Pre-flight check?
#1
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Pre-flight check?
I am an old pilot, starting flying in 1960. I do a pre-flight on my
bike before taking off.
Every day I check:
Tire pressure
Hold the front brake and check the headset bearings
Wiggle front and rear wheel to check wheel bearings
Check brake handle travel
Wiggle crank to check BB bearings
Spin the pedals
look at chain and cogs and cables
Check quick releases on wheels
Check for tools, patches
If I am going to be out late, check lights
At the end of the drive way I give a quick hard brake
Check mirror adjustment
Check the shifters as is I start down the street
Do a little zig zag to check for any thing loose
Go riding.
The whole thing takes about two, three minutes.
bike before taking off.
Every day I check:
Tire pressure
Hold the front brake and check the headset bearings
Wiggle front and rear wheel to check wheel bearings
Check brake handle travel
Wiggle crank to check BB bearings
Spin the pedals
look at chain and cogs and cables
Check quick releases on wheels
Check for tools, patches
If I am going to be out late, check lights
At the end of the drive way I give a quick hard brake
Check mirror adjustment
Check the shifters as is I start down the street
Do a little zig zag to check for any thing loose
Go riding.
The whole thing takes about two, three minutes.
#2
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My pre flight check
1. Open garage door and check if bike is still there.
2. Get on it and get my butt to work
1. Open garage door and check if bike is still there.
2. Get on it and get my butt to work
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Depending on how long it's been since I've ridden that particular bike I'll either squeeze the tire with my fingers or put it on the pump to air up the tires.
Beyond that, as I'm riding I'll make a mental list of anything that I think needs doing on that particular bike. Then I usually address it before I ride that bike again. That's my whole maintenance program.
Beyond that, as I'm riding I'll make a mental list of anything that I think needs doing on that particular bike. Then I usually address it before I ride that bike again. That's my whole maintenance program.
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+1 Most of my adjustments, maintenance usually happen post ride after noticing something amiss or annoying on the ride. Other things happen due to circumstances. IE I'll usually pull and clean the chain/freewheel when I find a flat tire on the rear when sitting. After rain rides I'll hose off the grit from the rims and clean up the pads and rim surfaces.
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I usually just bounce it once or twice and listen to see if anything's rattling. On my commuter, which I lock up outside, I don't even do that. Just check to see both QRs are still locked down tight.
#7
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Kick the tires & light the fires.
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Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
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who reads off your checklist??
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
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I am an old pilot, starting flying in 1960. I do a pre-flight on my
bike before taking off.
Every day I check:
Tire pressure
Hold the front brake and check the headset bearings
Wiggle front and rear wheel to check wheel bearings
Check brake handle travel
Wiggle crank to check BB bearings
Spin the pedals
look at chain and cogs and cables
Check quick releases on wheels
Check for tools, patches
If I am going to be out late, check lights
At the end of the drive way I give a quick hard brake
Check mirror adjustment
Check the shifters as is I start down the street
Do a little zig zag to check for any thing loose
Go riding.
The whole thing takes about two, three minutes.
bike before taking off.
Every day I check:
Tire pressure
Hold the front brake and check the headset bearings
Wiggle front and rear wheel to check wheel bearings
Check brake handle travel
Wiggle crank to check BB bearings
Spin the pedals
look at chain and cogs and cables
Check quick releases on wheels
Check for tools, patches
If I am going to be out late, check lights
At the end of the drive way I give a quick hard brake
Check mirror adjustment
Check the shifters as is I start down the street
Do a little zig zag to check for any thing loose
Go riding.
The whole thing takes about two, three minutes.
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I always assure that my bike is no longer locked to a tree before I head off.
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- Check weather conditions. Prepare accordingly or abort.
- Top off tires every other ride.
- Double check that I have everything I need for the day.
- Make sure my legs still work. This is usually done in the first couple minutes of the ride itself
- Top off tires every other ride.
- Double check that I have everything I need for the day.
- Make sure my legs still work. This is usually done in the first couple minutes of the ride itself
#16
Flying and Riding
Yeah, that's about what my daily check involves when I'm on a bike tour, but it's weekly while commuting.
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I grab gear I think I might need from my big bicycling duffel bag, top off the tires, usually remember to lube the chain, and that's about it. As mentioned above, things that need adjusting come to my attention during a ride. Sometimes during a ride I wonder if one of the quick releases has somehow worked itself loose and will come off at 20 mph.
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Me too. Of course there are those who like to make pretend that riding a bike is as difficult/complicated as piloting a plane and requires a "pre flight check " ritual.
I am an old sailor.
I am a old cyclist.
I take all three seriously.
I do not fly into harms way.
I do not sail into harms way.
I do not cycle into harms way.
Mechanical failure does not make for
a nice day!
Sorry, it was the way I was raised.
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I check the tires for debris that might have been picked up on last ride - visual check of bike and then as i start out i go a block slowly listening for anything not normal. If all is quiet and smooth i'm on my way.
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#21
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I check the tire pressures, QR's, engine fuel, light the fire and go. I do the inspection stuff in a stand after a couple of rides. A post flight if you will.
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When I flew, I did the Preflight, as you,and most ,,,Since bikes don't "fall out of the sky", I do a cursory look...
Bud
Bud
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As yet another pilot, sailor, cyclist, and also 4x4 off-roader, fisherman and hiker, I also like to keep a close eye on the machinery. But equally important to all of those activities is the WEATHER. Checking the forecast one last time can eliminate a lot of misery.
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Depending on the bike check the air and give the cables a quick look.
Most of what's on the checklist, if it was fine at the end of the last ride it will still be fine. If it was not fine at the end of the ride you would have noticed it while riding on the last ride..
Most of what's on the checklist, if it was fine at the end of the last ride it will still be fine. If it was not fine at the end of the ride you would have noticed it while riding on the last ride..