Important: Keep for Future Reference This manual shows how to ride your new bicycle safely. Even if you have ridden a bicycle for years, it is important for EACH person to read Chapter 1 before you ride this bicycle! Parents should speak about Chapter 1 to a child or person who might not understand this manual. This manual also shows you how to do basic maintenance. Some tasks should only be done by your dealer, and this manual identifies them.
Assembly of Your New Bicycle An Impact can Weaken your Bicycle Special tools and skills are necessary for the assembly and the first adjustment of your bicycle. Only your dealer should do this. If you crash or apply force that is higher than the limits of your bicycle, you are very likely to cause damage to the bicycle or its parts. If your bicycle has damage and you crash or load it again later, the previous impact can cause your bicycle to break at a much lower load.
Table of Contents Chapter 2: Maintenance A Word About Bicycles, Accidents, and Safety.....................................................................ii Bicycle Type and Use Condition . .......................... 1 Chapter 3: Adjustment Chapter 1: Guide to Safe On-and-Off Road Operation Before a First Ride...................................................... 3 Checklist: Check Before Each Ride.......................4 Rules to Ride Safely Know and Obey Local Bicycle Laws.....................
Bicycle Type and Use Condition There are many types of bicycles. Each bicycle type is made for a specified use, or Use Condition. If your use of a bicycle applies more stress than the limit of its use condition, this could cause breakage of the bicycle (or a part of the bicycle).
Condition 3 Condition 5 A bicycle made to ride on Conditions 1 and 2, plus rough trails, small obstacles, and smooth technical areas, and also areas where tires momentarily are not on the ground; NOT for jumps. A bicycle made to jump, ride at high speeds, ride aggressively on rougher surfaces, or complete jumps on flat surfaces. Any mountain bike that does not have rear suspension is Condition 3.
Chapter 1: Guide to Safe On-and-Off Road Operation If your bicycle does not operate as necessary, or if different parts are necessary for the safe operation of your bicycle, speak to your dealer. Before a First Ride The power of bicycle brakes changes with the Use Condition of the bicycle. If you think it is necessary for your bicycle to have more—or less—power to stop, speak to your dealer about brake adjustments or other brake options for your bicycle.
FIGURE 2: Toe-clip overlap Checklist: Check Before Each Ride This is not a full maintenance program. Examine the Frame and Fork Before and after each ride, examine all of your bicycle for signs of fatigue stress: • Dents • Cracks • Scratches • Deformation • Discoloration • Unusual noises If Your Frame or Fork has a Problem, Stop Your Bicycle Frame problems are not common, but as an example, some riders could get a “shimmy” or “harmonic oscillation” or “frame wobble” at some speeds.
Carbon Fiber Composite Carbon Fiber Test Pound for pound, carbon fiber is stronger that steel or aluminum. But it behaves differently when it is overloaded in an accident or impact. An overloaded metal part will bend or deform before it breaks, showing evidence of the load (Figure 3). An overloaded carbon fiber part will not bend or deform, so a damaged carbon part (with reduced strength due to the damage) may look normal—even after the same load that bent the metal part.
Examine the Wheels Make sure the wheels are straight. Turn the wheel and examine the rim when it goes through the brake-pads or the frame. The rim should not wobble up and down or from side to side. Make sure the wheels are attached correctly. Lift your bicycle and hit the top of the tire (Figure 4) with a solid blow. The wheel should not come off, be loose, or move from side to side. More tests are given in Chapter 3.
Disc Brake: a cable or hydraulic hose connects a hand lever to the brake. The lever causes the brake to apply pressure to a disc attached to the wheel hub. CAUTION: A disc brake and disc gets very hot during use and could burn skin. Also, the disc edges can be sharp and could cut skin. Do not touch the disc or disc brake when the disc turns or when it is hot. Pull the brake-lever to make sure the brake moves freely and stops your bicycle.
