Safety briefing - bicycle rentals

Cycling can be challenging and definitely on new trails we recommend you to take it easy on our rental bikes.

Before your rental your bikes have been checked by our mechanics. However during transport or during your rental something may come loose or a tyre may deflate due to a puncture.

Before you ride:

Perform a safety inspection of your bicycle:

Check tyre pressure. Pump them up if they feel soft.
Check the wheels. Ensure the axles are done up tight. There should be no sideways play in the wheels. VIDEO TO BE ADDED
Check the handlebars. Hold the front wheel between your legs and apply pressure left/right. The bars should not move. VIDEO TO BE ADDED
Check the brakes:

Roll the bike next to you and apply the left lever only (the rear wheel should lock up.)
Roll the bike next to you and apply the right lever only (the front wheel should lock up.)

During your ride:

Get to know and be aware of your bicycle. Know how it feels so you'll know if it suddenly changes.

If a sound changes that's an indicator something may be wrong with the gears or wheels. Stop immediately and inspect your bicycle.

Sometimes a stick or rock may have come into the spokes or gears. Remove this and check if the bike sounds normal again.

If the bicycle suddenly feels sluggish you may have punctured a tube.

If there is a small round Bikeline sticker on the rim of your bicycle then it has been equipped with sealant in the tyres or tubes. Pump the tyre first ride it for a bit see if the sealant has done it's job and you should not have to change the tube.
If the tyre won't inflate at all or looses too much pressure you will have to change the tube. How to repair a tube. VIDEO TO BE ADDED

Ride to your capabilities:

Only some sections will be smooth tarmac or concrete.
Most sections will be compacted gravel but you will regularly encounter loose gravel on the sides or in the middle of the trail.
Always keep your eyes open for obstacles such as but not limited to: Bollards, sticks, potholes, ruts, washouts etc. so that you can steer clear of them.
Always keep your eyes open for wildlife:

Wallabies (as cute as they are) they may suddenly jump in front of you, causing you to fall off
Snakes - may be laying across the trail sunbathing

As per the BVRT code of conduct, always give way to horses and pedestrians
The BVRT crosses many public roads. Always give way to traffic on any roads that you cross. Some roads are 100 KM/H zones!

Creek crossings:

The BVRT has several creek crossings. The trail here is often steep down and then steep back up again. Several of these crossings are marked as 'Advanced' with a black diamond sign. If in doubt, dismount and walk your bicycle across.

Expect a small amount of water to be in creek crossings (some may be dry). However if it has recently rained there may be more water in them.

A small puddle (2-3 cm) of (standing) water won't damage the bicycles.

If you can't see the (often concrete) bottom through the water don't ride through it and consider it flooded. If you can't see the concrete you may get off the path and tumble into deeper waters.

DO NOT cycle our e-bikes through flooded creeks! You will drown the electric motor and replacement is a >$2500 repair bill charged to you.

The crossing that flood the most often have diversion routes signposted.

Cattle grates

You will find many cattle grates along the BVRT. Most of them will also have a gate next to them. If you feel unsure how to ride accross the cattle grate. Use the gate next to it. When you choose to ride across the cattle grates keep a decent pace and ride through the middle of them. Keep the handlebars straight and just roll across. Some cattle grates have a small bump up and down (like in the video).

Here's a quick video on how to comfortably ride the grates.

Cattle grate - DO NOT walk across them your feet may get stuck and you can injure yourself!

Trail damages

While the BVRT trails are generally very well maintained recent weather events may have caused the trail to have damaged. There may or there may not be a marking bollard near such damages. See image below for an example. Go easy, slow down and dismount if needed to navigate such damages. (The damages in this picture were already repaired a few weeks after it was taken thanks to an amazing BVRT maintenance team.)

Bicycle issues

If in doubt: Call either of our stores on the numbers you can find at the bottom of this page. The team may be able to talk you through any bicycle troubleshooting you may need to perform.

Bikeline Toowoomba open 7 days a week.
Bikeline Ipswich open 6 days a week.