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70

 

Perspective

70

The lifespan of your bike and its components

Perspective

Let’s say you hit a curb, ditch, rock, car, 

another cyclist or other object. At any speed 
above a fast walk, your body will continue 
to move forward, momentum carrying you 
over the front of the bike. You cannot and 
will not stay on the bike, and what happens 
to the frame, fork and other components 
is irrelevant to what happens to your body. 

What should you expect from your metal 

frame? It depends on many complex factors, 
which is why we tell you that crashworthi-
ness cannot be a design criteria. With that 
important note, we can tell you that if the 
impact is hard enough the fork or frame 
may be bent or buckled. On a steel bike, 
the steel fork may be severely bent and the 
frame undamaged. Aluminum is less duc-
tile than steel, but you can expect the fork 
and frame to be bent or buckled. Hit harder 
and the top tube may be broken in tension 
and the down tube buckled. Hit harder and 
the top tube may be broken, the down tube 
buckled and broken, leaving the head tube 
and fork separated from the main triangle. 

When a metal bike crashes, you will usu-

ally see some evidence of this ductility in 
bent, buckled or folded metal. 

The basics of metal fatigue

Common sense tells us that nothing that 

is used lasts forever. The more you use 
something, and the harder you use it, and 
the worse the conditions you use it in, the 
shorter its life. 

Fatigue is the term used to describe 

accumulated damage to a part caused by 
repeated loading. To cause fatigue dam-
age, the load the part receives must be 
great enough. A crude, often-used exam-
ple is bending a paper clip back and forth 

(repeated loading) until it breaks. This sim-

ple defi nition will help you understand that 
fatigue has nothing to do with time or age. A 
bicycle in a garage does not fatigue. Fatigue 
happens only through use. 

So what kind of “damage” are we talking 

about? On a microscopic level, a crack 
forms in a highly stressed area. As the load 
is repeatedly applied, the crack grows. At 
some point the crack becomes visible to 
the naked eye. Eventually it becomes so 

large that the part is too weak to carry the 
load that it could carry without the crack. 

At that point there can be a complete and 

immediate failure of the part. 

One can design a part that is so strong 

that fatigue life is nearly infinite. This 
requires a lot of material and a lot of weight. 

Any structure that must be light and strong 

will have a fi nite fatigue life. Aircraft, race 
cars, and motorcycles all have parts with 

fi nite fatigue lives. If you wanted a bicycle 

with an infi nite fatigue life, it would weigh 
far more than any bicycle sold today. So 
we all make a tradeoff: the wonderful, light-
weight performance we want requires that 
we inspect the structure.

Summary of Contents for SPUCY CURRY

Page 1: ...SPICY CURRY CARGO BICYCLE OWNERS MANUAL...

Page 2: ...ay also be available Make sure that your dealer has given you all the manufactur ers literature that was included with your bicycle or accessories In case of a conflict between the instructions in thi...

Page 3: ...kes 6 Wheel retention system 6 Seatpost 6 Handlebar and saddle alignment 7 Handlebar ends and grips 7 First ride 7 Section 2 Safety 8 The basics 8 Riding safety 9 Off road safety 10 Off road respect 1...

Page 4: ...ont Wheel Secondary Retention Devices 25 Wheels with cam action systems 25 Removing and Installing wheels 26 Seatpost cam action clamp 29 Adjusting the seatpost cam action mechanism 30 Brakes 30 Brake...

Page 5: ...ing an electric bike 48 Safety 48 Legality 48 Range 49 Hills 49 Weather conditions 49 Riding an off road electric bicycle 50 Riding a high speed electric bicycle 50 Riding a center drive bike 50 Elect...

Page 6: ...and Downhill 66 Condition 5 66 Appx B The lifespan of your bike and its components 68 Nothing lasts forever including your bike 68 Perspective 68 Understanding metals 69 Understanding components 72 A...

Page 7: ...tially hazardous situation which if not avoided could result in serious injury or death The combination of the safety alert symbol and the word CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation whic...

Page 8: ...s a parent you should read this manual as well as review its warnings and the bicycle s functions and operating procedures with your child before letting your child ride the bicycle Make sure that you...

Page 9: ...3 EBCC Technical and Customer Service 1 800 377 4532 3 General Warning indd Last Modified March 24 2015 11 59 AM...

Page 10: ...e saddle and seatpost securely clamped A correctly tightened saddle will allow no saddle movement in any direction See Saddle position on page 19 Are the stem and handlebars at the right height for yo...

Page 11: ...variety of materials often differing by model and component the correct tighten ing force or torque cannot be generalized To make sure that the many fasteners on your bicycle are correctly tightened r...

Page 12: ...dicator marking is not visible at any point on the wheel rim Bicycle wheel rims are subject to wear Ask your dealer about wheel rim wear Some wheel rims have a rim wear indi cator which becomes visibl...

Page 13: ...way from cars other cyclists obstacles or other hazards Ride to become familiar with the controls features and per formance of your new bike Familiarize yourself with the braking action of the bike se...

Page 14: ...n appropriate helmet Failure to wear a helmet when riding may result in serious injury or death Be sure to read the Electric Bikes sec tion on page 42 for important safety information related to elect...

Page 15: ...oad or sidewalk con struction debris and other obstructions that could cause you to swerve into traffic catch your wheel or cause you to have an accident The many other hazards and distrac tions which...

Page 16: ...to know how to handle your bike safely before trying increased speed or more difficult terrain Wear safety gear appropriate to the kind of riding you plan to do Don t ride alone in remote areas Even...

Page 17: ...he 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 dra matically redu...

Page 18: ...e control and fall If you choose to ride under conditions of poor visibility check and be sure you com ply with all local laws about night riding and take the following strongly recommended additional...