Examine the Suspension Adjust your suspension for your use, and make sure that no suspension component can “bottom-out,” or be fully compressed. Examine the Lights and Reflectors Make sure the lights operate correctly and that batteries are charged. If the lights use a dynamo, make sure the dynamo is mounted correctly and all attachment hardware is tight. Make sure all reflectors are clean and in their correct position. Some countries, areas.
If a car suddenly moves into your lane or someone opens the door of a parked car, you could be in a bad accident. Attach a horn or bell to your bicycle. Use it to tell other people that you are near. Wear a Helmet and Bicycle Clothing Wear a helmet that complies with CPSC or CE safety standards (Figure 10); it can prevent injury. Remove your helmet when you are not on your bicycle; if the helmet is caught, you could choke. Wear bicycle clothing, eye protection, and gloves.
descent, decrease your speed, move your weight low and to the rear, and use the rear brake more than the front. • Do not ride abusively. Ride in the Use Conditions specified for your bicycle type. • Do not ride too fast. Higher speeds cause higher risks. At higher speeds, it is more likely that wheels will slide, or that a small bump can cause an impact to your frame or fork. Higher speeds make larger forces if a crash occurs. Control your bicycle at all times.
We make bicycles so that the left brake-lever controls the front-wheel brake. To change your bicycle so that the right brake-lever controls the front-wheel brake, see Chapter 3. Many models of modern brakes are very powerful; they are made to stop a bicycle in wet or muddy conditions. If you think your brakes are too powerful, transport your bicycle to your dealer for adjustment or replacement of the brake system.
Safeguard Your Bicycle Prevent Theft of Your Bicycle Purchase and use a lock that resists bolt cutters and saws. Do not park your bicycle unless it is locked. Also, get a licence for your bicycle from your local police department. Write down your serial number Write the serial number of your bicycle in the front of this manual, and put the manual in a safe location. Then, complete our on-line registration; we will keep the serial number on file.
Chapter 2: Maintenance Clean Your Bicycle If your frame or a component is not clean, clean it with a soft, moist cloth and bicycle cleaner or a solution of dish soap and water. Do not use industrial solvents or harsh chemicals. They can cause damage to the paint or moving parts. Each three months, clean and polish the frame finish. Some finishes do not require polish. If you are not certain, consult your dealer.
Maintenance Schedule Each Ride Examine the frame and fork...................................4 Examine the wheels.................................................. 6 Examine the tire inflation........................................ 6 Examine the brakes................................................... 6 Examine the chain..................................................... 7 Examine the handlebar and stem......................... 7 Examine the saddle and seatpost.........................
Chapter 3: Adjustment This chapter gives instructions for adjustment of the parts of a bicycle. They are written for a person familiar with the basics of mechanics and with proper tools. Because your safety depends on the correct maintenance of your bicycle, we recommend you have your dealer service your bicycle. After a repair, examine your bicycle as shown in the “Before Each Ride” checklist in Chapter 1. WARNING: A bicycle that malfunctions could decrease your control and cause you to fall.
To align or adjust a quill-type stem To adjust the height of a direct-connect stem To adjust the height of the adjustable-rise stem in Figure 13, first change the stem angle (see the subsequent section), which gives access to the expander bolt. To adjust the height of the handlebar with a direct-connect stem, the headset bearing must be adjusted. Special tools and training are necessary for bearing adjustment, so only your dealer should do this. 1.
Saddle The saddle supports most of your weight on the bicycle. It also controls the extension of your legs and the fore-aft position of your body on the bicycle. With correct adjustment, your bicycle saddle will be comfortable—even for long rides. WARNING: A saddle that is adjusted incorrectly or does not correctly support your pelvic area can cause injury to your nerves or blood vessels. If your saddle causes pain or numbness, adjust the saddle position.
To adjust the height of the saddle 1. While someone holds the bicycle, sit on the saddle without shoes, with the crank arms parallel to the seat tube. 2. Decrease the tightness of the seatpost binder bolt or quick-release. 3. Put your heel on the bottom pedal. Extend the seatpost until your extended leg is straight (Figure 18). • When you wear shoes there should be a small bend in your knee in the correct position; with the ball of your foot on the pedal. 4.
