WELCOME, AND CONGRATUALTIONS on your purchase of a new Giant bicycle; the fun of pedaling your new Giant bicycle is only moments away. Safety First. We strongly encourage you to read through the owner’s manual before you take your new Giant bicycle for a spin. By doing so you will have a greater understanding for the general operation of the various components found on your new bike. You will learn many of the components you once recognized as part of a bicycle have changed significantly.
CONTENTS GENERAL WARNING A special note to parents 1. First p. 4 p. 5 A. Bike fit B. Safety first C. Mechanical Safety Check D. First ride p. p. p. p. 6 6 7 8 A. The Basics B. Riding Safety C. Off Road Safety D. Wet Weather Riding E. Night Riding F. Extreme, stunt or competition riding G. Changing Components or Adding Accessories p. p. p. p. p. p. p. 9 10 11 12 12 13 14 A. Standover height B. Saddle position C. Handlebar height and angle D. Control Position Adjustments E. Brake reach p. p. p. p. p.
GENERAL WARNING: Like any sport, bicycling involves risk of injury and damage. By choosing to ride a bicycle, you assume the responsibility for that risk, so you need to know — and to practice — the rules of safe and responsible riding and of proper use and maintenance. Proper use and maintenance of your bicycle reduces risk of injury.
A special note for parents: As a parent or guardian, you are responsible for the activities and safety of your minor child, and that includes making sure that the bicycle is properly fitted to the child; that it is in good repair and safe operating condition; that you and your child have learned and understand the safe operation of the bicycle; and that you and your child have learned, understand and obey not only the applicable local motor vehicle, bicycle and traffic laws, but also the common sense rules of
1. First NOTE: We strongly urge you to read this Manual in its entirety before your first ride. At the very least, read and make sure that you understand each point in this section, and refer to the cited sections on any issue which you don’t completely understand. Please note that not all bicycles have all of the features described in this Manual. Ask your dealer to point out the features of your bicycle. A. Bike fit 1. Is your bike the right size? To check, see Section 3.A.
5. Do you have “toe overlap”? On smaller framed bicycles your toe or toeclip may be able to contact the front wheel when a pedal is all the way forward and the wheel is turned. Read Section 4.E. if you have toeclip overlap. 6. Does your bike have suspension? If so, check Section 4.F. Suspension can change the way a bicycle performs. Follow the suspension manufacturer’s instructions for use, adjustment and care. C. Mechanical Safety Check Routinely check the condition of your bicycle before every ride.
Quick Releases: Make sure the front wheel, rear wheel and seat post quick releases are properly adjusted and in the locked position. See Section 4.A and 4.B. Handlebar and saddle alignment: Make sure the saddle and handlebar stem are parallel to the bike’s center line and clamped tight enough so that you can’t twist them out of alignment. See Sections 3.B and 3.C. Handlebar ends: Make sure the handlebar grips are secure and in good condition. If not, have your dealer replace them.
2. Safety A. The Basics WARNING: Many states require specific safety devices. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the laws of the state where you ride and to comply with all applicable laws, including properly equipping yourself and your bike as the law requires. Observe all local bicycle laws and regulations.
B. Riding Safety 1. You are sharing the road or the path with others — motorists, pedestrians and other cyclists. Respect their rights. 2. Ride defensively. Always assume that others do not see you. 3. Look ahead, and be ready to avoid: • Vehicles slowing or turning, entering the road or your lane ahead of you, or coming up behind you. • Parked car doors opening. • Pedestrians stepping out. • Children or pets playing near the road.
14. Never ride your bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 15. If possible, avoid riding in bad weather, when visibility is obscured, at dawn, dusk or in the dark, or when extremely tired. Each of these conditions increases the risk of accident. C. Off Road Safety We recommend that children not ride on rough terrain unless they are accompanied by an adult. 1. The variable conditions and hazards of off-road riding require close attention and specific skills.
D. Wet Weather Riding WARNING: Wet weather impairs traction, braking and visibility, both for the bicyclist and for other vehicles sharing the road. The risk of an accident is dramatically increased in wet conditions. Under wet conditions, the stopping power of your brakes (as well as the brakes of other vehicles sharing the road) is dramatically reduced and your tires don’t grip nearly as well. This makes it harder to control speed and easier to lose control.
If you choose to ride under conditions of poor visibility, check and be sure you comply with all local laws about night riding, and take the following strongly recommended additional precautions: • Purchase and install battery or generator powered head and tail lights which meet all regulatory requirements and provide adequate visibility.
Ultimately, it is your responsibility to have proper equipment and to be familiar with course conditions. WARNING: Although many catalogs, advertisements and articles about bicycling depict riders engaged in extreme riding, this activity is extremely dangerous, increases your risk of injury or death, and increases the severity of any injury. Remember that the action depicted is being performed by professionals with many years of training and experience.
