Scout’s Charity ride

Shaun safety checking bikes ahead of the 79th Bushey and Oxhey Scouts’ charity cycle.

We were so pleased last weekend to support our local 79th Bushey and Oxhey Scouts troup in their October Charity ride!

We arrived bright and early on a beautiful autumn Sunday morning to safety check bikes before they set off, and it was so lovely to feel the energy and spirit of the group as they headed off! Different ages and abilities, raising money through sponsorship on their ride through Watford!

As usual, when we do these activities, we notice a few key things that might be worth you knowing for your own bike:

Most kids are on bikes that are too small for them

That’s not a criticism - kids grow! But if your child is a big cycling fan, it’s worth sizing up whenever you do buy them their next bike (we can help with that!) or it might be worth considering a children’s bike subscription like Bike Club so you can just trade in their bike when they get too big and get an appropriate one at the next size.

Check out our bike sizing guide.

Tyre pressure matters

It’s an obvious one, but you’d be surprised how much having flat or under-pumped tyres can make a huge difference to the riding experience and your child’s safety. Riding on property pumped up tyres ensures a more comfortable ride, better grip on varying surfaces, an ability to keep up speed wise, and reduces the chance of a puncture.

Pumping up your tyres (or at the very least checking them) is key - your tyres will tell you what the ideal PSI (pound force per square pressure) is on them, just look on the sides and match the number when using your pump. Try not to overpump - tyre pressure is recommended based on the size and type of tyre, which is set properly for your bike!

Watch our video on how to pump your tyres.

If your tyre keeps losing pressure you likely have a puncture. These can be fixed with a quick puncture repair kit, or you might want to get a new tyre, depending on how worn down the tread is. You may also want to consider tubeless tyres as an alternative, which cost more to set up but are lower on faff!

A quick check can make a world of difference

We’re always happy to do a quick check of your little one’s bike - give us a call or pop in.