire bike
if needed (more likely every few weeks except during
the winter)

About once a month I: -All of the above -Go over entire bike
(check all nuts/bolts/etc, check for wear, thorough cleaning
as needed (dismantling bb, hubs, etc))

Probably some other stuff I forgot. It's become a routine
that I don't really have to think about anymore. 🙂
--

FlyingCoyote

--

"mojo deluxe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Fred Fragger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Went for a ride through some local woods this afternoon
and, after some fairly heavy terrain followed by a
particularly hard climb, I decided to pull over for a
break because I was knackered. I got off the bike and

lifted

Quoted message said:

the rear end by the saddle to swing it round and lean it
against a tree

and

Quoted message said:

the bloody rear wheel fell out! To make things worse,
this happened just

as

Quoted message said:

a group of walkers went past and they had a good
snigger. Thankfully the wheel went back in and there was
no damage.

Anyway, got me thinking, I clean and lube my bike after
every ride (it's only 2 months old :-] ) but I never
check all the fixtures and fittings. Guess I need to
reconsider my priorities?

Yes!

I second that. while it may be good to be prepared with
tools and such on the trail, it is better to make sure
everything is in good running order _before_ you hit
the trail.

~Travis

"FlyingCoyote" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In "]news:[email hidden], Fred
Fragger <[email hidden]> scribbled:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Went for a ride through some local woods this afternoon
and, after some fairly heavy terrain followed by a
particularly hard climb, I decided to pull over for a
break because I was knackered. I got off the bike and
lifted the rear end by the saddle to swing it round and
lean it against a tree and the bloody rear wheel fell
out! To make things worse, this happened just as a
group of walkers went past and they had a good snigger.
Thankfully the wheel went back in and there was no
damage.

Anyway, got me thinking, I clean and lube my bike after
every ride (it's only 2 months old :-] ) but I never
check all the fixtures and fittings. Guess I need to
reconsider my priorities?

Later,

Fred

Before every ride I: -Check tire pressure -Clean & Lube
drivetrain if needed -Check brakes

About every 2 or 3 rides I: -Check QR's -Check shock
pressure

I move front QR up to every ride and am grateful that I no
longer have anything other than my tires that require air.

Quoted message said:

About once a week I: -All of the above -Check
pivots/bushings/bearings all around -Clean entire bike if
needed (more likely every few weeks except during

the

Quoted message said:

winter)

About once a month I: -All of the above -Go over entire
bike (check all nuts/bolts/etc, check for wear, thorough
cleaning as needed (dismantling bb, hubs, etc))

Probably some other stuff I forgot. It's become a routine
that I don't really have to think about anymore. 🙂

That sounds about right, although to get specific on that
monthly routine I look for cracks.

Greg

Fred Fragger said:

Anyway, got me thinking, I clean and lube my bike after
every ride (it's only 2 months old :-] ) but I never check
all the fixtures and fittings. Guess I need to reconsider
my priorities?

Do what you feel is right.

Personally I don't check my bike before every ride. Only
time I check is when it has been taken apart for
repair/upgrade/transport or after a big crash.

I find that while riding one can feel if something is wrong
- it's not like the wheels come of on their own or
something. After a very muddy ride I usually hose the bike
down and if I crash big time I'll clean everything till it's
pretty much spotless in order to check for cracks. Oh and
I'll lube if something looks/sounds/feels like it needs it
but that isn't really checking anything.

Maybe it's just that I have been riding such a long time and
keep the bikes in pretty good conditions in general or maybe
I'm just stupid:-)

Regards

Bruno

--
To mail me write to iddqdATworldonline.dk (U know what 2 do)

More of these westocykler.dkwestocykler.dkOpen ↗ would mean less cars
and less polution.

"Fred Fragger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]-
berlin.de>... <snip DOH>

Quoted message said:

Anyway, got me thinking, I clean and lube my bike after
every ride (it's only 2 months old :-] ) but I never check
all the fixtures and fittings. Guess I need to reconsider
my priorities?

I always check my bikes before heading out and it's saved me
getting stuck on a trail with a broken down bike many times.
I tend to what's needed. Knowing your bikes well alleviates
any huge checklists. A look at it is usually all that's
needed. The only thing I do regularly is checking for cracks
by cleaning the frames with a damp rag about once a week.

