Operation Manual

Chapter 1: Guide to Safe On-and-Off Road Operation 6
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.
Your bicycle may use one or more systems to
attach the wheels to the frame: threaded axle
nuts, a lever-actuated quick-release mechanism
(Figure 5), or a thru-axle. For instructions about
adjustment and closure of the wheel attachment
devices on your bicycle, see Chapter 3.
WARNING: A wheel attachment
device that is not correctly adjusted
and closed can allow the wheel to be
loose or come off, decrease your
control, and cause you to fall. Make
sure the wheels are correctly attached
before you ride your bicycle.
Examine the tire inflation. Inflate the tires to
the air pressure recommended on the sidewall
of the tire.
Examine the Brakes
Use the inspection instructions for the type of
brakes on your bicycle:
WARNING: A brake system that has
damage or is not adjusted correctly
could decrease your control and cause
you to fall. Make a full inspection of
the brakes before each ride. If your
brakes do not operate correctly, do
not ride your bicycle. Adjust the
brakes or transport your bicycle to
your dealer for repair.
Hand-Rim Brake: a cable connects a hand lever
to the brake. The lever causes the brake-pads
to apply pressure to the rim.
Pull the brake-lever to make sure the brake
moves freely and stops your bicycle. If the brake-
lever can be pulled to the handlebar, the brake is
too loose. When the brakes are not applied, the
brake-pads should be 1 to 2 mm from the rim. If
the brake-pads are too near the rim, the brake is
too tight. The brake-pads should be in alignment
with the rim surface (Figure 6).
FIGURE 4:
Test for loose condition
FIGURE 5:
Wheel quick-release
1. Adjustment nut
2. Lever
1
2
FIGURE 6:
Brake pad alignment
1. Brake-pad in alignment
with rim surface
2. Pad and rim should be
parallel
3. Direction that the rim
turns
4. 0.5-1.0 mm toe-in
1
2
3
4