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