RFC

Whenever I build up a new bike or a new old bike, I always have to do a shakedown cruise to workout the bugs, tweak, tune etc. It's probably because, at best, I am a hack mechanic. But no matter how well I think I have tuned things on the stand, inevitably, I spend the first ride tightening headsets, and adjusting brakes and derailleurs. Sometimes, a few circles back to the Mancave for additional adjustments.

big chainring 

Always! Cables stretch, spokes settle in, and I always miss tightening something. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending how you look at it, I will find a bike thats too nice to give up(sell). My Gitane that is too big for me, has a damaged fixed BB cup, and is generally a beater, rides just so darn nice - and looks great too. I had no intention of keeping it, strictly a flipper, and well, I just couldnt stop riding it. I actually listed it on CL and went for one last ride on it. When I got home, after 20 miles, I deleted the ad. Its a keeper.

John E

No matter how good a mechanic you are, you need to do a little retuning and rechecking during "break-in." As "big chainring" noted, cables and spokes do stretch, and bear grease thins out a bit. Whenever we sold a bike at Bikecology, we always told the buyer to come back after 50 miles for a free tune-up.

bigbossman 

I've yet to have modern, new cables stretch on me.

That being said - I used to do short shakedown cruises, but on the last two I built for myself (Cinelli and Pogliaghi) I finished them the night before and then just took them out on normal rides. The Cinelli's first ride was a 35 miler with climbing and descending, and the Pogliaghi's maiden voyage was a supported metric century.

What can I say - I have a cavalier streak.

sykerocker 

What I normally consider a shakedown cruise is on a frame that I'm going to have stripped and refinished - especially if I'm building something custom rather than just rebuilding an old stock bike. I'll take my planned components, assemble, and put about 50 miles on the (not quite) finished product. Make changes as needed. Then, when everything's working to my satisfaction, the bike is re-stripped and the frame is sent out for paint/powdercoating.

roccobike

I have a 2.5 mile short ride and a 6 mile short ride for shaking down new builds and for testing bikes that are new to me that I intend to take on long rides.
Worst incidents: Riding down a hill on the shake down cruise, hit the brakes to slow down and realized the front cable wasn't tight enough. Fortunately the rear cable worked. It's amazing how much brake you can get out of the rear if you have to!
Second worst incident: Got about a mile from the house when the front wheel started acting a little goofy. On a downhill I found out why, the front tire went flat. I tried to turn during the downhill with a flat tire at about 22MPH.......NOT a good idea!
On a recent Shakedown, I got a 70's Nishiki International about one block from the house when I heard a huge bang from the rear as the tube let go from a huge pinch left over from the previous owner. Good news, he put new tires on the bike. Bad news, he didn't know how to mount a tire.

Sixty Fiver

Always.

redneckwes

Always do a shakedown run. Usually a couple of miles. I did throw the 520 together a few years ago and ride a metric the next day, believe me, I had about five pounds of tools with me that day.

RFC

I threw a chain today at 25 mph resulting in creative braking.

DRietz

I do small rides to say, the post office, because I'm usually going there anyway. I assess what needs to be done, and often have my multitool in my bag. Tightening, adjusting, etc. Usually when I build my bikes, when I get the derailleurs set I shift a good 20 times and readjust. 20 more, and I feel as if I've ensured against large amounts of primary cable stretch.

cudak888 

Always, beginning with a 1,500ft (approx) ride around the neighborhood to check brake positioning, lever feel, drivetrain under various loads, and headset tightness (BB too, though I generally get that perfect on the stand). Cottered cranks also get tested (and usually loosen up ).

-Kurt

Schnayke

Yup. I take them out for awhile sometimes several days in a row. If it is for me, it takes a month or so before I am done screwing with a bike after the actual completion date.

mkeller234

I always do a shake down ride and usually use the bike for my work commute for a week (2 miles round trip).

Noah Scape

Absolutely. +1 on the cottered cranks.

newenglandbike

While cables might not stretch noticeably, housings can definitely compress- *especially* if the housing ends have not been filed flat

noglider 

Yes, I'll notice little things, such as handlebars not straight.

Bianchigirll 

yes I do a 'shakedown' or test ride after most any repair. it might be as simple as a few turns around the block, but I always do one. sometimes on a 'new build' or changing the bar/stem I might even testride before taping the bars to ensure a good sit and brake lever placement.

at one shop I worked in I went off for a test ride on the one and only Waterford we had, and everyone was aghast to see me return with a large dunkers coffee! they seemed to think it was strange to not only ride that far on a test ride (2 blocks) but to then stop for coffee was a mortal sin!

Rabid Koala

Usually just a few laps around the block, but I always carry tools on my rides.

sailorbenjamin

Most of my rides are shakedown rides. If the bike goes 2 or 3 days with out an issue, it's time to try another modification.

RobbieTunes

I should, but don't always. Case in point: one of my latest builds, fine Campy equipment on a fine Italian frame. Shifted fine on the rack. Shifted fine on the car rack. Went on a 46-mile jaunt, mostly flat, and it wouldn't shift up to the big ring in front. Rode the entire 46m on the small ring, small cog, wincing at the angle. And those of you who ride with me know how I feel about the small ring, too.

USAZorro

It's common sense. Now if I'm flipping a bike that's too large to safely ride...

bigbossman 

Maybe, although I cannot recall that happening to me with either the Jagwire or Campy housings I've used. Besides - any housing compression is easily adjusted out on the fly with a 1/4 turn on the barrel adjuster.

On a flip bike, I aways take it for a spin before selling it off. That's just the prudent, responsible, right thing to do. When I build a bike for myself, I usually just build and go. Any problem with seat/handlebar adjustment or shifting can be done on any ride and with minimum fuss with an ordinary multi-tool. And if I break down and can't fix it on the spot, well - that's what cell phones and coffee houses are for.

So, I guess I do take a shakedown cruise after all - I just call it "going for a ride".

WNG

Always a shakedown ride, a short jaunt to test through the drivetrain and brakes, loose fasteners, and listen for odd noises. It's rare to have a white knuckle incident, usually a freewheel that could have been tighter, a seat post that needed tightening. trimming of the derailleurs.
Then the bike is ready, and you're confident it'll take whatever you'll take it on.

mkeller234

It seems like I never get the handlebars straight on the first try. Sometimes it's downright funny just how bad it can be.

sonatageek

I always do now. There was one time about a year and half ago that I forgot to do my quick test loop and a guy came to look at the bike. It turns out I had not torqued the rear wheel nuts and the wheel slipped and was coming in contact with the rear chain stay. The guy felt more resistance, so rather then see what was going on he peddled harder and harder. Bent the drop out and screwed up the wheel pretty bad.

I was glad it was a cheap flip and the lessons were burned into my mind. Always cheap the bolts and always do the test ride.