ABC bike safety check
Before you head out for a ride, it’s a good idea to do a quick maintenance check to make sure your bike is in safe working order, especially if it hasn’t been ridden for a while.
This is as simple as ABC – Air, Brakes, Chain.
Air: Make sure the tires are pumped up and aren’t soft.
Brakes: Squeeze the brakes and make sure it stops the wheels.
Chain: Make sure the chain can go around freely, isn’t rusted and that it’s not skipping of the sprockets.
Watch the short video below to see how quick and easy it is to do an ABC bike safety check on your bike.
If you detect any issues, or if you need further information or tips, check out the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure Your Move program’s guide to basic bike maintenance.
Transcript
[Music]
[Visual: Bike riders moving towards the viewer.]
[Text on screen: Patrick Jones, BikeWise Co-founder / Cycling instructor.]
[Visual: Patrick talking to the camera. He is standing with a bike, and a selection of bike tools are displayed on a workshop board behind him.]
Patrick: Many people are getting back into riding to save money, keep fit and help the planet. It’s a very smart idea and doubly smart in you check your bike before you get going.
The most basic check takes this long, air, brakes, chain, A, B, C.
[Text on screen: Air, Brakes, Chain, A, B, C. A = Air.]
[Visual: A bike wheel spins, the camera cuts back to Patrick talking.]
Patrick: A is for air, we make sure that the tyres aren’t soft. To do that, I bounce the bike first to get a feel and then I squeeze the tyres.
[Visual: Patrick pushes downwards on the bike and bounces the bike.]
Patrick: Our advice is, pump them up, make them hard. How hard is hard enough?
[Visual: Close up of the text on a bike tyre, Patrick talking to camera.]
Patrick: It’s written on the side of the tyre, next to the letters PSI and most valves, just like a car are as easy to pump up as a car valve.
[Visual: Car valve.]
[Text on screen: Car/Schrader valve.]
Visual: Cutting between Patrick talking to camera and a pressure gauge being used.]
Patrick: Go to a petrol station and put the pump on and press the button and up she goes. Others are a bit trickier.
[Visual: A Presta valve.]
[Text on screen: Presta. Racing/Presta valve.]
Patrick: They’re called racing valves or Presta valves, and they require a bit more attention like you see here.
[Visual: Patrick talking to camera before undoing a Presta valve.]
[Text on screen: Undo valve. Clear valve. Pump.]
Patrick: Make sure you undo the little top cap and clear the valve before you apply the pump head.
[Visual: Close up of brakes on a bike before cutting to Patrick squeezing the brakes on the handlebar.]
[Text on screen: B = Brakes.]
Patrick: B is for brakes. As I squeeze the brakes, it should stop the wheels, making them skid. If your brakes don’t do that, it’s a good idea to get them checked out by someone who can fix them.
[Text on screen: C = Chain.]
[Visual: Close up of a bike chain and sprocket, cutting to Patrick talking to camera and spinning a pedal.]
Patrick: C is for chain. Pretty much all we’re looking at is that the chain can go around freely. I can see this chain isn’t rusted. It’s not skipping off the sprockets. It’s working pretty much as a chain should.
[Visual: Close up of a chain and wheel spinning of a older bike.]
Patrick: If you’re in any doubts as to the condition of your bike, a local bike shop would be able to help you.
[Visual: Patrick talking to camera, cutting to bike riders of all ages riding.]
Patrick: Have a good time out there. Enjoy the ride.
[Text on screen: The Government of Western Australia Department of Transport logo. Transport.wa.gov.au/cycling
[Music]
End of transcript
Getting a new bike
It’s important to know about different bike types and capabilities to help you make a decision that is right for you when getting a new bike.
The Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure’s Your Move program has put together some handy information about Choosing the right bike for you.
Remember, even a new bike will need a few adjustments before its set up correctly. Basic bike maintenance tips can help get you riding your bike safely and comfortably.
Note: There are standard requirements that need to be met before a bicycle can be considered legal for use on public roads and shared paths. See the Road Safety Commission website for rules and regulations related to bikes, including eBikes.