There is a reason why one of my helmet stickers says, “Turn the gas on, Dummy!”
Yup, this actually happened to me back when I was just starting out. :-) I suppose this is a common enough mistake--trying and trying to start the bike... Swearing and cursing because you think something is mechanically wrong. Until finally, you see the petcock and say “OH!” and feel like a total idiot.
However, this tip is for much more than such simple ego-saving moves. Before you get on your bike, just give it a quick once-over (but take special care before long trips).
Are your tires OK? Make sure there is no oil, or some other foreign substance on them...
Be sure there are no obstructions to your wheel or chain. For instance, if it’s a windy day, a branch or some other object could have easily gotten lodged in your wheel spokes while you had her parked on the street...
Don’t wait to find out the hard way that there was something wrong after all.
