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The Test of Metal is well known for the toll that it can take on riders鈥� bodies but it can also be a rough day on your ride.
You can be the best rider out there but if your bike isn鈥檛 ready, you鈥檙e not walking home with the cash.
Dave Heisler from Corsa Cycles offered some tips to make sure your bike is in tip-top shape on race day:听
1) Thoroughly wash and听degrease bike.
2) Dry bike completely and lubricate all pivot points and chain.
3) Remove wheels and inspect hubs. If they are not spinning perfectly, bring them to the shop for service. Then take tires off rims, inspect rim tape and/or Stan鈥檚听solution-make sure all is perfect. Choose appropriate tire for race day.
4) Make sure bottom bracket is tight and spinning perfectly.
5) Make sure brakes are bled and not rubbing; gears are shifting properly.
6) Take Allen key set; start with four mm听and work up to eight mm and make sure every bolt on your bike is properly torqued.
7) Inspect shoes; clean cleat bolts and torque.
8) Inspect helmet, eyewear听and place with shoes in听a travel bag. Hang it on your bike.
9) Get H2O bottles nutrition-ready.听Put in cooler near bike.
10) Get kit ready. (shorts, jersey, socks, gloves). Hang on bike so you can鈥檛 forget it!
