Getting an old bike back on the road?
Your answers (0)
Your answers
Squeeze each brake lever in turn and push the bike forward.
Does each brake stop its wheel firmly, and let go when you release it?
Look at the sides of both tyres.
What do you see?
Don’t ride it
Perished tyres split. Replace it first.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
The rubber has probably perished with age, which is common on a bike that has stood for a long time.
The tube is often perished too.
- How sure we are
- One of a few causes
This fits what you’ve described, but so do other things. A Spoke will check before starting.
- What to ask for
Tyre change
It could also need: inner tube replacement.
Don’t ride it
Don’t ride on it, and if it’s bulging, let some air out now. If it needs replacing, you’ll need a new tyre of the same size, printed on its side (for example 700x32c or 26 x 2.0), and usually a new tube.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
A cut through to the fabric means the tyre needs replacing.
A bulge means it’s damaged inside, or isn’t sitting properly on the rim. Either can burst without warning.
- How sure we are
- One of a few causes
This fits what you’ve described, but so do other things. A Spoke will check before starting.
- What to ask for
Tyre change
It could also need: inner tube replacement.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
A bike that has stood for months usually needs its tyres pumped or replaced (rubber perishes), its chain cleaned and oiled or replaced, and its gears adjusted.
Get it fixed soon. Until then, ride only if it feels right, and stop if it gets worse. Pump the tyres and check the brakes before the first ride. A Spoke can look it over and tell you what to buy; spoked doesn’t do full services or safety checks yet.
- How sure we are
- Needs a look
We can’t tell from here. Someone needs to see the bike.
- What to ask for
Diagnosis: what’s wrong and what to order
It could also need: puncture repair (patch the existing tube), inner tube replacement, tyre change, chain clean & lube, chain replacement, gear adjustment (indexing).
Don’t ride it until the brakes are fixed.
Once they are, a Spoke can sort the tyres and chain.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
Brakes that have stood unused often seize or lose grip.
- How sure we are
- One of a few causes
This fits what you’ve described, but so do other things. A Spoke will check before starting.
- What it needs
The job: Brake adjustment
This is a high-risk job, so Spokes don’t offer it yet. Until they do, we recommend taking your bike to a bike shop.
It could also need: brake cable & outer replacement (not on spoked yet), rim brake pad replacement (not on spoked yet).
spoked is opening soon
Find a Spoke soon
What usually causes it
- A cut through to the fabric means the tyre needs replacing.
- The rubber has probably perished with age, which is common on a bike that has stood for a long time.
- Brakes that have stood unused often seize or lose grip.
- A bike that has stood for months usually needs its tyres pumped or replaced (rubber perishes), its chain cleaned and oiled or replaced, and its gears adjusted.
The checker gives general information from your answers. It isn’t an inspection and doesn’t tell you a bike is safe. Nothing here limits liability the law doesn’t let us limit, including for death or personal injury caused by negligence.