I've been working on a Peugeot build where I'm getting a lot of re-use of existing parts.

But whatever type of build it is, I normally ride on my little side street (about 1/2 mile round trip) about 5 times. After each ride, I put it back on the stand and check things out.

Then.... as I did today... do a maiden voyage of 5-10 miles.

If I'm really nervous, I'll do the trip in a circle around my house, so if things don't work out at any point I can walk the bike home.

However, today I was reckless. I did a 12 mile trip downtown and back. Everything working perfectly, except for one annoying creak that sounds like a spoke twisting.

Anyway... what kind of first rides do you do to check out your builds?

Usually ride until the (Italian) bb backs out, or until one of the crank arms falls off......

I try to always do a "round-robin" pre-flight check before taking off on a new project. Headset snug? Check. Stem seated? Check. Quick release tightened? Check. You know the score from there. I think all of us have had a brain fart at one time or another that led to a frightening sudden realization that the handlebars were loose or the brakes not adjusted. I'll also ride pretty gingerly for the first couple of times out, just in case. Up and down the block at first, until I'm confident I won't experience a Three Stooges moment further abroad and down the road.

I'm fortunate not to have had too many mishaps, and those seem to have come about when I was just getting overconfident. For instance, I recently had a chain break about seven miles from home. No worries, I'll pull out my handy chain tool and spare link and... uh oh... those are in a different bike bag... at home.

It was a long walk back.

Shake-down ride is always done in the neighborhood. Shorter walk home if there is a problem.

But if it is good for 2 miles, typically it is good for 2,000.

By the time I throw a leg over a new build it's good to go. My 10-mile loop starts with flats until the 3/4 mile mark, which has a short but steep climb. When I get to the top I'll know what adjustments I'll need to make (if any) to finish the ride.

Top

Yes and make adjustments to the build.

if the brakes don't squeak, it's good to go with an allen key multi-tool in tow (just in case). i sometimes need to tighten chainrings or the seatpost bolt...

after the first ride, i tighten the crank bolts/nuts a tiny bit if needed.

I found myself today essentially rebuilding a bike, headset, bottom bracket almost everything less pedals, original plan was to change out the bar and stem and exchange the crank arms. The bike was whole and "restored" and "professionally" assembled. I kind of knew better at the time, forgot about things and slowly got some parts I knew I needed over an extended period. A shorter Cinelli stem was in order (with the nutted bar fixing) and reasonably early #66 bars. The bike had #65 's and a period correct but too long stem, 125 mm? I needed a few other corrections, NOS Regina freewheel, different saddle. As I tore it down, I redid everything Headset was too tight, BB a bit rough... took it apart only to find the locking was just beyond finger tight and one crank arm was installed by a true weakling! Cageless ball bearings.... Brand X grease... Good thing I wanted shorter cranks... All got resolved. I had to repack the BB twice though, it just was not Campagnolo smooth, there was debris somewhere... On the second go I went after the cups with a small brass brush to clean out the reverse threading Absolutely fully. Happiness. I basically tore down the brakes into pieces too, shifters, the whole deal. No compliments to the prior mechanic.

Test stand shift to try and make it goof up, then spin up and down the street. double check the wheels after a few "tinks" but no rim wavering, Done.

The moral? If you do the assembly in one session, the chances of missing something are smaller. It is when you have to extend it over a multiple day period is when I think one needs to be extra careful. And it reinforces my view, don't trust anyone but the guy in the mirror.

My shakedown ride is about 5 miles, never more than a couple of miles from the house, and it's always with flat pedals and wearing running shoes.
Then, I tweak and do another good visual, check out every pivot point and bolt for tightness, and put on my road pedals.

Then, a hammering ride on my 15m workout ride, hard. No reason not to push the bike.
Next ride is generally a 40-miler or more, and I'm good to go. The long ride generally is for fine-tuning the saddle, bar position.

That's my process. It's not complicated, and the better I get, the less I have to do after the first ride, or the second. There was a time, when I'd limp home from the 40-miler. There are a finite number of parts on the bike, and I'm getting better at remembering to get most of them right.

#1 issue I've had on any ride: loose skewers, which generally show up on the hardest hill. Very convenient, I might add.

I have a hill one block from the shop, and a BIG hill three blocks away. So I mash it up the smaller hill, backtrack testing the brakes and shifting. If all is well, I head to the big hill.

Prelim rides...up and down the alley from the garage...with screwdriver or wrench in pocket for quick tweaks...if that goes OK, there is a nice 3 block stretch of smooth street at the end of the block...push it harder, listen for issues, none found, got the the brick paved hill on the next block and give it a good SHAKE test, up and down, hit the smooth street again and give it a listen. If all is good. I have a 10 mile loop I will take it on.

I ride mine to the store and back a few times, give everything a once over then 8 mile bike path ride.

yeah. fool me once...

Certain things will work themselves loose. I take a couple extra tools on the first ride. I don't have a problem taking it on a long first ride. After you build a few bikes, you become more comfortable with it.

There was a guy in my old club that we swore had a box of tacks with him to "puncture" at just about the time he blew up... "I could have stayed with you guys but I got a flat..."

I guess my standards are from when I was wrenching for a living, we test rode them essentially "around the block" putting the brakes to a severe test in hopes of stretching the cables. Stretching cables is okay, loose fasteners were not acceptable.

A multi-tool is a great idea for the longer first ride. You can adjust so much with a 5mm allen key.

I have a very long paved driveway so I use that to make several runs testing everything out before taking it on the road. I don't go very far for the maiden voyage maybe 7-8 miles and then check everything out.

I'm pretty lucky, there's a church parking lot right outside my back door, where I can test things. Otherwise, I'd be kinda screwed, I'm on a steep hill, right by a busy intersection.

I have not owned one. They don't seem to have the right combination of tools. & then, too many.