🚲 Day ride checklist for cyclists

The pre-ride check takes four minutes and prevents most of what ends a ride early. Everything after it exists for the problems you cannot check for.

36 items

1. The four-minute check
2. Tyre pressure, both
3. Brakes, front and rear
4. Quick releases or thru-axles tight
5. Chain lubricated and not dry
6. Nothing rubbing when you spin the wheels
7. Bolts on the saddle, bars and cleats
8. Tools and spares
9. Inner tubes×2
10. Tyre levers
11. Pump or CO2 with a spare cartridge
12. Multitool with the sizes your bike uses
13. Quick link for the chain
14. Patch kit
15. A note of your tyre size, so a shop can help
16. Food and drink
17. Bottles, filled×2
18. Something to eat every hour after the first
19. One real food item, not just gels
20. Electrolyte tablets in hot weather
21. Cash for a café that does not take cards
22. What you wear
23. Helmet
24. Gloves
25. Sunglasses, clear lenses if it may go dark
26. A packable rain jacket
27. Arm or leg warmers for the descent
28. Sun cream on your arms, neck and knees
29. Shoes and the cleats checked
30. Safety and getting home
31. Front and rear lights, chargedEven in daylight. Weather turns, and so do plans.
32. Phone charged, and a route downloaded
33. Bank card and some cash
34. ID with an emergency contact
35. Tell somebody the route and the expected time
36. A way home that is not the bike