It’s pretty obvious why pilots do pre-flight checks: it’s much easier to solve a problem while the plane is stationary on the ground rather than when it’s in motion. Unsurprisingly, the same is true of any vehicle, including a bike. Sure the degree of catastrophe is different between the catastrophic failure of a plane and the catastrophic failure of a bike, but when it’s avoidable…
Pre-flight check for a plane is pretty long and detailed (take for example the pre-flight check required for the relatively simple Cessna 150). Fortunately a “pre-flight” check for a bike need not be so complicated. But it’s still worth doing.
My “pre-flight” check basically consists of pumping up the tyres each morning. Oh yeah, and every few days I might squirt some lube onto the chain. Yet, this simple activity requires me to get down and look a bit more closely at the bike. From this different perspective I often notice small things that have gone wrong, need adjustment or have broken—things that I might not notice if I’d simply walked up to the bike and thrown my leg over.
For instance, last week I was about to do the morning inflations on the folding bike when I noticed this:
An aging bike tyre starts to bulge off the wheel rim
No, not that this bike really needs a good clean—though certainly true (that rim is disgusting!)—that’s not the kind of bulge anyone likes to see. But much better noticed at this point than noticed when the tyre comes adrift from the rim doing 40+km/h downhill. (By the way, I’m sure there’s some fancy technical term for the tyre coming off the rim when the wheel is in motion. Pity I can’t remember it right now and make myself sound a bit more “expert”. Oh well.)
Needless to say, I didn’t ride on that tyre any longer. In fact, it’s pretty obvious from all those cracks that this is a tyre well past its useful life. Small wonder it’s gone the bulge on me. But I can’t complain—especially as a few minutes spent with pump in hand saved me from the significant (and possibly injurious) inconvenience of having a mechanical breakdown out on the road.
As I said, this isn’t the first time I’ve caught some minor (or even major) problem before take-off, simply because I take the time to press the pump onto the valve every time I ride. For the pay-off, I reckon it’s a habit worth getting into.
Agreed! I think hardcore cyclists clean their bike at the end of every day (A quick wipe down and re-lube takes like 5 minutes) Though I tend to just do it once a week. I do daily have a very quick check however, like you do, and make sure the brake pads are not too worn, everything is tightly fastened and there is nothing stuck into the tyres.
P.S. I’ve just finished some bike cleaning tips if your interested in getting that rim clean!
Posted by Andreas | 12 October 2009, 6:19 pmVery good advice. The other thing i do before every ride is grab the brakes while walking down the driveway. If you only check 2 things they should be brakes and tires!
Also, lubeing the chain is a post-ride item for me. That way if it’s wet i come in, wipe the chain with a rag and re-lube to avoid rusting overnight.
Posted by Simon | 12 October 2009, 7:32 pmAgreed about lube as a post-ride activity. But I’m sometimes a bit slack, so it can be either pre-ride or post-ride for me. Either way, it gets your eyes close to the business end and you notice stuff.
A brake check is vital and an added one for those who ride folders is to double-check that all of the folding mechanisms are properly closed (especially if you haven’t just assembled it from folded).
As for cleaning, I was rather taken with the idea of baby wipes for a quick clean. It worked a treat on my disgusting, now sparkling, rims.
Posted by Treadly and Me | 12 October 2009, 9:34 pmDispneumatication?
Baby wipes clean ANYTHING! Unless they’re used! :S
Posted by mikey2gorgeous | 12 October 2009, 11:27 pmMoments like those, you need Bicycle Repair Man!
Posted by flipsockgrrl | 13 October 2009, 8:12 amYes, I’ve always appreciated the way Bicycle Repairman carefully checks the tyre pressure.
Posted by Treadly and Me | 13 October 2009, 8:58 am