3. Fit NOTE: Correct fit is an essential element of bicycling safety, performance and comfort. Making the adjustments to your bicycle which result in correct fit for your body and riding conditions requires experience, skill and special tools. Always have your dealer make the adjustments on your bicycle; or, if you have the experience, skill and tools, have your dealer check your work before riding. WARNING: If your bicycle does not fit properly, you may lose control and fall.
If your leg is not completely straight, your saddle height needs to be adjusted. If your hips must rock for the heel to reach the pedal, the saddle is too high. If your leg is bent at the knee with your heel on the pedal, the saddle is too low. Once the saddle is at the correct height, make sure that the seatpost does not project from the frame beyond its “Minimum Insertion” or “Maximum Extension” mark (fig. 4).
If, in spite of carefully adjusting the saddle height, tilt and fore-and-aft position, your saddle is still uncomfortable, you may need a different saddle design. Saddles, like people, come in many different shapes, sizes and resilience. Your dealer can help you select a saddle which, when correctly adjusted for your body and riding style, will be comfortable.
WARNING: An insufficiently tightened stem binder bolt, handlebar binder bolt or bar end extension clamping bolt may compromise steering action, which could cause you to lose control and fall. Place the front wheel of the bicycle between your legs and attempt to twist the handlebar/stem assembly. If you can twist the stem in relation to the front wheel, turn the handlebars in relation to the stem, or turn the bar end extensions in relation to the handlebar, the bolts are insufficiently tightened. D.
4. Tech It’s important to your safety, performance and enjoyment to understand how things work on your bicycle. We urge you to ask your dealer how to do the things described in this section before you attempt them yourself, and that you have your dealer check your work before you ride the bike. If you have even the slightest doubt as to whether you understand something in this section of the Manual, talk to your dealer. A.
WARNING: The full force of the cam action is needed to clamp the wheel securely. Holding the nut with one hand and turning the lever like a wing nut with the other hand until everything is as tight as you can get it will not clamp the wheel safely in the dropouts. a. Adjusting the quick release mechanism The wheel hub is clamped in place by the force of the quick release cam pushing against one dropout and pulling the tension adjusting nut, by way of the skewer, against the other dropout.
2. Removing and Installing Quick Release Wheels a. Removing a Quick Release Front Wheel (1) If your bike has rim brakes, disengage the brake’s quick-release mechanism to open the clearance between the tire and the brake pads (See Section 4.C fig. 11 through 15). (2) Move the wheel’s quick-release lever from the locked or CLOSED position to the OPEN position (figs. 7a & b). (3) If your front fork does not have a secondary retention device go to step (5).
WARNING: Securely clamping the wheel takes considerable force. If you can fully close the quick release without wrapping your fingers around the fork blade for leverage, and the lever does not leave a clear imprint in the palm of your hand, the tension is insufficient. Open the lever; turn the tension adjusting nut clockwise a quarter turn; then try again. (5) If the lever cannot be pushed all the way to a position parallel to the fork blade, return the lever to the OPEN position.
(5) Tighten the quick-release adjusting nut until it is finger tight against the frame dropout; then swing the lever toward the front of the bike until it is parallel to the frame’s chainstay or seatstay and is curved toward the wheel (fig. 7a & fig. 8). To apply enough clamping force, you should have to wrap your fingers around a frame tube for leverage, and the lever should leave a clear imprint in the palm of your hand. WARNING: Securely clamping the wheel takes considerable force.
b. Installing a Bolt-On Front Wheel (1) With the steering fork facing forward, insert the wheel between the fork blades so that the axle seats firmly at the top of the slots which are at the tips of the fork blades. The axle nut washers should be on the outside, between the fork blade and the axle nut. If your bike has a clip-on type secondary retention device, engage it.
(3) Using the correct size wrench, tighten the axle nuts enough so that the wheel stays in place; then use a wrench on each nut simultaneously to tighten the nuts as tight as you can. (4) Push the rear derailleur back into position. (5) Re-engage the brake quick-release mechanism to restore correct brake padto-rim clearance; spin the wheel to make sure that it is centered in the frame and clears the brake pads; then squeeze the brake lever and make sure that the brakes are operating correctly. B.
WARNING: If you can fully close the quick release without wrapping your fingers around the seat post or a frame tube for leverage, and the lever does not leave a clear imprint in the palm of your hand, the tension is insufficient. Open the lever; turn the tension adjusting nut clockwise a quarter turn; then try again. C. Brakes WARNING: 1. Riding with improperly adjusted brakes or worn brake pads is dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. 2.
2. How brakes work The braking action of a bicycle is a function of the friction between the brake surfaces — usually the brake pads and the wheel rim. To make sure that you have maximum friction available, keep your wheel rims and brake pads clean and free of dirt, lubricants, waxes or polishes. Brakes are designed to control your speed, not just to stop the bike. Maximum braking force for each wheel occurs at the point just before the wheel “locks up” (stops rotating) and starts to skid.
