Before you get on your mountain bike for a ride, you need to check it over making sure that everything is in order. Find out what checks you should be making before going on the ride.
If you like to mountain bike, you probably go out on some serious trails in your spare time. Each of these outings causes a bit of wear and tear on your mountain bike. After awhile, most things on the bike require some sort of repair and are no longer in top condition. For this reason, it’s important that you do a proper check of the bike before using it. This ensures your safety. Find out what parts you should consider checking.
Before getting on the bike and before you ride, you need to look it over for any obvious problems. You need to ask yourself some questions, such as is there anything out of place? Is something missing? Does something need to be adjusted? Did the ride over on the car cause something to move on the bike? Look it over and make sure it looks right.
Tighten the handlebars before using it. These are very important as a slip of these can cause injury to you as it will send you over the top of the bike.
Adjust the seat to the right level and angle. This can change while the bike is being transported. A seat that doesn’t fit you right can cause pain and discomfort for the rest of the day.
Check your tire pressure. You should have a tool for this to make sure the tire is inflated properly. This prevents flat tires and makes sure you have the air you need in them for the tires to perform properly.
Do a short ride around the parking lot and make sure that it feels right when riding. Go through the process of changing your gears. Make sure each one switches correctly. You need to depend on these when on the trails without any of them sticking. You also need to check the brakes, so make sure you check the front and back brakes.
Look over your helmet for any cracks or dents. Make sure there are no small hairline cracks and still looks in good condition. Put it on and make sure the strap fits properly.
Also check the weather just in case of rain or severe weather conditions. You don’t want to be caught out in bad weather conditions while on your ride.
By: Mike JJ Johnson About the Author:
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