pre-ride inspection

At this week's ride, a Diva in my group was having issues with her bike's shifting. Upshift, downshift. Both would hesitate. I am not great at fixing shifting and so she rode with care for the rest of the ride. After the ride she messaged me to say that her rear thru-axle had been loose. Problem solved! I felt sheepish.Just a couple weeks ago I was biking Lost Lake Trail. My shifting was not precise and my rear wheel felt like it was a bit off, like the back of the bike was wagging. I stopped and was looking at my pivot bolts when I reached down and checked the rear thru-axle. It was loose! I gave it about two turns (!) and leaned into it for the final tighten. The bike rode so much better for the rest of the trip and I felt much more confident once I trusted my bike's shifting and handling.Use this lever to tighten your thru-axle by turning it clockwise. It's on the left side of the bike. If you're not sure it's tight enough, have another Diva take a look.I shouldn't be surprised about either of these loose thru-axle incidents - another Diva had told me she'd had the same experience during a ride in June. So, what's happening here!?If the thru-axle isn't tight enough, the vibration of the bike can work it loose. Knowing WHY it wasn't tight enough in the first place is the big question. Maybe you changed out a tire and didn't put the wheel in tight enough; maybe the handle of the axle caught on something that pushed it loose (such as in transport or a crash); or maybe the hub needs servicing.Either way, it's time to add the thru-axle to your pre-ride checklist - along with tire pressure, chain lube, and a brake check.Happy riding!Moose family on Toilet Bowl.posted by rose