What should I be checking each ride?

[rubysoho]

Aside from pumping up my tires. I usually just "grab and go." But I feel I ought to be checking things on my bike, either for safety or adjustments (or both). So does anyone here have a checklist they use?

(I do try to clean my chain every 5 rides.... I think I should do that today because I can't remember when I last cleaned it. :rolleyes: )

[Owlie]

No real checklist, but the big ones I can think of off the top of my head are the brakes and tires. Make sure there's nothing stuck in your tires (though ideally you should do that after a ride). Make sure the brakes work properly--that they're not rubbing the rim if you aren't applying the brakes and that they grab the rib when you do apply them.

[redrhodie]

Make sure your quick release skewers are tight. Spin your wheels to make sure your brakes aren't rubbing.

[KnottedYet]

I clean my chain a couple times a year.

Before each ride I check the tires and brakes. If I remember, I also check the QR's. But I rarely remember....

[withm]

I had remembered some sort of bike ABC check - where A = air - inflate your tires, B - brakes - check to be sure they are working, but I could not remember what C was. So I googled it - found the whole checklist at the League of American Bicyclists website, and here you go.

This seems a bit overkill, but I do top off my tires every couple of days or so when I am riding. But I confess that I don't really do any of the other stuff. I ride enough so that if I notice anything unusual with any of my bikes I deal with it right away.

If I had to be removing wheels frequently to load bikes into the car I would be checking the quick releases to be sure wheels are aligned properly, but since I never (knock wood) take them off except for flat tires, this has not been an issue for me.

from LAB:
http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/better/beginningcycling.php

ABC Quick Check
1.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

2.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

3.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

4.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

5.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