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No matter how light and sophisticated your bike is, it needs to be well maintained at all times, and it needs some extra close attention before you venture into the mountains. But before that it pays to get into the habit of going through some basic safety checks before every ride.

Check your bike’s frame for cracks. Apply each brake in turn while pushing your bike forward. With the front brake on the front wheel should not turn. The same goes for the rear brake with the rear wheel. Check all brake cables and housings for signs of wear, and replace them if you see any. Check your tyres, replacing them if you find any excessive wear, cuts or bulges. Finally, shift through all the gears and make sure that they mesh properly and that the chain doesn’t jump around.

Elbows out, shoulders relaxed and breathe deeply © Luc Claessen

Do a more detailed check whenever you clean your bike, which is something you should do regularly anyway. You must also carry out a regular service on your bike. There are many good bike maintenance books available to help you, but most bike shops will look after your bike if you don’t want to do it yourself.

Before a ride check that your tyres are pumped up to the recommendations that are usually printed on the tyre. Make sure anything you have fastened onto the bike, like a drinking bottle, a bag or a tyre inflator is safe. And always have another shift through all your gears while riding on the flat somewhere before you start to climb. If you can’t get bottom gear the whole experience might be ruined.