Operation Manual
Your bicycle is fitted with quick-releases to ensure fast adjustments, assem-
bly and disassembly. Be sure to check whether all quick-releases are tight
before you set off on your bicycle. Quick-releases should be handled with
great care, as they directly affect your safety.
Practise the use of quick-releases to avoid any accidents.
Quick-release mechanisms essentially consist of two operative elements:
1. The hand lever on one side of the hub which creates a clamping force via
a cam when you close it .
2. The tightening nut on the other side of the hub with which the initial ten-
sion on the threaded rod is set.
Make sure the levers of both quick-releases at the front and
rear wheel are always on the side opposite to the chain. This
will help you to avoid mounting the front wheel the wrong way
round. By contrast, with disc brakes the front quick-release is
usually mounted with its lever to the right.
Never ride a bicycle without having first checked whether the
wheels are securely fastened! A wheel that comes loose whilst
riding will throw you off your bicycle!
If your bicycle is equipped with quick-releases, be sure to lock
the frame to an immovable object together with the wheels
when you leave it outside.
Open the quick-release. The marking “Open“ on the lever should become
visible now .
Do not touch the rotor directly after stopping – you may burn
your fingers! Always let the rotor cool down before opening the
quick-releases!
Move the lever back, as if to close it. Now you should be able to read ”Close“
on the outside of the lever. When you start closing the lever you should feel
virtually no resistance with your hand until the lever is at right angle to the
frame/fork.
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1. Check whether the wheels are still firmly fixed in the drop-outs and
whether the rims are still centred with respect to the frame or fork. Spin
the wheels. If the width of the gap changes markedly and you cannot
true the rim where you are, you will need to open the rim brakes a little
so that the rim can run between the brake pads without touching them.
Caution: This will reduce the braking performance. For more information
see chapters and .
2. Check that handlebars and stem are neither bent nor broken and that
they are level and upright. Make sure the stem is firmly fixed on the fork
by taking the front wheel between your knees and by trying to twist the
handlebars relative to the front wheel . Briefly lean on the brake levers to
make sure the handlebars are firmly fixed in the stem. For more information
see chapters and .
3. Check whether the chain still runs on the chainrings and sprockets .
If your bicycle fell over on the chain side, verify the proper functioning of
the gears. Ask somebody to lift the bicycle by the saddle and gently shift
through all the gears. Pay particular attention when shifting to the small
gears, making sure the rear derailleur does not get too close to the spokes
as the chain climbs onto the larger sprockets . If the rear derailleur or
the drop-outs are bent, this can cause the rear derailleur to collide with the
spokes and result in an ! This in turn can destroy the rear derail-
leur, the rear wheel or the frame.
Check the front derailleur, as a damaged gear changer can throw off the
chain, thus interrupting the power train of the bicycle (see chapter
).
4. Make sure the saddle is not twisted using the top tube or the bottom
bracket shell as a reference .
5. Lift your bicycle up a few centimetres and let it bounce onto the ground. If
this causes any sort of noise, search for loosened bolts or components.
6. Finally, take a good look at the whole bicycle to detect any deformations,
discolourations or cracks.
Only if your bicycle passed these checks without any problems should you
ride back very carefully, taking the shortest possible route. Do not brake
hard or accelerate and do not ride your bicycle out of the saddle. If you are
in doubt about the performance of your bicycle, have yourself picked up by
car, instead of taking any risk. Back home you need to check your bicycle
thoroughly. If you are in doubt or if you have any questions, please contact
your bicycle dealer!
Bent parts made of aluminium must not be repaired, i.e.
straightened, as the risk of breakage would still remain. This
applies in particular to forks, handlebars, stems, cranksets and
pedals. Be sure to replace them as a precaution.
For more information regarding carbon parts see chapter
.
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