Check your vehicle before you get going!

Checking your rental bicycle before you get going is crucial. For your and everybody else’s safety, you need to make sure the vehicle is well-equipped and working properly. Below you have a list of things to check the first time you meet your two-wheeled sidekick.

1. TIRES & WHEELS

Do a quick check of your tires’ pressure by mounting and trying to push as much of your weight as possible on the vehicle In this way you’ll see how much the tire bulges out sideways under your weight. You can also roll your vehicle slowly over a curb and see how much it deforms. If you have a completely flat tire, call the Donkey Republic support line and we’ll assign you a new vehicle (details in the Donkey app). Don’t forget to also check that the wheels are securely fastened and don’t wobble.

2. BRAKES

As obvious as it sounds, your vehicle must have at least one functioning brake (in some countries it’s mandatory to have two!). To check if a brake works, press on the brake lever to make sure it’s not too soft while also looking at the brake pads to check if they press on the tire properly. You may also have a back pedal brake, which you can easily test by pulling back the pedal and trying to push the vehicle.

3. SADDLE

Mount the vehicle to check if the saddle is positioned at the right height for you to pedal comfortably and be able to easily reach the ground with your foot. Adjust the saddle if needed and make sure it stays fastened.

4. CHAIN

Make sure the chain is positioned correctly on the crankset (front) and the cogset (back), and it’s not too loose or rusty. You can also lift the back wheel and push the pedal with your hand to make sure the chain stays on the crank.

5. REFLECTORS

Your vehicle must have reflectors, generally on the frame (white reflector in the front, red one in the back), between the spokes or as a stripe on the inside of the tire, and on the pedals.

6. LIGHTS 

Make sure you have lights mounted on your vehicle (white one in the front, red one in the back). Between sunset and sunrise you must use them – they either light up automatically or you have to switch them on.

EXTRA STEP

Lift the vehicle and bounce it on the ground a few times to pick up on rattles that may indicate loose parts. Take a general look to see if there’s anything else that doesn’t seem right.

If anything is broken, missing or it doesn’t work, just switch your rental to another vehicle available in the Donkey Republic app. For any questions, you can call the Donkey Republic support line (phone numbers available in the app).