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Bike Safety Check

50 or 65 miles is a long way to ride your bike. Having a bike that is in proper shape will help make the ride easier for you. In order to ensure a safe ride and fewer mechanical fixes along the way, we implement a mandatory bike safety check before you participate in the Ben to the Shore Bike Tour. Our bike safety check is a quick inspection and evaluation of the overall condition of your bike such as your tires, brake pads, cables and housing, chain and chain ring wear. Click here for checklist & certification form.

Certified Bike Shops

Bring your bike into one of our certified bike shops at least 2 weeks prior to the ride for a FREE bike safety check. Great discounts and offers are listed below. Please note, you are responsible for all costs associated with fixing your bike to make it safe to ride. 

If your bike passes inspection, they will provide you with a certificate that you will wrap around your bike like a wristband. This certificate will allow you to access our complimentary bike services along the route and will give your priority should any issues occur. 

If you do not have your certificate of inspection on your bike during the Bike Tour you risk potential charges from our bike shops on the route and being pushed to the back of the line while our bike professionals help those with the inspection certification.

Bike Shops in Philadelphia

Bells Bike Shop
1320 E. Passyunk Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19147
15% discount for riders who have their bikes certified at the shop

Bustleton Bikes
9261 Roosevelt Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19114
20% discount on accessories and 20% discount service

Cycles PHL
1426 W Susquehanna Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19121
10% discount on bike parts for riders 

Keswick Cycles University City
4040 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
 

Bike Shops in Montgomery County

Bike Sports
325 W. Main Street
Trappe, PA 19426

Indian Valley Bike Works
500 Main Street
Harleysville, PA 19438
10% discount on all parts and gear

Circle Cycle Bike Shop
2525 Huntingdon Pike
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
10% discount on any extra labor, parts, and accessories

Keswick Cycle Glenside
408 N. Easton Rd
Glenside, PA 19038

Riverbend Cycles
1 Station Avenue 
Conshohocken, PA 19428
10% discount on all parts and services

Bike Shops in Chester County

Keswick Cycle Paoli
1740 E. Lancaster Ave
Paoli, PA 19301

Bike Shops in Bucks County

Guys Bicycles
326 E. Street Road
Feasterville, PA 19053

Bike Shops in Delaware County

Cycle-Fit of Delaware County
320 Chester Road
Wallingford, PA 19086
10% discount on all parts and accessories (includes labor)

Bike Shops in South Jersey

Aistriu
931 S NJ-73
Marlton, NJ 08053

Earlton Bicycle Shop
1011 Marlton Pike W
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

Pro Pedals
682 S White Horse Pike
Hammonton, NJ 08037
20% discount

Wheelies Bicycle
176 NJ-70
Medford, NJ 08055

Don't live near one of our certified bike shops or prefer a shop not listed above?

If you don't live close to one of our certified bike shops or prefer taking your bike to a shop not listed, that's not a problem! You can bring your bike anywhere you'd like, however, you will not receive the free bike safety check that our certified bike shops provide and will have to pay the bike shop fees.

Please bring this form to the bike shop of your choice and ask them to simply sign the sheet stating that you received a bike safety check. Hand in the signed form when you pick up your bib and you will receive your bike inspection certification. 

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL LAST MINUTE. Please have your bike inspected at least two week before the ride.

Bike Inspection Checklist

Visual Inspection

  • Look at the chain and pedal to assess its cleanliness.
  • Look for frayed cable ends for all brake and derailleur cables. If frayed, trim end and replace end caps.
  • Look closely at the tire sidewalls and treads for bulges, splits, cracks and dry rot. Replace as needed.
  • Look for torn or damaged handlebar grips and saddles. Handlebar ends protruding beyond damaged handlebar grips can present a danger to yourself and other riders.
  • If you are in doubt about anything take it to a professional bicycle mechanic.

Air

  • Check all bike tires to make sure they are properly inflated before riding. Using a bike without fully inflated tires will quickly damage the metal rims and the tire itself.
  • It is normal for inner tubes to lose air very slowly. Tires should be topped off periodically (as frequently as once a week). 
  • Using a bike pump is the preferred method to inflate your tires.   Air compressors or gas station pump can often times over inflate and cause the tubes to explode.  If they are your only option please use with caution.

Brakes

  • Make sure the front and back brakes are connected and working properly.
  • Squeeze the brake levers. You should be able to fit your thumb between the brake lever and the handlebars when the brakes are fully engaged.
  • While rolling the bike forward, squeeze the back brake lever. The rear wheel should skid.
  • While rolling the bike forward, squeeze the front brake lever. The front wheel should stop and the rear wheel should lift off the ground.
  • Lift the bike up (one wheel at a time) and spin each wheel to make sure that the brake pads are not rubbing against the rim, tire or spokes. If the brakes rub on the rim they may need adjustment OR the wheel may need to be trued. 
  • Be sure that the brake pads are aligned correctly with the rim—this is easy to inspect visually.
  • If any of these tests are a problem, you will want to have a bike professional look at the brakes before riding.

Chain & Crank

  • Grasp onto one of the crank arms while holding the frame and check for side-to-side play. Do the same thing with the other crank arm.

  • Lightly lubricate the chain.

Quick Releases

  • Make sure that all the quick releases are secure. These may be on both wheel axles and the seat post clamp. They are a nut and bolt that are secured by closing the quick release’s camming mechanism (the handle).
  • They should close so that the pressure of closing the handle briefly leaves a white imprint on your palm. Adjust the tension by twisting the nut while the camming mechanism is open—do NOT try to adjust while the quick release is in the closed position.
  • Be sure that the quick release is closed all the way and is not contacting the frame or fork (which may prevent it from closing all the way into the locked position.

Final Check

  • Give the bike one final look over to make sure it is all set for your ride.
  • Lift the bike about 4” and drop it, listening for unexpected rattles or noise.
  • Take it for a quick ride around shifting through the gears and using the brakes to make sure they operate correctly.