Ian Marsh has been fixing bikes at Recycle-A-Bicycle in DUMBO and the East Village (now closed) for more than ten years, after successfully completing a high school internship there. He rides a Surly Long Haul Trucker and a 1990s Univega road “frankenbike”, and in this edition of #TourTips, Ian gives essential advice for making sure your bike is Tour-ready.

 

The first priority before taking any bike ride is to pump up your tires to the correct pressure. Use a pump with a gauge. The correct tire pressure is listed on the sidewall of your tire. If you’ve neglected to pump up your tires before the tour, there will be eight Pump Teams located at Rest Areas along the route who are ready to inflate your tires to the proper pressure. Seven of the pump teams are made up of students and teachers from high schools with Recycle-A-Bicycle’s Earn-A-Bike program, and one team is from our Kids’ Ride Club.

 

Making sure your wheels are secured to your frame is the next essential step is making sure your bike ride is a pleasant day out and not an unexpected disaster. Make sure the quick release levers are tightly secured in the closed position (it’s written on the lever), or your axle nuts are tightened down with a wrench. Any doubts you have should be discussed with your local bike shop or a skilled mechanic. You don’t want your wheels falling off!

Adjusting your seat to a proper height before the ride is another essential part of having an enjoyable tour, as an improperly adjusted seat can cause knee pain on a long ride. Put your heel on the pedal and raise the seat until your leg is straight. At this point your knee should have a 30 degree bend when you put the ball of your foot on the pedal at the bottom of the pedal stroke. If you’re still unsure if your seat is at the correct height, you can continue to raise it until your butt slides off the seat to the side when you pedal. This means your seat is too high and should be lowered until only your legs move when pedaling.

 

Running through all the gears and checking the brakes is the next step. The gears should shift smoothly into each increment and you should be able to skid the tires when squeezing the brakes tightly. If possible, ride your bike for an hour or more before you go on the tour. Most riders will have ridden their bikes regularly before the Tour, but if you haven’t, taking your bike for a longer ride is an essential step in making sure you’re comfortable on the road.

 

A long ride in the rain can be mentally trying, even more so if you don’t have proper rain protection. A good rain jacket and pants will keep you relatively dry even in heavy rain.

 

Taking your bike to a bike shop for a safety check gives you a final level of assurance that your ride will go smoothly (don’t wait until the last minute to take it to a shop either!). Once they give you the green light, you’re in the clear for a fantastic ride.