Biking Hiking with Kids

If your mountain bike’s been in storage in the garage or shed over the winter, it’s time to take it out, dust it off, and get it ready for the riding season ahead.

But before you get on that mountain bike for your first ride of the season, you should spend some time giving it a once over inspection to make sure it’s safe to ride, and if need be, tune your bike to make it as efficient and fun to ride as possible.

Here is a short checklist of the components that you should inspect before heading out on your first ride.

Check the Wheels. Mount the bike on a bike stand, or turn it upside down so that the wheels are off the ground and can be spun to check that they are true or straight. Spin each wheel slowly to make sure they spin freely without wobbles. If you have V brakes, watch the wheel as it’s spinning, to make sure that the brake pads don’t make rub against the rims. If you have disc brakes, also check the rotors to make sure they are not warped or out of true. Also check for nicks and gouges that may be on the rims and rotors that may speed up wear on the brake pads or reduce braking efficiency.

Check to make sure the hub bearings are not damaged by holding each wheel with both hands and gently wiggle the wheels back-and-forth. There should only be a very slight play, no noise or grinding due to worn bearings

Check the spokes tension by turning the front wheel slowly and letting your finders fall over each spoke as the wheel rotates. Each spoke should feel taut. Otherwise, the spokes need to be tightened.

While the bike is still upside down, check the tire pressure and that both tires are in good condition. If your bike’s been untouched for a few months, chances are you will find the bike’s tires are soft and under-inflated. This is usually normal since inner tubes tend to slowly lose air over time in storage and doesn’t automatically mean that there is anything wrong with them. However, if after you pump up the tires and the tires go flat within an hour or so, or lose more than a few PSI of air during the week, the inner tubes may need repairing or replacing. As you are check the tire pressure, also check the tires’ sidewalls for cracking or cuts; check the tire tread for uneven or excessive wear.

Also, check the quick release locking mechanisms to make sure that the bike’s wheels are securely held in place so they don’t come loose while riding.

Check the Drive System. With the bike off the ground, spin the crank with the pedals to check to see that the bottom bracket attached to the crank turns freely and smoothly. There should be no noise or grinding sounds while the crank is turning. If there is grinding noise or the crank doesn’t turn freely, the bottom bracket needs to be serviced or replaced at together.

Check the front gear mechanism. Check the chain for signs of rust, damage, loose links, missing link, not enough tension. Clean the chain if it is excessively dirty. If you experience any issues with the chain such as the chain jamming in the rear derailleur or falling off the chain rings, your chain may have stretched and may need to be shortened by removing a few links.

With the bike off the ground, turn the pedal and shift the chain up and down the gears using the gear shifters. Check the movement of the front and rear derailleur to make sure the rear derailleur doesn’t go into the rear wheel spokes and the chain doesn’t go off the chain rings. Check to make sure that the derailleur hangers are in proper alignment and have not loosened during storage. Check the derailleur shifters to make sure they are working properly. Adjust the upper and lower limit screws on the derailleur or adjust the cable tension on the shifters as needed.

If can use WD-40 to clean your chain of excess dirt and grim, remember to use a light grease to lubricate the chain after wards. WD-40 is not a long term lubricant.

If your bike uses a cassette, there is no need to grease it up since there are no moving parts to lubricate. Just make sure the chain is well lubricated and you should be okay.

Check the Brakes. With your bike on the ground, stand in front of the bike with the front wheel between your legs and holding the handlebars and the brake levers. Apply the front brake and pull the bike toward you – keeping the wheel in contact with the ground. The front wheel should not move at all and as you continue to pull the bike toward you, the rear wheel of the bike should lift up off the ground. However, if the brake does not hold the bike from moving toward you, the brake will need adjusting.

Go though the same process with the back brake. This time, when the back brake is applied, the rear wheel shouldn’t turn and as you keep pulling the bike toward you, the tire should skid. If not, the rear brake will need adjusting.

Also, look at the brake levers – the brakes should start to grip at about 1/3 of the way pulled. The levers should never touch the handlebars when full force is applied. If they do, your brakes need adjusting – most likely the cable needs to be tightened. You can adjust the tension of the brake cables either at the levers or at the brakes.

Whether you have V-brakes or disc brakes on your mountain bike, check the brake pads for excessive wear and alignment. Check the condition of the cables and replace any frayed cables or kinked cable housing. Make sure all the anchor bolts are tight and lubricate the pivot points.

Check the Frame. If you didn’t clean you bike before storing it away for the winter, this is the time to do it. A clean bike will extend the life of all its components. If you have a steel frame bike, make sure the frame is not exposed to water or moisture for too long. Remove both wheels to get them out of your way. Then clean the frame and inspect for chipped paint, cracked welds, and rust, paying close attention to area where components come in contact with the frame, such as the front derailleur clamp and seat post area.

Let the Pros Do Your Bike Tune Up. Mountain biking or any other kind of bicycling is dangerous. There are many factors that made biking dangerous that are out of your control. The one thing you can control to make your cycling experience safer is to make sure your bike properly maintained and working efficiently.

Tune up your bike at the beginning of every riding season. If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, have a local bike shop tune up your bike for you. And then do a pre-ride check before every ride to avoid any potential problems that could spoil your enjoyment of the ride.