Card 1 — The Goal
🔩 The Monthly Bolt Check: Once a month, snug every visible bolt with a multi-tool — stem, seatpost, rack first. Loose hardware is the quiet cause of scary wobbles and unsafe steering.
Keep It Rolling: 5 Bike Maintenance Checks That Prevent Big Bills
Card 2 — Step 1
🛑 The Brake Pad Line: When the wear line on the pad disappears, swap them — $8-12 and five minutes. Riding past the line grinds the rim or rotor, turning a $10 fix into a $100 one.
Card 3 — Step 2
⛓️ The Chain Stretch Test: A cheap chain-checker tool tells you when wear hits 0.75% — replace at that mark, check every ~300 miles. A worn chain quietly chews through a cassette worth 5x more.
Card 4 — Step 3
🚦 The Intersection Slow Roll: Half speed at every intersection, hands covering the brakes, eye contact with drivers before you cross. Most bike collisions happen exactly here — this ritual is your armor.
Card 5 — The Cheat Sheet
⚡ The E-Bike Motor Wipe: Damp cloth on the motor casing weekly, never a direct spray. Dirt buildup traps heat, and heat is what ages an e-bike motor before its time.