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Mountain biking: pre-ride bike checks

Before you head out on the trail, it’s smart to give your mountain bike a quick pre-ride check to make sure everything is in good working order. Follow these 5 quick steps from our MEC bike mechanic to cover the basics.

Video: Mountain bike pre-ride checklist

How to do a pre-ride bike check

You’ll need a few simple bike tools to do your check: a tire pump, a multi-tool with Allen keys and a spoke wrench, and a shock pump.

  1. Check spoke tension: Make sure all of them are a consistent tension; if any are too tight or too loose, then adjust with a spoke wrench if needed.
  2. Check tire pressure: Feel your tires to see how the pressure is, and pump them up if needed.
  3. Tighten up bolts: Work back to front so you don’t miss any.
  4. Check brakes: Make sure your levers don’t go all the way to down to the handlebar. Adjust if needed.
  5. Check fork and shock pressure: Use your shock pump to adjust pressure as needed.

If you have any questions about how to do any adjustments on your bike, ask your local MEC bike shop for a hand.