Gazelle bike, User Manual

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Maintenance of the frame
Proper maintenance prolongs the service life of your new Gazelle
bike. Therefore it is wise to regularly check it or have it checked and
keep it clean. It’s best to use a brush that is not too stiff. With that
you can clean off the worst of the dirt. Beware of scratches, though!
With a clean cloth, or better still a flannel cleaning cloth, you can
then remove the rest of the dirt.
If it is necessary to turn your bicycle upside down, make sure that all
handlebar-mounted controls don’t get damaged and remove loose
parts such as bags before you start cleaning the bike.
Paintwork
Every Gazelle bike has no less than four coats of paint. The outer
layer is formed by an environmentally friendly, ultra hard, clear
powder coating. It offers optimum protection against damage.
Although this coating has good resistance to chemicals, care should
be taken when cleaning the paintwork. For instance, do not use
alkalis such as ammonia or soda or products that contain fluorides,
chlorides or sulphates. These may damage the coating and therefore
result in reduced gloss.
Actually, the best way to keep the paintwork clean is by using a soft
cloth and clean, warm water. If need be you can add a mild liquid
soap or the Gazelle bike shampoo (fig. 46) to the water.
After you have cleaned your frame it is recommended to use some
Gazelle spray wax. It provides protection of the paintwork against
water, salt and UV light. In addition, it will give the paintwork a new
shine. Gazelle spray wax is also suitable for plastic, chrome, stainless
steel and aluminium parts and accessories (fig. 47).
Minor damage to the paintwork can best be touched up with a paint
pencil. If the damage is too extensive to do so, use a spray can. You
can purchase it at your Gazelle dealer.
Caution: if you have a bike with
rim or disc brakes, make sure
that no spray wax gets on the
braking disc or rims. It can
adversely affect the braking
efficiency!
Chromed parts
With regard to chromed parts, such as the handlebar, hubs,
cranks or seat post of some models, it is recommended that you
occasionally apply a thin layer of acid-free Vaseline on them (fig. 48).
This prevents these components from rusting.
Unpainted aluminium
To keep the unpainted aluminium parts of your bike such as the
handlebar or cranks, for instance, in good shape we recommend
the occasional application of a thin layer of acid-free Vaseline on
them. This provides protection against water, dirt and salt.
Stainless steel parts
Many parts of your bike, including most bolts and nuts, are made of
stainless steel. This is more resistant to the effects of weather than
chromed or galvanised parts, for instance. By occasionally applying
a thin layer of acid-free Vaseline on them you prevent them from
rusting in the long run. If rust spots appear anyway, you can easily
brush these away.
Cleaning the dress guard
To clean your dress guards, if desired, there is the option to
demount these. You can do so by unclicking both clips (fig. 49).
Technical maintenance
It is wise to have your Gazelle dealer regularly check your bike. We
recommend that you have your bike serviced, based on the service
card in the front of this booklet, about six to twelve weeks after you
start using it. After that, it is advisable to have your bike serviced
by your Gazelle dealer once a year. Then it is checked for proper
spoke tension and play in the hubs, bottom bracket or headset, for
instance. If you notice play during cycling it is best to immediately
go to your Gazelle dealer. If you continue cycling with defects for
too long, the problems can worsen and may eventually lead to
severe damage. By having your bike regularly adjusted and checked
you will avoid big repair bills.
In no instance use a high-pressure
cleaner! The jet of steam or water
can penetrate the bearings or
suspension system and blow out
essential grease and oil.
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