By John Marsh, Editor & Publisher
As is often the case with QT’s, this one is the result of something that happened on a ride last weekend.
A group of six of us were on our way home when – I won’t even begin to try to explain the odd circumstances that caused it – one of my buddies toppled over while we waited at an intersection.
Suffice it to say, we were all kind of stunned that he managed to do so, but no matter the reason, those of us closest to him lent a hand to get him dusted off and back on the bike.
Check the Rider First, Then the Bike
First, of course, we checked to make sure he was OK. Embarrassed, yes, but other than a scratch on his elbow and a possible hip bruise to come, he was fine.
Next, we eyeballed his bike and – as he was overly eager to hop back on (adrenaline and embarrassment are a potent elixir) – slowed him down to make sure he checked it out first. Sure enough, a quick check revealed two issues that would have likely caused him to topple right back over if he hadn’t taken a moment to regroup and make sure his bike was good to go.
Check the drivetrain. His chain had slipped off the small ring and was wedged in the front derailleur. I held his bike for him as he slipped the chain back on.
Check the brakes, spin the wheels. Sure enough, his rear brake had gotten closed down and was rubbing against his rim. Once he adjusted for that, we had him spin his wheels to check for both rubbing and true. They were fine.
Check the shifers and shifting, pedaling. One of his shifters had also hit the deck and was scraped a bit and moved inward. But he checked the operation of both, while turning the cranks, and everything was fine. He would fix the position of his shifter at home.
Do a mini test ride. Finally, we had him do a little test ride in a safe area off the road to quickly click in and just double-check that everything was working well before we crossed the intersection. Again, all systems go.
Have a buddy eyeball everything while riding. Finally, after we got going again, I tucked in behind my friend to just double-check, visually, all his systems while he was riding. You can’t see a lot doing this, but if anything stands out as abnormal, it’s worth stopping for another look. And this is quite effective at spotting trueness of the rear wheel, something the rider really can’t do at all while pedaling.
If you have an idea for a QT, fire away. We’re always looking for good info we can share with fellow roadies. We would love to hear from you with any suggestions you have. Contact us by clicking Quick Tips Ideas.
—John Marsh & The RBR Team
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