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Pre-flight check?

Old 05-27-11, 11:46 PM
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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.
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Old 05-28-11, 12:06 AM
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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
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Old 05-28-11, 01:04 AM
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i think most people do some sort of quick check before a ride.
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Old 05-28-11, 05:23 AM
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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.
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Old 05-28-11, 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
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.
+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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Old 05-28-11, 09:24 AM
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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.
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Old 05-28-11, 03:53 PM
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Kick the tires & light the fires.
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Old 05-28-11, 04:18 PM
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who reads off your checklist??
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Old 05-28-11, 06:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Bianchigirll
who reads off your checklist??
What ever little voice in my head that's not busy at the moment.
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Old 05-28-11, 06:35 PM
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Originally Posted by BHOFM
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.
I'm sure that as you practice more, you can get those rides to be even 15 or 20 minutes.
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Old 05-28-11, 10:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Artkansas
I'm sure that as you practice more, you can get those rides to be even 15 or 20 minutes.
You mean it is not like sex??
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Old 05-29-11, 07:37 AM
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I like to check that my lock works before I head off.
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Old 05-29-11, 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by dedhed
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
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.

Originally Posted by Radials983
I like to check that my lock works before I head off.
I always assure that my bike is no longer locked to a tree before I head off.
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Old 05-29-11, 02:33 PM
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I kick the tires and if the hubcaps don't fall off, its good to go!
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Old 05-30-11, 08:27 AM
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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
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Old 05-30-11, 09:23 PM
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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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Old 05-30-11, 09:28 PM
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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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Old 05-30-11, 09:31 PM
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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 pilot.
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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Old 05-30-11, 09:46 PM
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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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Old 05-30-11, 10:50 PM
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Originally Posted by BHOFM
I am an old pilot.
I am an old sailor.
I am a old cyclist.
...and how did you get to be old? yep, by doing the checks!

My list is very similar, and I hope to be around to bug my friends, family, & wife for a long, long time.
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Old 05-31-11, 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by BHOFM
I am an old pilot.
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.
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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Old 06-01-11, 03:09 AM
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Originally Posted by DGozinya
...and how did you get to be old? yep, by doing the checks!
Quite true if you believe riding a bike is a death defying task requiring pre-flight check rituals in order to survive each ride.
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Old 06-02-11, 09:28 PM
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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
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Old 06-02-11, 11:33 PM
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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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Old 06-03-11, 05:44 AM
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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..
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