Daily Safety Check
Before every ride, take a few minutes to check the parts that affect safety most: brakes, steering, wheels, tire pressure, belt tension, pedals, seatpost, and mudguards.
Do not ride the bike if something feels loose, rubs badly, does not brake correctly, or makes an unusual noise.
Quick pre-ride checklist
Section titled “Quick pre-ride checklist”1. Check the brakes
Section titled “1. Check the brakes”Pull both brake levers before you start riding.
Check that:
- both brakes create clear braking force
- the brake levers do not pull too close to the handlebar
- the brake feel is firm and predictable
- the brake calipers do not move
- the brake discs are not loose
A very small movement can be normal because the brake pads can move slightly inside the brake caliper. What you are looking for is unusual play, weak braking, rubbing, or a loose part.
If the brake lever travel has become much longer, the brake pads may be worn or the brake may need adjustment. If the brake pads are fully worn, they must be replaced.
2. Check the headset and steering
Section titled “2. Check the headset and steering”Stand next to the bike, pull the brakes, and gently move the bike forward and backward.
You should not feel a clear knocking or loose movement around the headset, stem, or fork.
A very small movement can come from the brake pads, but a separate knocking feeling around the front of the bike should be checked before riding.
3. Check tire pressure
Section titled “3. Check tire pressure”Check the tire pressure before riding. Riding with pressure that is too low or too high can reduce comfort, grip, and tire life.
Recommended tire pressures:
| Tire width | Recommended pressure |
|---|---|
| 28 mm | 6.5 bar |
| 30 mm | 5.5 bar |
| 32 mm | 5.0 bar |
| 35 mm | 4.5 bar |
| 40 mm | 4.5 bar |
| 45 mm | 4.5 bar |
| 50 mm | 4.0 bar |
| 54 mm | 4.0 bar |
4. Check belt tension
Section titled “4. Check belt tension”Check that the belt is not extremely loose or overly tight.
For accurate checking, we recommend using the Gates UT Spring Tension Tester.
The belt tension should fall within the green marking on the Gates tension tool. If it is close to the edge of the green range, it is still acceptable.
A slightly loose belt is safer than an overly tight belt. A loose belt may occasionally skip, but an overly tight belt can increase wear, damage the teeth, or cause the belt to break.
You can occasionally treat the belt with Gates Belt Care silicone spray to help extend its service life.
5. Check the wheels and spokes
Section titled “5. Check the wheels and spokes”Check that both wheels sit securely in the frame and fork.
To check spoke tension by hand, gently squeeze neighboring spokes together. They should not feel extremely loose or easy to compress.
If any spoke feels clearly loose, check the wheel with a spoke tension meter or have it inspected by a mechanic.
6. Check the seatpost
Section titled “6. Check the seatpost”The seatpost must not rotate, even under stronger hand force.
Check that:
- the saddle points straight forward
- the seatpost does not slip down
- the seatpost does not twist inside the frame
- the seatpost clamp bolt is properly tightened
Do not ride with a rotating seatpost. It can damage the seatpost structure and may later lead to cracking or failure.
7. Check the pedals and crank
Section titled “7. Check the pedals and crank”Make sure both pedals are fully threaded into the crank arms.
Do not ride if a pedal is only partly screwed in. This can damage the pedal thread and the crank arm thread.
Also check the crank bolt on the belt wheel side. It must be tight.
- Belt wheel side crank bolt torque: 38–41 Nm
If your bike has plastic pedals with grip tape, check that the grip tape is not peeling off. Reattach it if it starts to come loose.
8. Check the shifting system
Section titled “8. Check the shifting system”If your bike has a gear hub, check that shifting feels precise before riding.
Shimano Alfine
Section titled “Shimano Alfine”The two yellow marks on the gear hub should line up in the middle gear:
- Alfine 8-speed: 5th gear
- Alfine 11-speed: 6th gear
If the yellow marks do not line up, the shifting can be fine-tuned at the shifter barrel adjuster.
Rohloff grip shifter
Section titled “Rohloff grip shifter”Check the shifter play. If there is too much free movement before the gear changes, the cable tension may need adjustment.
Gebla Rohbox
Section titled “Gebla Rohbox”Gebla is a precise shifting mechanism. If it is not adjusted correctly, the bike may not shift properly.
9. Check the mudguards
Section titled “9. Check the mudguards”Check that the mudguards are centered and do not rub the tires.
If a mudguard is slightly crooked, it can usually be centered by gently adjusting the mudguard stays. The stays are made from steel and can be bent slightly by hand.
If the front mudguard rattles, the upper center mounting bolt may need to be loosened, the mudguard pushed upward toward the inside of the fork, and the bolt tightened again.
Do not ride if a mudguard touches the tire or feels loose.
10. Check bolts during the first rides
Section titled “10. Check bolts during the first rides”Before the first ride, all bolts on the bike should be checked for proper tightness.
After the first few rides, check again that no bolts have loosened. Later, this does not need to be done before every ride, but it should still be checked occasionally.
If any bolt is loose, tighten it to the correct torque value.
When to stop and contact service
Section titled “When to stop and contact service”Stop riding and contact Booda Bike service or a qualified mechanic if:
- the brakes feel weak, soft, or unpredictable
- the handlebar, stem, fork, or headset feels loose
- a wheel, axle, brake disc, crank, or pedal feels loose
- the belt skips regularly or feels extremely tight
- the seatpost rotates or slips
- a mudguard rubs the tire
- you hear a new knocking, cracking, scraping, or grinding sound
