Bike Safety

Three years ago, when D'Lynda Fischer moved to Venice, California, she was ready for a change. She quit smoking and pulled her bike out of storage. Her first step: taking the bike to a shop for a tune-up. That checkup has kept her on a roll. Since then, 46-year-old D'Lynda rides three days a week, has lost about 30 pounds, and has dropped from a 10 to a 4 dress size.

Your road to riding as confidently as D'Lynda begins when your bike is in top shape and when you feel comfortable enough to ride for longer distances.

A shop tune-up costs $40 to $60. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, here are five quick safety tests recommended by Calvin Jones, a bike mechanic for more than 30 years and author of The Big Blue Book of Bike Repair (Park Tool Co.).

• Grab Each Wheel. Pull back and forth to test whether they're loose in the frame. Spin the wheels to check that they're not touching brake pads.
• Ensure a Secure Seat. Hold the frame with one hand and the saddle with the other, then try to twist the saddle. Tighten, if needed.
• Look for Rust. A little surface rust is okay, but if the frame has rusted through or if the chain has rusted so much that it's stiff, it may be unsafe. While you're eyeballing the chain, lubricate it with one drop of bicycle-specific chain lube per roller.
• Check for Tire Cracks. If the tire sidewalls look like fishnet, they're too old and worn to be ridden.
• Dig Your Thumbnail into the Brake Pads. If the pads are too hard to allow you to press your thumbnail into them, they may not help you stop as well as they should.

Along with safety, proper fit will keep you rolling for years. The most crucial adjustment is the seat. The saddle should be high enough so your leg is slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke. On your first few rides, it's fine to have the saddle slightly lower, however. Look at the seat from the side. It should be level, not tilted down or (ouch!) up.