QUICK bike tune up advice needed!

[plantluvver]

Hi, I REAALLY screwed up yesterday, and messed up the rear tire on my bike. I have a second bike that is actually a better model (At least the frame is a better alloy) but I haven't ridden it in years.

Can anyone recommend a website with a quick, but adequate check list for a tuneup? I need to ride 7 miles tomorrow. My return trip will be at night, and it is not near any public transit.

I could repair the back tire on my other bike, but the smaller rear cogs are skipping due to excessive chain wear.

Mary

Can you tell I am frantic?

[redrhodie]

http://www.parktool.com/repair/

Hi Plantluvver,

Found this website listed on the forum last week.

Good luck!

[plantluvver]

Thanks for the post. I was looking more for a checklist of the necessary things to check for safe riding.

Mary

[Geonz]

Welp, the League of Illinois Biking has as a daily check the "A B C CHECK" -
http://www.dot.state.il.us/bikemap/safekids/p5.pdf

(yea the directory says "safekids" but this is their "adult cycling" pamphlet)

You might have to zoom in a litlte

Oh, and could you put the wheel from one bike onto the other bike? (I did that when I messed up my front wheel earlier this week.) Prob'ly not with the wear issues.

[plantluvver]

There are two wear issues. The failure of my tire was due to my backpack buckle dragging against the sidewalll of the tire.

I feel so STUPID, because I read a post on this forum about women riding when they thought something was wrong with their bike and how embarassed they were later, and I even thought about this post at the time, but dismissed it, thinking, "I know EXACTLY what's happening, and how could a plastic buckle damage my tire. Well I found out!!

The other issue is the excessive chain wear on the bike. I don't want to transfer wheels, (unlees of course the other chain is just as badly worn. I will check that first.

This is my rear wheel. In general, is it okay to switch rear wheels between bikes? (Assuming they are the same width of course.)

I read Sheldon Brown's article on tire sizes, and it made my head ache!

Mary

[Geonz]

Yea, that (at least once) was me! And I learned it *again* last week when my HOkeySpoke made a little clicking noise, and I thought, "oh, I'll look at it when I'm done [unless I forget which I will]..." until it was making those big "clicking" noises of banging on everything, and I had to stop with its spoke broken.
Clicking noises, things rubbing... STOP. I promise. Really. (Except last Tuesday Rich had to inform me that yes, my Xtracycle strap was wedged between chain and derailleur parts and that was probably why it was jumping around, and I should really stop...) I suppose I'm really lucky the terrain is flat around here.
I switched front wheels; rear wheels would have to have compatible gear thingies.
My friend Clyde despairs at the inconsistent numbering of tire sizes. I figure it's like dress sizes - the more it costs, the smaller size you wear, only with whatever factors count for bikers.