If the crank feels or sounds loose, if the movement stops suddenly, or you hear a grinding noise that comes from the bearings, have your dealer service the bottom bracket. The adjustment of the bottom bracket makes special tools and training necessary. Only your dealer should adjust bearings. Pedals The pedals hold your feet so that you can rotate the crankarms. They are threaded into the crankarms.
FIGURE 20: Lever-clamp bolt, road lever 1. Lever-clamp bolt 2 1 FIGURE 22: Front derailleur 1. Cable 2. Limit-screws 3. Cable-clamp bolt 3 1 1 2 FIGURE 21: Lever-clamp bolt, mountain lever 1. Lever-clamp bolt 2. Reach-adjustment screw 3. Barrel-adjuster 4. Cable 3 4 Front Derailleur With bicycles that have more than one chainring, the front derailleur makes the gear changes. To adjust the small-chainring position 1. Move the chain to the smallest front chainring and the largest rear cog. 2.
Rear Derailleur On bicycles with more than one cog on the rear wheel, the rear derailleur makes the gear changes. To adjust the small-cog position 1. Move the chain to the smallest rear cog and the largest front chainring. 2. Decrease the tightness of the cable-clamp bolt (Figure 23) until the cable is free. 3. Move behind the bicycle to see that the smallest rear cog, the chain, and the two derailleur pulleys are in alignment. 4.
Internal Gear Systems Brakes These systems change gears with a mechanism that is in the rear hub. The brake system allows you to slow or stop your bicycle. This operation is critical to your safety. The brake system is not easy to adjust without the correct tools and training. It is strongly recommended that only your dealer adjust a brake. If more aid is necessary, speak to your dealer. To adjust a Nexus 4, 7, or 8-speed systems 1. Turn the shift-lever to the fourth-gear position. 2.
initial contact between the brake pads and the rim. As you squeeze the brake lever, you must move the lever to compress the spring before you can apply full braking power to the rim. This changes the way the brake feels, and also makes the adjustment somewhat more sensitive: if your brake with a modulator does not pass inspection, transport your bicycle to your dealer for adjustment. 2 1 3 4 5 6 7 FIGURE 28: Cantilever brake 1. Linkwire 2. Arm-clamp bolt 3. Center-adjust screw 4.
To put a direct-pull, cantilever, or road brake in the center 1. Turn the center-adjust screw (Figure 27, Figure 28, or Figure 29) in small increments. 2. If the brake has two center-adjust screws, adjust the overall spring tension while you put the brake in the center. To adjust the alignment of the brake-pads on a rim brake 1. Decrease the tightness of the brake-padclamp bolt. 2. Align the brake-pads as shown in Figure 30. Tighten the brake-pad-clamp bolts: • Caliper: 40-60 lb•in (4.5-6.
To align a hydraulic disc brake 1. Decrease the tightness of the brakeattachment bolts (Figure 31). 2. Fully pull the lever, and tighten the bolts to 100-110 lb•in (11.3-12.4 N•m). To align a cable-actuated disc brake There are three parts to this procedure: A. To adjust the clearance between the right brake-pad and the disc 1. Turn the fixed-pad adjuster (Figure 31). 2.
To adjust the position of a lever 1. Find the lever-clamp bolt (Figure 32, Figure 33, or Figure 34). 2. Decrease the tightness of the clamp bolt two to three turns. 3. Move the lever. 4. Tighten the lever-clamp bolt: • Road or mountain brake-lever: 53-69 lb•in (6.0-7.8 N•m). • Middle-bar lever (Figure 34): 20-30 lb•in (2.3-3.3 N•m). To adjust the reach to the brake-lever With some brake-levers, you can adjust the reach, the distance from the handlebar to the lever. 1.
Wheel Installation Bicycles use different types of wheel attachment devices. Carefully follow the instructions for the device(s) on your bicycle.
