Adjusting your bike correctly – what do I need to consider before setting off?

Many cycling enthusiasts know the problem: after just a few kilometers on their new bike, their back starts to hurt, they start to feel their knees, or their butt hurts. If unfortunate defects occur, their motivation to ride quickly disappears. That's why we'll show you in this blog:

• What you should definitely consider before starting a road bike ride,
• what you should have with you
• and how to correctly adjust your bike to your individual body size.

Before getting on your bike, you should, of course, check that the bike is working properly. The most important things to check are the brakes and tires . You can check the brakes by turning the wheels, applying the brakes, and checking whether they stop or not, and if there are any strange noises. If the wheels stop poorly or don't stop at all, or if you hear a very loud squeaking noise, it could be that the brake pads are worn out or there's oil on the brakes. In either case, you should fix the problem before setting off to ensure a safe ride.

Tires can be checked with finger pressure . If you don't have a barometer to check the pressure, the rule of thumb is that you can't push the tire all the way to the rim with your fingers or hands. You can check this by leaning your palms on the tire and using your full body weight to push the tire from the top to the rim. If you have an air pressure gauge on your bicycle pump, the following readings in BAR , depending on the tire width, are a good guideline :

In addition to these points, you should of course check whether all screws are tightened and whether anything is wobbling or rattling. It's also worth lubricating the chain regularly to keep friction and thus wear to a minimum.

Add-on: For all bikes with electrical components, such as gears or motors, you should also check whether the batteries are sufficiently charged . 😉

To make the trip as pleasant as possible, some items are part of the basic equipment and should not be missing on any trip

Drinking bottle with water, juice or isotonic drink

Fluid and hydration are not only important in everyday life, but especially essential when exercising. Therefore, you should always carry enough water on longer rides to avoid dehydration.

Snacks such as muesli bars or gels

When you're on the go for a long time or exerting yourself intensely, your body needs a lot of energy. Sugar is the body's fuel during physical activity. If this fuel runs out, you can quickly experience hunger pangs, and your body no longer has the energy to perform as required. Therefore, always carry enough "fuel" with you. 😉

Windbreaker

Weather changes are not uncommon, especially in summer, and can often occur very quickly and spontaneously. Therefore, it never hurts to bring a thin windbreaker.

Charged cell phone

Should an emergency occur, or should you be stuck due to a malfunction, it's important that you can get help. This is best done with a working cell phone.

Multitool

To prevent small, uncomplicated defects like a loose screw from spoiling your fun, it is advisable to get a small multi-tool with all the common tools and take it with you to your ride-outs.

Possibly spare tube and bicycle pump

If you can change a tire yourself and want to be on the safe side, you should bring a spare tube and a small bicycle pump in addition to the multi-tool. These can often be attached to the frame or carried in a saddlebag.

To prevent numb limbs and sore joints, you should adjust your bike correctly. The most important thing is the seat height . As a general rule of thumb, when you're sitting on the saddle and placing your heel on the pedal, your leg should be fully extended.

The correct vertical saddle position, also called the "back seat," can be determined using a pendulum. To do this, sit on the saddle, first adjust the correct height, and then place the pedals horizontally. Then place one leg on the front pedal. Your knee should now be at a 90-degree angle. Now you can hold a pendulum—a weighted string—to the front of your knee. Ideally, the pendulum should pass through the front edge of the pedal.

To determine the correct seat angle and check whether the stem length is correct, you can now press your elbow against the edge of the saddle at a 90-degree angle. There should be enough space between your forearm, including outstretched fingers, and four finger widths to reach the handlebars.

Conclusion

As you can see, with a few quick, simple preparations, you can easily avoid many problems and mood-killers during your bike ride. So, take a few minutes beforehand and save yourself many minutes of frustration. You can also easily avoid the annoyance of being blinded by the sun and having mosquitoes, dirt, and other things in your eyes by wearing suitable sports or cycling glasses , such as our VOLT or BLADE .

Credits: Elias Neier