JD

RE/

Quoted message said:

The only thing I do regularly is checking for cracks by
cleaning the frames with a damp rag about once a week.

Ah!, Finally!...a reason to clean the thing.

Also, I would add something else: when you hear a new noise
stop and find out what it is.

I've been nailed three times and I think it's finally
starting to soak in:

Incidents #1 & 2: Heard this funny ping sound a couple times
from what I thought was the rear wheel. Both times I did
stop, expecting to find a spoke on the way out..but didn't
find anything. Both times the chain parted soon thereafter.
The second one messed me up for a good week.

Incident #3: Riding a semi-road ride, I kept hearing this
funny "whoosh" noise with each pedal stroke. Didn't think
much about it - figuring it must be something with the shoes
I was wearing... Stopped at a friend's house to bum some
coffee, talked for awhile, got back on the bike, and the
right crank arm broke in half with the first stroke.

#s 2 & 3 could have killed me if they happened at the
right time...
--
PeteCresswell

"Fred Fragger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Went for a ride through some local woods this afternoon
and, after some fairly heavy terrain followed by a
particularly hard climb, I decided to pull over for a
break because I was knackered. I got off the bike and

lifted

Quoted message said:

the rear end by the saddle to swing it round and lean it
against a tree

and

Quoted message said:

the bloody rear wheel fell out! To make things worse, this
happened just

as

Quoted message said:

a group of walkers went past and they had a good snigger.
Thankfully the wheel went back in and there was no damage.

Anyway, got me thinking, I clean and lube my bike after
every ride (it's only 2 months old :-] ) but I never check
all the fixtures and fittings. Guess I need to reconsider
my priorities?

Later,

Fred

You know you do. Lucky for you that you didn't have to learn
the hard way.

I visually inspect and give things a quick wiggle to
make sure things that should be tight are and things
that shouldn't be tight aren't. I've found the loose QR
a time or two.

Marty

In "]news:[email hidden],
Fred Fragger <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

Went for a ride through some local woods this afternoon
and, after some fairly heavy terrain followed by a
particularly hard climb, I decided to pull over for a
break because I was knackered. I got off the bike and
lifted the rear end by the saddle to swing it round and
lean it against a tree and the bloody rear wheel fell out!
To make things worse, this happened just as a group of
walkers went past and they had a good snigger. Thankfully
the wheel went back in and there was no damage.

Anyway, got me thinking, I clean and lube my bike after
every ride (it's only 2 months old :-] ) but I never check
all the fixtures and fittings. Guess I need to reconsider
my priorities?

Later,

Fred

I volunteered in a bike safety program at a local school
last week. We taught the kids (and parents) the ABC Quick
Check. A is for air (tires and shocks), B is for brakes, C
is for chain, cranks. Quick is for quick releases. The kids
really picked it up quick.

You should especially check a new bike over frequently.

Mike

(Pete Cresswell) said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

The only thing I do regularly is checking for cracks by
cleaning the frames with a damp rag about once a week.

Ah!, Finally!...a reason to clean the thing.

Also, I would add something else: when you hear a new
noise stop and find out what it is.

Great advice!

Quoted message said:

I've been nailed three times and I think it's finally
starting to soak in:

Incidents #1 & 2: Heard this funny ping sound a couple
times from what I thought was the rear wheel. Both times I
did stop, expecting to find a spoke on the way out..but
didn't find anything. Both times the chain parted soon
thereafter. The second one messed me up for a good week.

Incident #3: Riding a semi-road ride, I kept hearing this
funny "whoosh" noise with each pedal stroke. Didn't think
much about it - figuring it must be something with the
shoes I was wearing... Stopped at a friend's house to bum
some coffee, talked for awhile, got back on the bike, and
the right crank arm broke in half with the first stroke.

#s 2 & 3 could have killed me if they happened at the
right time...

See, coffee does save lives... long live java!
--
Slacker

Fred Fragger said:

Anyway, got me thinking, I clean and lube my bike after
every ride (it's only 2 months old :-] ) but I never check
all the fixtures and fittings. Guess I need to reconsider
my priorities?

Later,

Fred

Yes and No. I check tyre pressures and chain lube most every
ride and give a quick lookover but I don't actually wiggle
QR's everytime. I visually check the front QR whenever I
load it onto the car. Usually when I saddle up at the start
of a ride I hop around a couple of times and check braking
power and the feel of the steering and the bike overall.
--
Westie (Replace 'invalid' with 'yahoo' when replying.)

