What a fantastic evening we had at Ride St Albans!
Our "Introduction to Basic Bike Maintenance: The Pre-Ride Check" event was completely booked, with cyclists joining us to learn more about looking after their bikes, spotting potential problems and keeping everything running smoothly.
The evening was hosted by Ash, our Shop Manager, who shared plenty of practical advice and tips that cyclists can use before heading out on the road or trails.
So, what should you actually check before a ride?
Ash took everyone through the basics, including the importance of giving your bike a quick check before setting off.
Topics covered included:
- The M Check – a simple way to work your way around the bike and identify anything that needs attention.
- Brakes – what to look and listen for and how to spot signs that they may need adjustment or servicing.
- Gears and indexing – understanding how your gears should feel and what to look for if they're not shifting correctly.
- Your chain – keeping it clean, lubricated and checking for wear.
- Wheels and tyres – checking tyre pressure, condition and making sure your wheels are running as they should.
- Bolts and components – looking out for anything loose or out of place.
- General bike care – simple maintenance that can help keep your bike performing well and potentially prevent bigger problems further down the line.
It wasn't just a presentation either. There were plenty of questions from the group, with Ash sharing his experience and helping attendees understand some of the common issues they might encounter with their own bikes.
It's all about confidence
One of the things we love about events like this is that bike maintenance doesn't have to be intimidating.
Knowing what to look for before you ride can give you greater confidence and help you identify potential issues before they become a problem.
And, of course, sometimes a bike needs more than a quick pre-ride check. That's where our Ride St Albans workshop team can help, from adjustments and repairs through to full servicing.
What's next at Ride St Albans?
A huge thank you to everyone who came along and helped make the evening such a success.
This was another brilliant opportunity to bring local cyclists together, share knowledge and talk about something we all love – bikes!
We're already thinking about future events, and we'd love to know what you'd like to see next at Ride St Albans.
What events would you be interested in?
Let us know!
Drop us a message, speak to the team in store or email info@ridestalbans.com with your ideas.
We're keen to make Ride St Albans a place where cyclists can learn, meet other riders, share knowledge and enjoy riding even more. That's very much part of the community-focused approach Ride St Albans already promotes.
What would you like us to cover at our next event?