You should periodically check to make sure your bike is in good working condition. However it may also be convenient to perform pre-ride checks. Of course this may be redundant for a quick ride to your friends house, but for a long ride you want to be sure your bike isn't going to break down. The short time it will take to do this check is definitely worth the time. You'd be stuck for much longer if you broke down in an unfamiliar area!

Here's some things top check before you go:

  1. Brake tension- check to see that you have sufficient tension in the brake cable by pulling on your brakes hard. Your brake blocks should hit the rim of the wheel before your levers hit the handlebars.
  2. Brake pads- look at the brake blocks by releasing the straddle wire. Check to see that you have not worn through the metal to the base and that they are not too worn.
  3. Brake cables- make sure that none of the cables are frayed. Frayed cables will brake if you apply a lot of pressure on them, therefore they are very dangerous.
  4. Derailleurs- Check gear cable tension and also that your derailleurs are set up properly by running your bike through the gears.
  5. Chain- make sure your chain has no damaged or stiff links. Do this by spinning the cranks backwards. If the chain jumps on the sockets it means a link is damaged.
  6. Handlebars- check to make sure the bolt that clamps the stem to the handlebars is tight.
  7. Stem- make sure that your stem bolt is tight in the frame.
  8. Saddle and seat post- make sure that your saddle is to your desired height and that the clamp is on tight.
  9. Tire pressure- squeeze the sides of the tires to make sure that they are properly inflated. They should give just a little. Use a tire gauge if you have one for a more accurate reading.
  10. Sidewall- the brake blocks may have damaged the sides of the tires so check that out. A weakened sidewall of a tire can cause a blowout.
  11. Tire carcass- make sure the tire is not worn or damaged.
  12. Wheels- check that the wheels are straight by spinning the wheels and listening for a scuffing noise. This noise is the rim hitting the brake block. And means your rim is dented.
  13. Spokes- make sure the spokes are at the correct tension and that none of them are damaged. It is best to go to a bike shop to get your spokes adjusted unless you are confident in what you are doing.

Now give your bike a quick ride to make sure everything is ok. After that you're ready to go!