Maintaining your bicycle is important. Doing minor repairs, cleaning and adjustment will help ensure your safety and the dependability of your bike. Major repairs and adjustments should be left to someone trained as a bicycle mechanic. Here is a general checklist for the bicycles located at your house.

___ Handlebars: The handlebars should be properly aligned with the front tire and should be tight.

___ Pedals: The pedals should be firmly attached to the crank arms and should turn freely. Any rubber treads should be intact.

___ Wheels: You can test for balance by picking up the bike and spinning the wheels. The wheels should not rub any part of the frame, brakes or fender. Check and replace any missing spokes. Keep rims free of rust, kinks or dents.

___ Tires: Use a tire gauge to check pressure. Keep tires filled at recommended pressures listed on the tires or in the owner’s manual. Replace tires when tread is worn smooth. The condition of the tire does affect how one handles a bike.

___ Hand Brakes: The levers should not touch the handlebars before the brakes are fully engaged. The brake shoes should be centered over the rim and the shoes should have at least 1/16- inch rubber braking surface.

___ Chain: If a chain needs to be adjusted it may make a grinding or crackling noise. If a chain is in the proper position it will have approximately ½ inch of lag.

___ Saddle (seat): The seat should be properly adjusted to fit the rider. When sitting on the seat, the leg should not be fully extended and the knee should be slightly bent when the pedal is in the down position.


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