The Veilig Verkeer Nederland (VVN) traffic exam has started again! This also includes the VVN bicycle check, with which you check whether your child's bicycle is completely in order. It is important to go through all these 15 points so that your child can safely go through traffic. But how do you go through the VVN bicycle check properly so that your bicycle gets the OK sticker? In this blog you can read all about it. If you have a BikeFlip bicycle, fill in a repair request and we will be happy to help you with going through these steps so that the bicycle is completely ready for the exam!
1. The steering wheel is securely fastened.
A sturdy and well-adjusted handlebar is essential for the safety and comfort of your child. The handlebar is the most important connection between your child and the bike, and you want it to be reliable at all times. Regular checks ensure that your child can cycle without worries and always has the right control over the handlebar.
Checking if there is any play in the handlebars of the bike is very important. If so, watch this video to make the handlebars firm again.
It is important that the handlebars are at the right height so that your child can cycle comfortably and safely. The perfect height varies per child and depends on personal preference and riding style. A good guideline is to first set the saddle height correctly and then adjust the handlebars accordingly.
Does your child indicate that the handlebars are too high or too low? Learn how to adjust the handlebars here !
2. The bell can be heard clearly.
A properly functioning bicycle bell is essential to let your child safely go through traffic. It is not only useful to warn other road users in dangerous situations or when overtaking, but also legally required in the Netherlands to have a bicycle bell on your bike.
Don't have a bell or is it not working properly? Don't worry, mounting a bicycle bell is very simple. All you need is a new bicycle bell and a screwdriver or Allen key (this depends on the type of bell you have) and then you can get started !
Bell 'ding-dong' Delft blue flowers - BikeFlip
3. The grips are securely attached to the handlebars and are intact.
Good grips are essential for a firm grip on the bike. In unexpected situations this is the point where you hold on, so it is important that the grips are not too slippery and sit firmly on the handlebars.
Is your child struggling with a loose handle? Use electrical tape to fix this. First, remove the handle completely from the handlebars and wrap a layer of tape around the handlebars. When you slide the handle back on, it will be more secure because the handlebars have become a little thicker.
Fortunately, replacing a handle is also very simple, there are 2 types of handles: screwable and rubber handles that you can replace in different ways. Watch this video and learn how to easily change the handles at home!
4. The brake works well.
The functioning of your brake is of course extremely important and during the bike check, extra attention is paid to bikes without a back-pedal brake. It is extra important for these bikes that both the front and rear brakes function properly. You can check whether the brake is working properly by looking at the brake pad. The brake pad is against the wheel and you can see a number of clear grooves on the side of the tire. Brake pads usually also have an indication line to see to what point it is still good and from when you need to replace it.
Are your brake pads worn out and do you want to replace them yourself? Follow the steps in this video and make sure your brakes work perfectly again!
5. The headlight works well
For good visibility in the dark, a yellow or white headlight on your child's bike is essential. Make sure the light shines straight ahead, but not too far up so that oncoming traffic is not blinded. There are different types of headlights, in this article you can read exactly how to repair the different types if they do not work.
6. The spokes in both wheels are tight and there are no missing spokes.
It is important that the wheel of the bicycle has all its spokes, because if this is not the case, you have a much greater chance of a dent in your wheel. By checking your spokes, you can prevent this. Is there something wrong with your spokes? Then watch this video on how to replace the spoke.
7. Presence of side reflection
To ensure that your child is clearly visible from every side, it is important to also have side reflection on the bike. Often this is already on the wheel itself, you will see a white or yellow edge on the wheel itself. If this is not the case, you can purchase spoke reflectors and attach them firmly to the spokes.
8. The tires are properly inflated and have sufficient tread.
With properly inflated tires, cycling is much easier, so always check if there is enough air in your tires. You can do this simply by squeezing the tire, if you squeeze it very easily then you need to pump the tire up a bit.
The tread of your tires is crucial for grip on the road. Worn tires with few or no grooves provide less stability, especially on wet or slippery surfaces. If you see that the tread is worn, it is time to replace the tire. Changing the front and rear tires is done in different ways, with the front tire usually being easier to replace. Don't worry! Follow this video for changing the front tire and this one for the rear tire .
9. The saddle is properly secured.
Check that the saddle is firmly attached by pulling it slightly, there should be no movement. A stable saddle is essential for the safety of your child in traffic. Is it loose? Then tighten the bolt at the seat post firmly.
10. The saddle is set to the correct height
A well-adjusted saddle is very important for comfortable cycling. If it is too high or too low, pedaling becomes unnecessarily heavy. You can easily determine the correct height: your child should be able to just touch the ground with both feet while sitting on the saddle. Not the case? Then follow these steps to easily adjust the saddle.
11. The pedals are sufficiently rough.
It is important to check whether the pedals of your child's bike still have enough grip so that they have a good grip. Pedals with poor grip can be dangerous, especially in bad weather because your foot can slip away from the pedal. Therefore, replace the pedals in time when they are worn. Do you want to know how? Then watch this video!
12. Both pedals have two yellow reflectors.
A way of reflecting on your child's bike are the yellow reflectors on the side of the pedal. Check if the pedals of your child's bike have these so that they are clearly visible! If not, replace the tappers with a variant that does have reflectors.
13. The chain is properly adjusted
For smooth and safe cycling, the chain must be properly adjusted. If the chain is too loose, you will often hear it tapping against the chain guard, but you can also test it. Try to pull the chain off the sprocket: if it barely comes loose and immediately falls back into the correct position, the tension is correct. If you can pull it loose a bit and it does not fall back properly, simply tighten it using this video.
14. There is a red reflector on the back of the bicycle or integrated into the rear light.
Reflectors are essential for good visibility. Therefore, check if your child's bike has them. Many rear lights have a built-in reflector, but if not, you can easily mount a red reflector on the back.
15. The rear light works well, shines backwards and gives red light.
It is important that your child always has a properly working rear light with red light. Therefore, check regularly whether the light still works. Does it not work? Then you can easily replace the light with this video.
Finished!
Have you successfully checked off all the points? Then the bike is completely ready for the bike exam! To be even better prepared, your child can always take the VVN theoretical practice exams for extra practice. We at BikeFlip wish you lots of success and lots of riding fun with your bike that now rides perfectly!
