I've just been doing a bit of teaching for people who are not habitual
bike users but would like to be. Here are a couple of 'bike
maintenance' things:-
Whenever starting out or restarting do an instant ABC check on your
bike.
A - Air in tyres? - Normally just a glance
B - Brakes - Do they feel normal? - A [censored] each - 1 second
C - Clips - Have you got all the bits that you want which clip on? eg
Have you left your pannier in the library? Do you want the speedo
clipped on? Will you want your lights when you come back tonight?
Also, the simple thing to remember about checking a bike mechanically is
that there is only one thing on a bike that isn't needed. So all you
need is a _method_ to cover everything - The one I use is start at the
front and work to the back. (The one useless thing on a bike? A
politician. Obviously this becomes positively dangerous if replaced
with a highway engineer.)
--
PETER FOX Not the same since the deckchair business folded
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www.eminent.demon.co.uk/wcc.htm Witham Cycling Campaign
www.eminent.demon.co.uk/rides East Anglian Pub cycle rides