How do I properly check my child's bike to ensure its safety?
As the parent, each and every time your child rides their bike, all you need to do is a 30 second check. You go out and check the front tyre by simply squeezing it with your fingers to make sure it is properly inflated. Check the front tyre, check the back tyre. The second thing you want to do is spin the tyres and make sure that the tyres are straight. All you do is look down; you'll be able to see if they are not. Check the spokes to make sure that there are no loose spokes that could get caught. If you child has a light reflector in the bicycle, make sure it's securely in the spokes so it's not gonna wiggle and come loose. Then grab the seat with both hands. Wiggle it sideways, push down, pull up; make sure that seat is really secure. Check you handlebars. Stand in front of your child's bike, put the tyre between your legs and squeeze your knees. Push down with all your might on the handle bars. Wiggle them left and right, push down and pull up. The handle bars should not move. If you do all those things each and every time; the bicycle is in good shape. Listen to your bike. If it's making a funny noise then check it out. There may be something for which you need to take the bike in and have the bike mechanic do. If you can tighten a bolt here and there that's oftentimes not enough. If the bike seems like it's making a different noise than it did the day before, take it in and get a tune up.
