← Back to course
Bike Shop 3-5 / Week 11 / Tuesday
2/6
Week 11 · The Quick Check

Tuesday

A is for Air
// A, B, C before every ride
⏱ about 15 min

Tuesday: A Is for Air

Rocket presses his front tire with his thumb. "Squishy! Is that bad?"

Raven presses the back tire. "This one feels firmer. What do you notice?"

Nova hovers over the tire's side. "Squeezing gives a clue," she says. "Where could you find the real answer?"

Rocket spots tiny numbers on the side of the tire. "Here!"

Air: the A check

The right air pressure is printed on the sidewall, the side of the tire.

A grown-up uses a pressure gauge to check the air.

If the air is low, a grown-up pumps it up.

The A check also looks at the tire itself.

Look at the tread and the sidewall for damage.

A damaged tire needs to be replaced. A grown-up handles that.

  • Press: does the tire feel soft or firm? That is a clue.
  • Look: find the pressure numbers on the sidewall.
  • Look: check the tread and sidewall for damage.
  • Grown-up: checks with a gauge and pumps if needed.
AIR CHECK QUESTIONS
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Where is the right air pressure printed?
Who uses the pressure gauge?
A tire feels soft when you press it. What is that?
TireFeels when pressed (made-up practice data)Damage seen (made-up practice data)
Tire 1firmnone
Tire 2softnone
Tire 3firma cut in the sidewall
READ THE PRACTICE TABLE
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
These are made-up practice numbers. Which tire passes the A check?
What should a grown-up do for Tire 2?
Why does Tire 3 fail even though it feels firm?
Try it
With a grown-up, look at a bike tire's sidewall.
No bike? Use a tire picture from earlier in the course.
Or look at a family member's bike with their OK.
Find the pressure numbers. Copy them exactly.
Press the tire. Write soft or firm.
Safety first
The bike stays standing still. A grown-up holds it.
Hands stay away from the spokes and chain.
A grown-up uses the gauge and pump.
What I checkedWhat I found
Pressure numbers on the sidewall
Front tire: soft or firm?
Back tire: soft or firm?
Any damage on tread or sidewall?
What is the side of a tire called? Type one word.
WHY THIS EXERCISEThe sidewall shows the right air pressure.

Air checked! Tomorrow we test B: Brakes.

← Monday