Dust Off the Bikes after a Long Cold Winter

"There are only two seasons, winter and Bicycling."
mangled from a quote by Bill Veeck, (sorry Bill)


Spring is a great time to get everyone out of the house and back to the great outdoors. One of the best ways of enjoying the outdoors is to get back into bicycling. Sometimes, after a long, cold winter, those bikes need a little maintenance before they hit the road.

The simplest way of getting you bikes into shape is to load them into the car and take them down to your friendly, neighborhood bike shop and let them put the bikes into first class shape. Bike shops have the tools and expertise to check and fix problems that you might miss. On the other hand, you need to be able to trust your bike shop to make sure they don’t try to sell parts or labor you don’t need. If you aren’t familiar with bike shops in your area, ask around for a reliable shop with a good reputation.

The major areas you need to check for safe operation of a bike can be summed up in, “ABC Quick Check”. I’ve taught hundreds of kids, (and adults) this quick way to check over a bike and it also applies to getting it back into shape.

A is for air
Inflate tires to rated pressure as listed on the sidewall of the tire
Use a pressure gauge to insure proper pressure
Check for damage to tire tread and sidewall; replace if damaged

B is for brakes
Inspect pads for wear; replace is there is less than ¼" of pad left
Check pad adjustment; make sure they do not rub tire or dive into spokes
Check brake level travel; at least 1" between bar and lever when applied

C is for cranks, chain and cassette
Make sure that your crank bolts are tight; lube the threads only, nothing else
Check your chain for wear; 12 links should measure no more than 12 1/8 inches
If your chain skips on your cassette, you might need a new one or just an adjustment

Quick is for quick releases
Hubs need to be tight in the frame; your quick release should engage at 90°
Your hub quick release should point back to insure that nothing catches on it
Inspect brake quick releases to insure that they have been re-engaged

Check is for check it over
Take a quick ride to check if derailleurs and brakes are working properly
Inspect the bike for loose or broken parts; tighten, replace or fix them
Pay extra attention to your bike during the first few miles of the ride

Before you let your child out for their first ride, check their helmet. Make sure the helmet is in good shape, then check the fit. The new way to do this easily is to remember, “Eyes, Ears and Mouth”. The child should be able to see the front brim of the helmet when they look up, (Eyes). The two straps from the helmet should join just below the ears (Ears). When your child opens his or her mouth, the helmet should tighten on their head. Make sure they have a Medical Information Carrier System™ in their helmet so they can be identified in case of a medical emergency.

Before you unleash them, there is one more step, perhaps the most important. Take time to review the rules of the road with them. A good time to do this is when you’re driving in your car. Ask them, “If you were on your bike, what would you do in a specific situation?” You might be surprised at what they think the rules of the road are for bikes. Be sure to include any special rules you might have on how far they can ride, when they can ride and the rules on telling you where they are going. Run through a couple of emergency scenarios such as what they should do if they are approached by a stranger.

Of course, the best way to teach you children safe bicycling is to bicycle with them and lead by example.