Every Autumn when nights draw in and clocks go back more people are injured on the road. The RAC found that road traffic collisions increased by 19% in the fortnight after clocks go back, and reduced by 11% when clocks go forward. What’s My Claim Worth offer a few tips to make your journey a little safer when the clocks go back:
1. Have your bike serviced. If you cannot do this yourself, use a trusted bike shop.
2. Make sure your brakes are working properly before embarking on a journey. Brake pads can have wear indicators allowing you to check if they are still usable, check to see if the brake pads are wearing evenly and are still making contact with the rim square.
3. For safety and legal reasons make sure you have lights, that they work and are switched on.
4. It goes without saying that you should check your tyres before any journey to ensure there are no potential tears in the tread, side walls, or if they are flat. If your tyre has a puncture, always try to replace it rather than repairing.
5. Swap your tyres for wider and more puncture resistant models.
6. A set of full cover mud guards will help protect your bike and mud flaps at the end of the mud guards will also help with any wheel spray.
7. Your headset bearings which sit inside the headtube need checking. This holds the forks in place which enables you to steer. These should never be neglected. If there is any movement in the headset whilst turning the bars, the headset bearings may need to be replaced.
8. Check your gear cables are not worn, frayed, or have kinks in them.
9. Check the cleats and bearings on your pedals. If in doubt have them looked at by a professional.
10. Check your free hubs are clean and dry.
11. A particular area of concern are loose bottle cage bolts, moving parts on your cycle bag, cassette hubs or headsets and chain ring bolts.
12. Your chain must always be clean and well lubricated. Chain checkers can be purchased.
13. Cleaning your bike prevents damp and salt from corroding it.
14. Bike protective sprays help repel water and keep your bike frame cleaner for longer.
ALWAYS:
-
Check you can stop your bike by using your brakes
-
Check your tyres are in good order
-
Fit mudguards
-
Have fully functioning lights and reflectors
-
Keep your bike clean and well serviced
-
Make sure your chain is lubricated