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Check your bike's tyres. Sometimes the bike tricks you with a surprise flat. |
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Make sure your wheels are securely fastened to your bike. Especially if somebody helped you put your bike together when unpacking it from the car. |
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Do we need to say why? |
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Need some oil? Or maybe some cleaning? |
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Keep the rear and front derailleur as gunk free as possible, for best shifting. |
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Clear your cables from last ride's mud. |
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General checkup. We once lost a bolt holding the handlebar ... |
Don't leave home without them! Yes, we prefer you put some clothes on before you hit the trails. In general, there are plenty of "proper" (expensive) bike clothes out there, but that is no requirement. |
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Club requirement! The rumour is true, on bigM rides you cannot let the hot summer air breeze through your hair! No helmet, and you do not ride with us! |
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Club requirement! If you're coming on a night ride, you need GOOD lights - at least 10w halogen or equivalent. Check with a regular night rider if you're not sure. They're expensive, so if you want to try out night riding before committing your hard-earned cash, we might be able to lend you some - ask! |
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Wear the clothes that you feel comfortable wearing. The main thing is that you are self-sufficient, that you stay warm and that you love what you do! |
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Maybe we should add "padded", but you will probably get the drift after your first ride. |
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Trainers are OK to begin with but after a while you may want to buy some biking specific shoes. If you go by car to the starting point you might be happy that we're having shoes on the checklist. |
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Ditto. |
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We should really make this a club requirement, too. Gloves are not only there to protect you from cold during winter, but also to help not scrape off any skin when suddenly finding yourself head (or should we say hands) first against gravel. With padding in them they also help your hands to not go numb from handlebar pounding. |
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Windproof/rainproof clothes are essential when riding during the cold season, but also for longer rides. |
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Along with water, you need somewhere to put all your stuff ... |
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Next to the first aid kit, you'll appreciate it! Check you have everybody's number noted, and let people have yours, before heading out. |
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Calculate at least half a litre per hour of expected riding (one litre per hour if it's above 35 degrees - we do get that kind of heat in Belgium!). |
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Whether it's one or two bananas, or carbo products or protein bars from the bike shop, bring 'em! |
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Wrap them in a plastic bag. |
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Self-explanatory? |
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At the **very least** tyre levers, chain tool and allen keys. |
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Again, be self-sufficient. |
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Bring a photocopy of your identification card. |
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Bring a photocopy of your insurance information. |
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Don't be cheap on space in your camelback! We've seen enough out there to highly recommend this! |
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Another potential club requirement. Avoid getting bugs, dirt even stones in your eyes while dashing down that technical descent! Those UV rays aren't your best pal either. |
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Even if you go on a route you know by heart, bring it. You might have to cut the route short due to technicals, accidents, weather or just running out of time or daylight. |
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Oh yes, you can have more than two flats on one ride! Want to walk? |
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After those two flats, and without that repair kit, what about bribing someone to drive you home? Seriously, sometimes you run out of water (despite your preparation) and you need to buy more to take you all the way home. Or, quite often we stop and have a bite to eat, usually in connection with our club excursions. The possibilities are many. A couple of bills won't weigh you down much. |
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Yes, your bike might need a refreshment break as well. |
| For Longer Rides | |
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Take care of your skin. You'll get your tan, but don't rush it. |
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Especially for club excursions, for your car ride back home. |
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Especially for those rides where you go to the start by car, and where you have the possibility of a shower before heading back home. |
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For those rides in the dark, either intentionally or late back from a ride |
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Not only for keeping you free from some of the worst stuff flicked up by your tyres, it's also courteous to those riding behind you. (Some of us can't afford the extra weight.) |
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For those of us that want inflating a tyre to be done in a sec, instead of two. Quick-air. |
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Uhum. |
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To permanently memorize naked riders (those who forgot about the checklist). Action photos for the web site always welcome. Remember extra batteries if you have a digital ... |
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To take all your rubbish home in. |
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Very light, very small ... can be used for all sorts of things ... |
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Should you run out of voice ... |
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For extra long rides, especially if it's hot and/or if you haven't changed them in a while. |
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Especially for our female riders, only to be used in extreme urgency. |
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Yup. We are talking from experience ... |
| And last, but not least ... Who carries an extra crank in the backpack for James???? >>>>  |
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