You do not need tools or experience to spot most problems before a ride. Run through this list in the hallway before you set off.
- Air: squeeze each tyre. If you can press it in easily with your thumb, pump it up to the pressure printed on the side of the tyre.
- Brakes: pull each lever. It should stop well before it touches the handlebar, and the bike should not roll when you push it forward.
- Chain: look at it. It should be clean and lightly oiled, not orange or caked in dirt.
- Quick releases and thru-axles: check that both wheels are closed firmly.
- Bounce: lift the bike a few centimetres and drop it. Listen for rattles from loose parts.
If something does not feel right, leave the bike for a ride and bring it in. A loose part or a soft brake is easier to fix in the workshop than at the side of the road.