To remove a wheel with a traditional quick-release 1. Release the quick-release lever; move it to the OPEN position (Figure 36). 2. For the front wheel, decrease the tightness of the adjustment-nut; turn it three turns. 3. Move the wheel out of the fork or the frame. FIGURE 36: Quick-release lever positions 1- Released (OPEN) 2- Adjustment position 3- Locked (CLOSE) 1 2 FIGURE 40: Front lever position FIGURE 41: Rear lever position 3 FIGURE 37: Tighten nut 1.
To install a wheel with a Clix There is a difference between a traditional quick-release and a Clix quick-release (Figure 44). With a traditional quick-release, you should adjust the clamp-force each time you install the wheel. But with the Clix system you should not have to adjust when you install the wheel. Clix is an integrated system that is adjusted to only one fork—to the width of the dropouts (the parts of the fork that hold the wheel). 8 2 7 3 1 4 5 6 FIGURE 44: Parts of a Clix 1. Hub 2.
FIGURE 47: Correct lever movement FIGURE 48: Do not turn the lever OP EN OP EN N EN OP OPE FIGURE 49: Test for loose condition FIGURE 50: Make sure the lever does not turn To remove a wheel with a Clix 1. Release the Clix; move the quick-release lever to the OPEN position (Figure 45). 2. Push together the cup and lever (Figure 46), and push them in slightly to move the adjustment-nut out of the fork. 3. Move the wheel out of the fork. To adjust the clamp-force of a Clix 1. Loosen the Clix lock nut.
To install a wheel with a threaded axle and nut Tire Installation Some wheels are attached with nuts that are threaded on the axle. A toothed washer could be necessary between the nut and fork end.
FIGURE 52: Tire beads in bottom of rim well FIGURE 53: First tire bead and tube out of rim 7. Push the second bead into the rim with your hands. Start at the valve stem. • Be careful not to pinch the tube between the rim and the tire (Figure 55) when you mount the tire. 8. Push the base of the valve stem up into the tire so that it is not caught between a tire bead and the rim. 9. Inflate the tire to about half pressure and then check that the tire bead is properly seated in the rim (Figure 56). 10.
Suspension Accessories If you adjust your suspension, your bicycle will turn and stop differently. After you adjust the suspension, carefully examine your bicycle in a low traffic area until you know its performance. Your bicycle might have parts that have not been discussed in this chapter. These parts, such as fenders, lights, racks, chainguard, or kickstand, are accessories. Each month, examine the accessories to make sure they are correctly attached.
Training Wheels See other sections of this manual as needed. 1. Put the bicycle on a flat, smooth surface, with the tires correctly inflated. 2. Decrease the tightness of the rear-axle nuts. 3. Hold the bicycle up straight, and adjust the distance between the training wheels and the ground to approximately 1/4” (6 mm). Make the distance the same on the two sides of the bicycle. 4. Adjust the tension of the chain, and tighten the axle-nuts. Use the procedures in the Wheels section.
Chapter 4: Lubrication This section shows the parts that should have lubricant applied, the frequency of service, and brief instructions. See your dealer for recommended grease or oil. If more instructions are necessary, see other sections of this manual as necessary, or speak to your dealer. To service bearings, special tools and training are necessary, so only your dealer should do this. Some bearings are permanently sealed and do not have to have new grease each year.
Derailleurs Rear Suspension Each month, apply lubricant to all pivot points on the front and rear derailleurs, together with the derailleur pulleys on the rear derailleur. Do not apply lubricants to the shock or the pivots of your full-suspension bicycle. If the shock or pivots are making noise or not operating smoothly, take the bicycle to your dealer for service. Headset Each year, replace the grease in the headset bearings.
For more instructions If more instructions are necessary about your bicycle or the servicing of bicycles, there are many resources in your community. First, speak to your bicycle dealer. They have extensive experience with bicycles and rides in your community. They can answer your questions and help you in your search for areas in which to enjoy your new bicycle. Most dealers sell books about bicycles and repair manuals that are extensive. Second, visit your public library.
