New Bike Prep

By MBT Staff

The Steps To Take After Bringing Your New Ride Home

Regardless of whether you purchased your new bike from a dealer, built it from a kit, or even spec’ed it out piece by piece, the methods of initial break in remain the same.

First, pick up a fresh notebook and label the front based on the frame of the bike. The first page should contain a thorough listing of the bike’s components (and sizes) including everything from the headset, the wheels/ tires, handlebars, drive-train, shifters, brakes, suspension, etc. This will prove priceless is determining specific life span of individual components (brake pad replacement, for example) as well as set up a log with which to monitor intervals between service (or replacement) and best settings (such as with suspension).

Just because your bike is brand new, do not assume that everything is set up properly from the dealership (especially if the bike was purchased from a department store). Take your time going over the bicycle, paying close attention to the nuts and bolts. The bike’s manual(s) should include proper torque settings, a few minutes with an allen key can be priceless in insuring that everything is properly tightened.

Even if the bike passes it’s initial inspection, this is a good opportunity to begin the process of dialing the bike’s controls in to your own personal preference. Sit on the bike and reach out for the handlebars, rotate them accordingly. Position the brake levers/ shifter assemblies to what suits your riding style. Experiment with the suspension adjusters- You may be surprised to find the detailed information contained within the fork and shock’s owner’s manual. Begin by adjusting the sag (the compression of the suspension caused by the rider’s weight) then work your way up to dialing in the pre-load and compression settings to suit the type of riding you intend to do (keep that notebook handy for jotting down settings that are effective).

Next inspect your cable routing, tire pressure, and cable tension (or fluid levels if your brakes are hydraulic). Lubricate moving parts with a good lithium grease and work it in slowly, listening for squeaking or squealing. Remember that disk brake performance will not be maximized until after the first few rides (when the pads seat) and avoid tackling advanced terrain until after you feel good and comfortable on your new setup.

Now get out there and enjoy your new bike, and don’t forget to give the bike a check up after each ride as no components are immune to loosening over time.