Many missionaries serve in biking areas, so we teamed up with the Provo Bike Collective to make a video tutorial on basic bicycle maintenance and repairs they may need in the field.
In the video, Austin from the Provo Bike Collective explains the ABC quick check every missionary should perform before leaving the apartment to help with bike safety.
Watch the video here or read the transcript below.
"The ABC quick check is a way to make sure that your bike is safe and reliable every time you ride it.
Before you ride your bike you want to make sure that its working. So we have this system so you remember what to look for when you are riding.
'A' stands for air- specifically air in the tire. So you want to give the tire a little squeeze with your hands. Does it feel like it has enough air in it? If it doesn't, you should pump it up.
'B' stands for brakes. If you spin your wheel do the brakes stop it? If it doesn't you need to adjust something."
Austin also explains that the brake should fully engage when the hand lever is squeezed halfway.
"If you have to squeeze her hand brakes all the way to the handlebar to stop it then you should adjust something.
'C' stands for chain. Look at your chain. Does it have rust? Does it have gunk? If it does you should probably clean it and lubricate it. You want to make sure that your chain spins the rear wheel easily and that it shifts. Again, if it doesn't do that you need to fix something on it.
The last part of the ABC Quick check is the work quick. A lot of bikes are equipped with what it called quick release skewers for the saddle and for both wheels. You want to make sure these are flipped into the closed position. Most bikes are equipped with quick release skewers to attach the wheels to the frame."
Austin explains that you should check that all the skewers are closed every time you get on your bike. If a skewer is left open, the wheel can move or fall off, causing an accident and possible injury.
Next Austin discusses how to fix a flat tire.
"If you run over a thorn or nail, air will start to leak out of your tire."
If you hear air leaking out of your tire you will want to stop immediately and fix the tire before continuing on.
"Let all the air out of your tire. Take your tire lever and pull your tire bead off of the rim. You will want to slide it to take the tire all the way off. Next pull the tube out and set it aside. You will want to take the tire off and with your fingers, feel the inside of the tire. Again, if you ran over a nail, thorn or glass it may still be in the tire. If you feel it, pull it out because if you don't take it out your tube will pop again."
Next, use the pump you are carrying to inflate the tube. Listen and look for the hole. Once you find it, Austin explains what to do next.
"Take the sandpaper and go ahead and rough up the area around the hole. From your patch kit, take the patch glue and spread it on an area larger than what the patch it going to be. You don't need a ton. Make sure that it dries completely before you put any patches on. Now, take your patch and peel it off from the foil backing. Take your tube and stick it [the patch] right where the hole was. Hold it down for about 30 seconds. Once you've done that take your thumb nail and push the patch down along the edges. This will make sure that no air escapes the patch. If you don't see or hear any air coming out then you've done a great job. From here all you need to do is put it back in the tire and you are ready to go."
For more information on missionary bicycle readiness, watch our other videos with Austin from the Provo Bike Collective. You can buy a bike repair kit like the one used in this video directly from the Provo Bike Collective.
