MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- No matter what kind of bike you have, they all need the same thing: check-ups.

Milton Jacobs, a certified safety expert, said a bicycle seat that moves up and down and side to side can be dangerous. Kids can be rough on their bikes, and he said parents shouldn't wait until spring, saying winter is a good time to get a tune-up.

Jacobs said a poor tire tread can lead to a blowout. He also demonstrated how helmets can really protect a child, but they aren't much good if they aren't put on right.

"Once you get the strap in with the bike helmet, once you push on the helmet, it should not be able to move backwards," he said.

Parents should check how their children wear their helmets. If they can move their head around, there's a problem.

"The beauty of the helmet is the helmet helps to absorb that and relieve some of that shock," Jacobs said.

It's also a good idea for adults to think about their bikes because the problems are often the same.

"They park their bike in the fall and say, 'I'm all set.' They rode it all summer long and now they go to hop on it, and well, after summer riding, things can wear out or get bent," said Bill McHenry from Pedal Power in Middletown.

McHenry said bike riders should always ensure the tires are full of air.

"If you grab brakes or if a bike has gears on it and you're shifting, you should notice that things are moving freely," he said.

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