We all know that feeling! Going out for a ride is the best thing. But with all that fun of finishing a kick-ass ride, it’s sometimes easy to forget the few simple maintenance tasks that mean your next ride is as awesome as the last.

Since we can’t all have Bastien as our stay-at-home mechanic - apparently, he’s busy - we asked him to run down what we should do before and after every ride. Thanks B-Bro!

PRE-RIDE MAINTENANCE

Bastien says: “Better be safe than sorry.”

So, before you go have fun and hit the trails, it’s always worth checking your bike. Even, if you’ve done so after your last ride. Just to make sure.

• Give the whole bike a quick look-over. Make sure everything is where it should be, and nothing is bent.

• Make sure the wheel axles are done up correctly and that the brake lever, shifter, stem, and seatpost bolts are all tight.

• Check the tire pressure. A simple squeeze can indicate if the pressure is in the right ballpark, but a dedicated pressure gauge is the way to go for accuracy and consistency.

• Bounce-test your suspension. Coast down the road and compress the suspension a couple of times to make sure things are working as they should. While you’re at it, check that dropper post drops and extends properly.

• If you are using an e-bike, make sure that the battery is fully charged, no error messages appear on the screen, and the motor engages.

Now, go ride!

We’ll catch up later.

POST-RIDE MAINTENANCE

Tempting as it is to wheel your bike into the shed and then kick back with a cold beverage to enjoy that post-ride glow, please give your bike some love first.

• Depending on the weather, wipe or hose down your bike. Use a bike-specific cleaning agent and pay particular attention to the drivetrain. Also, don’t forget to lube your chain!

• Wipe down your suspension and dropper post, and make sure there’s no dirt on the outer seals.

• Bike fairies don’t exist. If something didn’t feel right during your ride, don’t store your bike away and expect it to be magically fixed the next time you take it out for a spin. Better have a look, while you still remember what felt wrong.

• Check the bike for any obvious problems: Wheels still true? Tires still inflated? Gears and brakes A-OK?

• You know what? Even the pros crash sometimes. If that happened to you, take the time to make sure nothing got bent. Are your bars in line with the front wheel? Brake levers where they should be? Saddle straight? Pride intact?

• Make sure every screw is tight, but don’t over-tighten them. A torque wrench is the pro way to ensure everything is as it should be.

• Did you use anything from your stash box? Replace it before you forget and get stranded on the trail.

• Got an e-bike or use SRAM AXS components? Charge the batteries! Otherwise, your next ride might be shorter than planned.

That’s it?

Yes. You can lock your bike away knowing that it’s ready to go again whenever you are. Now get that cold beverage from the fridge.