What’s an ABCDE Bike Check?

At the start of every CNY West practice, you’ll see our riders and coaches doing an ABCDE Bike Check. It’s a quick pre-ride safety check that NICA teaches riders to help them understand their bikes, spot potential problems and build the habit of making sure their equipment is ready before they hit the trail. We’ll teach your rider how to do it, and we’ll practice it regularly as a team. But it’s helpful for parents to know what we’re doing too. And if you ride bikes as a family, you might find yourself adopting the same habit with your own bike!

Here’s what ABCDE means.

A: Air

Start with both tires. We check that they have enough air and take a quick look for cuts, damage or excessive wear. Mountain bike tires usually have a little give when you squeeze them, so they shouldn’t necessarily feel rock hard. There isn’t one perfect tire pressure for every rider. It varies depending on the tire, bike, rider and whether the tires use tubes or are set up tubeless.

B: Brakes

Next, we make sure both brakes are working properly. Standing next to the bike, squeeze the front brake and gently push the bike forward. The front wheel should stop firmly. Then squeeze the rear brake and pull the bike backward. The rear wheel should remain firmly stopped. We also want riders to be able to comfortably reach their brake levers without moving their hands out of their normal riding position. Brakes are one thing we don't take chances with. If something doesn't feel right, we figure out why before heading onto the trail.

C: Chain

Take a look at the chain. It should be intact, reasonably clean and lubricated. We’re looking for obvious damage or broken links and making sure everything looks as it should. A clean, properly lubricated chain helps the bike shift smoothly and reduces wear on other drivetrain components.

D: Drivetrain & Derailleur

This is where the bike vocabulary gets a little more intimidating, but the check itself is pretty simple! The drivetrain includes the derailleur, cassette, chainring, cranks and chain. Riders visually check these parts for anything obviously loose, broken or out of place. Then we lift the rear wheel, turn the pedals and shift through a few gears. The chain should move through the gears smoothly without jumping, sticking or falling off.

E: Everything Else

Finally, we give the whole bike another look. One useful trick is the drop test. Lift the bike a few inches off the ground and gently drop it onto its tires. Listen for anything that sounds unusually loose or rattly.

We’ll also spin the wheels to make sure they rotate smoothly and check that the wheels are securely attached.

Essentially, E is our last chance to ask: Does anything look, sound or feel wrong?

What if we find something?

That’s exactly why we do the check. Sometimes it’s something simple that a coach can help a rider identify. Other problems require the right tools and a trained bike mechanic. NICA’s advice is a good rule to follow: when in doubt, have a pro check it out.

For CNY West families, we recommend Melo Velo in Syracuse for repairs, tune-ups,

Next time you head out for a family bike ride, have your CNY West rider lead everyone through the check:

Air. Brakes. Chain. Drivetrain & derailleur. Everything else.

They get to teach you something, everyone’s bikes get checked, and you’re all a little more prepared before you ride.