Everything changes when you ride on loose surfaces or in wet weather. Tire adhesion is reduced, so the wheels have less cornering and braking traction and can lock up with less brake force. Moisture or dirt on the brake pads reduces their ability to grip. The way to maintain control on loose or wet surfaces is to go more slowly to begin with. D. Shifting gears Your multi-speed bicycle will have a derailleur drivetrain (see 2. below), an internal gear hub drivetrain (see 3.
CAUTION: Never move the shifter while pedaling backward, nor pedal backwards immediately after having moved the shifter. This could jam the chain and cause serious damage to the bicycle. b. Shifting the Rear Derailleur The rear derailleur is controlled by the right shifter. The function of the rear derailleur is to move the drive chain from one gear sprocket to another. The smaller sprockets on the gear cluster produce higher gear ratios.
2. How an internal gear hub drivetrain works If your bicycle has an internal gear hub drivetrain, the gear changing mechanism will consist of: • a 3, 5, 7 or possibly 12 speed internal gear hub • one, or sometimes two shifters • one or two control cables • one front sprocket called a chainring • a drive chain a. Shifting internal gear hub gears Shifting with an internal gear hub drivetrain is simply a matter of moving the shifter to the indicated position for the desired gear.
2. Some bicycles come equipped with pedals that have sharp and potentially dangerous surfaces. These surfaces are designed to add safety by increasing grip between the rider’s shoe and the pedal. If your bicycle has this type of high-performance pedal, you must take extra care to avoid serious injury from the pedals’ sharp surfaces. Based on your riding style or skill level, you may prefer a less aggressive pedal design, or chose to ride with shin pads.
Practice is required to learn to engage and disengage the foot safely. Until engaging and disengaging the foot becomes a reflex action, the technique requires concentration which can distract your attention and cause you to lose control and fall. Practice engaging and disengaging clipless pedals in a place where there are no obstacles, hazards or traffic; and be sure to follow the pedal manufacturer’s setup and service instructions.
G. Tires and Tubes 1. Tires Bicycle tires are available in many designs and specifications, ranging from general-purpose designs to tires designed to perform best under very specific weather or terrain conditions. If, once you’ve gained experience with your new bike, you feel that a different tire might better suit your riding needs, your dealer can help you select the most appropriate design.
Ask your dealer to recommend the best tire pressure for the kind of riding you will most often do, and have the dealer inflate your tires to that pressure. Then, check inflation as described in Section 1.C so you’ll know how correctly inflated tires should look and feel when you don’t have access to a gauge. Some tires may need to be brought up to pressure every week or two.
5. Service WARNING: Technological advances have made bicycles and bicycle components more complex, and the pace of innovation is increasing. It is impossible for this manual to provide all the information required to properly repair and/ or maintain your bicycle. In order to help minimize the chances of an accident and possible injury, it is critical that you have any repair or maintenance which is not specifically described in this manual performed by your dealer.
Mechanical Safety Check (Section 1.C) will help you identify some things that need readjustment. But even if everything seems fine to you, it’s best to take your bike back to the dealer for a checkup. Dealers typically suggest you bring the bike in for a 30 day checkup. Another way to judge when it’s time for the first checkup is to bring the bike in after three to five hours of hard off-road use, or about 10 to 15 hours of on-road or more casual off-road use.
WARNING: Like any mechanical device, a bicycle and its components are subject to wear and stress. Different materials and mechanisms wear or fatigue from stress at different rates and have different life cycles. If a component’s life cycle is exceeded, the component can suddenly and catastrophically fail, causing serious injury or death to the rider.
ABOUT YOUR DEALER Whether you’re new to cycling or an experienced pro, Giant’s extensive and knowledgeable network of Independent Bicycle Retailers ensures you’re never far from expert repair and service to help keep your Giant bike running smoothly. And when you need accessories, you can be sure your local Giant Authorized Dealer will have just what you’re looking for in the right size and for your type of riding.
WARRANTY INFORMATION IMPORTANT: Write down your Giant bicycle model and serial number for your records. Check with your Authorized Giant Dealer to determine the serial number location. Put your bill-of-sale in this manual for reference. This record will also help you with any police investigation or insurance claim.
GIANT BICYCLE LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY Giant Bicycle, Inc. (“Giant”) warrants the frame and rigid fork of each new Giant brand bicycle and Giant brand frameset to be free from defects in material and workmanship for as long as the original purchaser owns the bicycle. Paint finish and all other original components, and all Giant brand repair parts, replacement parts, and accessories, are warranted to be free from defects in material or workmanship for a period of one year from the original date of purchase.
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THAT OF THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES STATED ABOVE. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
What it’s called 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 frame top tube down tube seat tube chain stay seat stay head tube fork wheel tire tread sidewall valve stem tube rim spokes hub quick release bottom bracket crank 42 chainrings chain pedal freewheel/rear cluster/ cassette rear derailleur front derailleur shifter shifter cable headset stem handlebar seatpost saddle seat binder brake lever brake brake pad brake cable disc brake
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