Getting Your Bike Race-Ready: The Complete Timeline & Pre-Event Checklist
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Getting Your Bike Race-Ready: The Complete Timeline & Pre-Event Checklist

ATHLO+ Team Sep 17, 2026 · 2 min read
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Getting Your Bike Race-Ready: The Complete Timeline & Pre-Event Checklist
Race prep
Get your bike
race-ready
Most race-day problems come from leaving the bike until the night before.
1 / 6
The countdown
The race-ready
timeline
4 weeks outBook a full service
2–3 weeksRide it at race pace
10 days outLast setup changes
A few daysTyres, bolts, charging
Day beforeABC check, pack your kit
At the service, ask for the chain to be measured.
2 / 6
Nothing new
10 days
Make your last changes 10 to 14 days out. New tyres, a different saddle or moved cleats are untested.
Last changeRace day
Then ride it
and leave it alone.
3 / 6
The day before
Run the
ABC check
Airsidewall pressure, check for cuts
Brakeslevers stop short of the bar
Chainclean and lightly lubed
Chargegears, power meter, lights
4 / 6
In your pockets
What to carry
on race day
Puncture repair
A spare tube or two, or a tubeless plug kit.
A multi-tool
With a chain tool and a spare quick link.
AirCO2 or a mini-pump
5 / 6
BikeCraft One on ATHLO+
Book the
pre-race service
The Full Service runs through six stages and more than 120 checkpoints.
Book a full service
6 / 6
Read the full article

The Short Version

  • Book your pre-race service about a month out, so there is time to fix anything it finds and ride the bike afterwards.
  • Nothing new on race day: no new tyres, saddle or position changes in the final days.
  • Run the ABC Quick Check the day before, charge everything, and pack your spares.

You have done the training, sorted your fuelling and tapered. The last thing you want between you and the finish is a mechanical you could have prevented.

Most race-day problems come from leaving the bike until the night before. Here is a simple timeline, what to check, and what to carry.

A road cyclist riding through the trees
Photo: SportPlus.sg / Isis Ang

The Race-Ready Timeline at a Glance

When What to do
About 4 weeks out Book a full service
2 to 3 weeks out Ride the serviced bike, including race-pace efforts
About 10 days out Last setup changes; after this, leave it alone
A few days out Check tyres closely, check bolts, charge electronics
The day before Clean and lube the chain, run the ABC Quick Check, pack your kit

Four Weeks Out: Book the Service

A month gives the workshop time to check the drivetrain and brakes, order any parts you need, and fit them without a rush. Ask for the chain to be measured: a worn chain is easy to replace now and a problem to discover on race morning.

Two to Three Weeks Out: Ride It

Take the serviced bike on at least a couple of proper rides, including efforts at race pace and some climbing. New brake pads need bedding in, and fresh cables can settle. You want to find any hesitation in the shifting while there is still time to fix it.

The Final Days: Nothing New

It is tempting to fit new tyres, try a different saddle or move your cleats in the last few days. Resist it. Anything new is untested: new tyres and brake pads may need riding in, and a position change can cause knee or back pain over a long distance. Make your last changes about 10 to 14 days out, ride them, then leave the bike alone.

Make your last change 10 days out. Then ride it and leave it alone.

The Day Before

  • Air: Inflate tyres to the pressure on the sidewall and look closely for cuts and embedded debris.
  • Brakes: Levers should stop short of the handlebar; pads clean and not worn.
  • Chain: Clean, lightly lubed and running freely.
  • Quick Releases and Bolts: Axles closed; bottle cages, computer mount and saddle clamp secure.
  • Charge Everything: Electronic gears, power meter, lights and bike computer.

What to Carry on Race Day

  • Puncture Repair: A spare tube or two, or a tubeless plug kit.
  • Inflation: CO2 cartridges and an inflator, or a mini-pump.
  • Tyre Levers.
  • A Multi-Tool: With the hex keys your bike needs, and a chain tool with a spare quick link.

Get Race-Ready with BikeCraft One on ATHLO+

BikeCraft One's Full Service ($290 for road bikes and hardtails, $350 for full-suspension and TT bikes) runs through six stages and more than 120 checkpoints, and is aimed at competitive riders and triathletes among others. For a lighter pre-race check, there is the General Service ($85). See all options on our bike servicing page.

Ready to build the habit? Read The 2-Minute Pre-Ride Bike Check next.

Sources

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