It’s been a long time since the final round of 2019, so wether you have braved the elements over the winter or left your trusty steed in the garage whilst hitting the turbo trainer, your bike and gear are going to need a check over. Here’s a guide on what you should do to prepare for the upcoming season, and yes, it’s only a few weeks away now!

Bike:
If you’ve not had it serviced for a while then there will be things that need checking to make sure it’s in good condition ready for your first race.

You’ve made sure your body’s in the best possible shape, dont let your bike let you down.

⦁ Drive Chain – Are your cables running smoothly, do you need to replace them to index your gears correctly? Are your chain/cassette/ring’s worn out?

⦁ Bearings – Check for any roughness and/or play in your head set, bottom bracket and hubs. If you’re riding a full suspension bike then drop your shock out and cycle the swingarm to check all the pivot bearings too.

⦁ Tyres – How old are they? Do they still have good edges to the tread? Are they littered with small cuts? Should they be replaced?

⦁ Tubeless Sealant – Sealant does go off over time and some brands even congeal in to a latex ball, unsuprisingly once sealant had dried up it doesnt seal punctures very well… When was the last time you cleaned out the old sealant and put some fresh in?

⦁ Suspension – Is your air pressure set correctly? Is there any excess oil around the seals or adjusters? Does you suspension need a service to bring it back to it’s best?

⦁ Brakes – Do you need new pads? When was the last time you checked? Do they feel spongy? This is a sign they could benefit from a brake bleed.

If your unsure about any of this then go and see your local bike shop, they’ll be happy to help.. Most shops have a couple of weeks booking schedule so don’t get caught out, get it booked in. If you work on your own bike, make sure you give yourself enough time to carry out the work and bed things in. You might need to make some small adjustments once new components have settled in.

Shoes:
When did you last fit new cleats? MTB shoes take a hammering, especially if you’ve used them for the Cyclocross season, so you may want to fit some new ones. The last thing you want is to have your body and your bike in tip top condition only to pull your foot out of your pedals at a critical moment because your cleats are worn out.

Helmet:
Your helmet needs to be in good condition to do its job, so if you’ve fallen off your bike or dropped it recently, then you should check it over. If you see any cracks or dents, no matter how small then you should replace it. If it’s in good condition then treat it to a clean. Use some warm soapy water to wash last season’s sweat out of the pads and give the exterior a wipe down, it’ll be much nicer to wear if it’s clean.

Look out for more Pre Season Tips from us here at Pine Sport. Vol.2 will be looking at race day preparation, what to expect and what to bring with you. Vol.3 will focus on how to use your practice time effectively and how to plan your race. 

Pine Sport Singletrack Clinic’s will run on Saturday afternoon’s at every SouthernXC in 2020, these are a great oppourtinity to get some skills coaching in a small group and on the course you will race on the following day. We’ve kept the price down at £15 for the 3 hour coaching session, or there’s a offer price of £50 for all 5 sessions! The Clinics are open to all riders aged 13 and older, and no matter your experience there’s something to be gained. We’re around all weekend so pop over to the Pine Sport gazebo for a chat about how we can help you develop as a rider.

Click here for more info about Pine Sport

See you all at Round 1,

Ric – Pine Sport