How to test a bike

“A properly fitting cycle is extremely important. There is no other sport in which the athlete and the machine are so close to being a single entity…”
- Allan Levy M. D.

Buying your first bike is a nervous and an exciting experience. There are all sorts of things to look out for, and being stuck with the wrong bike is not fun.
In Toronto, anyone looking for a bike should get a cheap second hand one, because even that is bound to get stolen.
I took the Wenches with Wrenches bike mechanics course and learnt a lot about bikes and repairing them, alhamdulillah.
Below are some points from my notes:

Things that should be tight	Things that should spin freely	Brakes
Wheel nuts or quick release levers Handlebars and stem Seat and seatpost Pedals and crank arms Brake pads and brake mounting hardware (do bounce test)	Wheels Pedals Cranks Forks/headset	Cables not frayed Pads not worn out Pads don’t rub rims when not applied Rear brake can skid rear wheel on dry pavement (required by law)
Tires and Wheels	Drive Train	Visibility (required by law)
No boken or loose spokes Tire tread in good condition and tires don’t bulge Tired inflated to recommended pressure	Chain oiled Rings, cogs, chain and derailleur not caked in grime	Red reflective tape on rear and white on front Front light and rear light or reflector (at night) Bell or horn

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