Merida City Bikes, Operating Instructions Manual

Page: 53 / 114

53
e
f
g
h
Chain – Care and wear
Regular and correct lubrication of your bike’s chain
makes for enjoyable riding and prolongs its service life. It
is not the quantity, but the distribution and regular appli-
cation of lubricant that counts. Clean the dirt and oil off
your chain with a slightly oily rag from time to time
(e) .
Special degreasers are not necessary; they even have a
damaging effect.
Having cleaned the chain as thoroughly as possible,
apply chain oil, wax or grease
to the chain links
(f)
. To
lubricate the chain, drip the lubricant onto the rollers of
the lower run of the chain while you turn the crank. Once
this is done, turn the cranks a few more times; then let
your MERIDA bike rest for a few minutes so that the lu-
bricant can disperse. Finally wipe off excess lubricant
with a rag so that it does not spatter around during riding
or can collect road dirt.
G
Make sure the braking surfaces of the rims,
the rotors and the brake pads remain clear of
lubricants, as the brakes will fail otherwise!
I
For the sake of the environment, only use
biodegradable lubricants. Bear in mind that
some of the lubricant can end up on the
ground, especially in wet conditions.
Chain maintenance
Although the chain is one of the wearing components
of your MERIDA bike, there are still ways for you to pro-
long its life. Make sure the chain is lubricated regularly,
especially after riding in the rain. Try to only use gears
which run the chain in the straightest line between the
sprockets and chainwheels and get in the habit of high
cadence pedaling.
The chains of bikes with derailleur gears are worn out af-
ter approx. 1,000 to 3,500 km or 50 to 125 hours of use.
Heavily stretched chains impair the operation of derail-
leur gears. Cycling with a worn-out chain also acceler-
ates the wear of the sprockets and chainwheels. Replac-
ing these components is relatively expensive compared
with the costs of a new chain. It is therefore advisable
to check the condition of the chain at regular intervals.
Your MERIDA dealer has accurate measuring instru-
ments
(g)
for checking the chain wear. Replacing the
chain should ideally be left to an expert, as this requires
special tools. In addition, you need to select a chain
matching your gear system.
G
An improperly riveted or heavily worn chain
can break and throw you off your bike.
I
When replacing your chain, only use appro-
priate and suitable original spare parts
(h)
.
Your MERIDA dealer will be pleased to help
you.