Three things to check if you crash your bike.

Knowing your bike is sound will give you peace of mind after a crash.

Even if everything looks fine, it’s a good idea to do bike maintenance after a crash to ensure no real damage was done. Stop by your local bike shop for an assessment and tuneup before your next ride for peace of mind. 

Three things to check after a crash:

1/ Wheel alignment:

Look at how the wheel spins in relation to the brakes. The wheel should spin freely of the breaks and maintain the space while spinning when in proper alignment. If not, your wheel likely needs to be trued up.

2/ Breaks:

Your breaks should have equal space on either side of the wheel. If one is closer than the other or touching the wheel, your breaks may need to be adjusted and/or pads replaced if you’re overdue for maintenance.

3/ Derailleur:

If you fell on the side of your derailleur make sure it isn’t bent and that your gears are still shifting well. Start by spinning the back wheel to make sure the derailleur isn’t hitting the spokes. If you went down with your knee or elbow first, chances are you spared your derailleur. You should still cycle through all your gears just to make sure they all work.

One last tip…

You know that hiss that you hear when you pop the nozzle of the pump off your tire. It’s actually air from the hose not air from the tire escaping. So don’t over inflate your tires. 100 PSI is good for most riders.

The guys in the bike department at Sports Basement are so good about teaching bike maintenance on the fly and sharing their tips about gear and training. Don’t be shy about asking them questions or for help. They also offer free bike maintenance classes monthly.