"Fred Fragger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Guess I need to reconsider my priorities? Later, Fred

Yes! Man I check it all the time, I have gotten hurt by not
checking when I was younger.

"Fred Fragger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
| Went for a ride through some local woods this afternoon
| and, after some fairly heavy terrain followed by a
| particularly hard climb, I decided to pull over for a
| break because I was knackered. I got off the bike and
lifted
| the rear end by the saddle to swing it round and lean it
| against a tree
and
| the bloody rear wheel fell out! To make things worse, this
| happened just
as
| a group of walkers went past and they had a good snigger.
| Thankfully the wheel went back in and there was no damage.
|
| Anyway, got me thinking, I clean and lube my bike after
| every ride (it's only 2 months old :-] ) but I never check
| all the fixtures and fittings. Guess I need to reconsider
| my priorities?
|
| Later,
|
| Fred

I don't put it in the rack and do a full inspection but
there is a quick way to give the bike a run-down. Check the
four bearings. Wheels you just grab and push side to side to
feel for play. I give the QR levers a quick tug - since I
use Shimano now and not Boutique types, they work every
time. Grab the front brake and rock the bike back and forth
to check for play in the headset. Grab the crankarms and
feel for play in several spots around the axis. All this
takes is a couple minutes.

Pilots can lose their license for failing to do a pre-flight
checklist.

---
__o _`\(,_ Cycling is life, (_)/ (_) all the rest,
just details. The Nelson Paradigm =^o.o^=
intergalax.comintergalax.comOpen ↗

"Aha! Advancing on me only brings you closer to the cold
wrath that is my spork!" - Bucky the Katt Checked by AVG anti-
virus system (grisoft.comgrisoft.comOpen ↗). Version: 6.0.637 /
Virus Database: 408 - Release Date: 3/20/2004

You sure do.

I MTB 2004

JD said:

"Fred Fragger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
<snip DOH>

Quoted message said:

Anyway, got me thinking, I clean and lube my bike after
every ride (it's only 2 months old :-] ) but I never check
all the fixtures and fittings. Guess I need to reconsider
my priorities?

I always check my bikes before heading out and it's saved
me getting stuck on a trail with a broken down bike many
times. I tend to what's needed. Knowing your bikes well
alleviates any huge checklists. A look at it is usually
all that's needed. The only thing I do regularly is
checking for cracks by cleaning the frames with a damp rag
about once a week.

JD

Funny, I was doing just that last weekend. Found a crack
almost all the way through my swingarm. Hmm, guess that
funky shifting while standing wasn't just a bent hanger
after all.

Thank God for friends with loaner bikes.

-Bruce

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 18:50:07 -0000, "Fred Fragger"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[sniip bike problem]

Quoted message said:

They had a good snigger.

Use of the "S" word is completely off limits in this NG.

Yes, I check my bike before and after every ride. Why
wouldn't you?

Peace, Bill The mind serves properly as a window glass
rather than as a reflector, that is, the mind should give an
immediate view instead of an interpretation of the world.
:-]

Bruce Edge <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

JD said:

"Fred Fragger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
<snip DOH>

Quoted message said:

Anyway, got me thinking, I clean and lube my bike after
every ride (it's only 2 months old :-] ) but I never
check all the fixtures and fittings. Guess I need to
reconsider my priorities?

I always check my bikes before heading out and it's
saved me getting stuck on a trail with a broken down
bike many times. I tend to what's needed. Knowing your
bikes well alleviates any huge checklists. A look at it
is usually all that's needed. The only thing I do
regularly is checking for cracks by cleaning the frames
with a damp rag about once a week.

JD

Funny, I was doing just that last weekend. Found a crack
almost all the way through my swingarm. Hmm, guess that
funky shifting while standing wasn't just a bent hanger
after all.

Thank God for friends with loaner bikes.

No, thank God you had the foresight to clean and inspect
your bike before a catastrophic failure on the trail.

JD

That would be silly, and my wife would likely get
bored waiting.

Shaun aRe

Shaun R says:

Quoted message said:

That would be silly, and my wife would likely get
bored waiting.

If she ain't bored with you by now, Shaun, she never will
be... ;-P' ' ' '

Steve "how the hell are ya, anyways?"