Whoaaaa! Before you get started, its important to give your bike a quick check to make sure its in the right shape to ride safely.
6 Steps to Safety Check
- Make sure your bike is the proper size. A bike that is too big or too small will be hard to control. When youre standing on the ground you should have a 1-3 inch gap between you and the top bar. Youll need more room if youre riding a mountain bike.
- Check to see if your bike seat is adjusted to the proper height. When youre sitting on the seat with your foot on the pedal, your leg should be slightly bent. This will help avoid knee strain.
- Make sure you have a reflector on the front and rear of your bike. The rear should be red and should be at least three inches across. Make sure the reflector is pointed straight back to reflect the headlights of cars that are coming up behind you.
- Check the bikes chain to make sure its clean and lubricated. If its not, take it to the local bike shop for a check up.
- Check your brakes for even pressure. They should make your back wheels skid on dry pavement, but you dont want brakes that stick. Yikes!
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated.
Good going! Weve checked our bikes and made sure theyre in top shape. Lets head to our next station where well find out about bike helmets and why its important to wear them. Did you know that 3 out of 4 bike crashes result in some kind of head injury??? Pedal on over to Helmet Junction to find out more.
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