Page 19: ...n a bicycle that is mounted on a vehicle may be damaged by water intrusion suffer an impact to the battery housing or even fall off the bike and become a projectile Extreme stunt or competition riding...

Page 20: ...ads and other safety gear Understand and recognize that the stresses imposed on your bike by this kind of activity may break or damage parts of the bicycle and void the warranty Take your bicycle to y...

Page 21: ...stand and comply with the drive system user manual Do not disassemble or attempt to service components unless explicitly allowed by the manufacturer Check the rechargeable battery If the rechargeable...

Page 22: ...f the front derailleur as a displaced front derailleur can throw off the chain thus suddenly interrupting the drive of the bike For more information see Shifting gears on page 33 Make sure the saddle...

Page 23: ...f aluminum can break without previous warning They may not be repaired i e straightened as the immi nent risk of breakage will remain This applies in particular to the fork the han dlebars the stem th...

Page 24: ...correct standover height straddle the bike while wearing the kind of shoes in which you ll be riding and bounce vigorously on your heels If your crotch touches the frame the bike is too big for you D...

Page 25: ...r leg is bent at the knee with your heel on the pedal the saddle is too low Ask your dealer to set the saddle for your optimal riding position and to show you how to make this adjustment If you choose...

Page 26: ...refer a horizontal saddle but some riders like the saddle nose angled up or down just a little Your dealer can adjust saddle angle or teach you how to do it If you choose to make your own saddle angle...

Page 27: ...elvic area correctly can cause short term or long term injury to nerves and blood vessels or even impotence If your saddle causes you pain numb ness or other discomfort listen to your body and stop ri...

Page 28: ...nd fatigue Either mis take can lead to a sudden failure of the bolt causing you to lose control and fall Your dealer can also change the angle of the handlebar or bar end extensions An insufficiently...

Page 29: ...reach The shorter the brake lever reach the more critical it is to have correctly adjusted brakes so that full braking power can be applied within available brake lever travel Brake lever travel insu...

Page 30: ...xle wheel mounting system If you have a mountain bike equipped with thru axle front or rear wheels make sure that your dealer has given you the manufacturer s instructions and follow those when instal...

Page 31: ...o reduce the risk of the wheel disengag ing from the fork if the wheel is incorrectly secured Secondary retention devices are not a substitute for correctly securing your front wheel Secondary retenti...

Page 32: ...check the adjustment every six months Do not use a cam and cup front wheel on any bicycle other than the one for which your dealer adjusted it Removing and Installing wheels If your bike is equipped w...

Page 33: ...p on type secondary retention device engage it 3 If you have a traditional cam action mechanism holding the cam lever in the ADJUST position with your right hand tighten the tension adjusting nut with...

Page 34: ...rim brakes disengage the brake s quick release mechanism to increase the clearance between the wheel rim and the brake pads see Brakes on page 30 fig 4 5 through fig 4 9 3 On a derailleur gear system...

Page 35: ...turn the tension adjusting nut counter clockwise one quarter turn and try tightening the lever again Securely clamping the wheel with a cam action retention device takes consid erable force If you ca...

Page 36: ...ything is as tight as you can get it will not clamp the seatpost safely If you can fully close the cam lever with out wrapping your fingers around the seatpost or a frame tube for leverage and the lev...

Page 37: ...lever force more gentle progressively increasing force until full force is achieved If your bike is equipped with a brake force modulator take extra care in becoming familiar with its performance cha...

Page 38: ...the brake levers comfortably If your hands are too small to operate the levers comfortably consult your dealer before riding the bike The lever reach may be adjustable or you may need a different bra...

Page 39: ...nts to continue at the speed at which it was going This causes a transfer of weight to the front wheel or under heavy braking around the front wheel hub which could send you flying over the handlebars...

Page 40: ...ear So at the rear gear cluster what is called a downshift looks like an upshift The way to keep things straight is to remember that shifting the chain in towards the centerline of the bike is for acc...

Page 41: ...zards or other traffic until you ve built up your confidence Learn to anticipate the need to shift and shift to a lower gear before the hill gets too steep If you have difficulties with shifting the p...

Page 42: ...common on small framed bicycles and is avoided by keeping the inside pedal up and the outside pedal down when making sharp turns On any bicycle this technique will also prevent the inside pedal from s...

Page 43: ...the amount of force needed to engage or disengage the foot Follow the pedal manufacturer s instruc tions or ask your dealer to show you how to make this adjustment Use the easi est setting until engag...

Page 44: ...instructions and recommendations and always check for changes in the handling and brak ing characteristics of the bicycle after a suspension adjustment by taking a careful test ride in a hazard free...

Page 45: ...s The best and safest way to inflate a bicy cle tire to the correct pressure is with a bicycle pump which has a built in pres sure gauge There is a safety risk in using gas sta tion air hoses or other...

Page 46: ...priate to the valve stems on your bicycle The Schrader valve fig 4 12 is like the valve on a car tire To inflate a Schrader valve tube remove the valve cap and clamp the pump fitting onto the end of t...

Page 47: ...out any drag Gearless motors generally reach higher speeds than geared motors are quieter some are completely silent can be rated for higher wattage and are capable of regenerative braking see Does it...

Page 48: ...ether Throttles Most electric bikes sold in the United States are equipped with a throttle Like on a motorcycle throttles are designed to let the user apply 0 100 of the motor s power at will Dependin...

Page 49: ...ad Battery care safety Failure to properly use charge and store your battery as instructed will void the warranty and may cause a hazard ous situation Before using your battery for the first time read...

Page 50: ...cycles A partial charge discharge counts fractionally against those numbers running the battery down halfway then recharging it completely uses up one half of a charge cycle End of useful life refers...

Page 51: ...er is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver Conne...

Page 52: ...njury or death and property damage Never disassemble the battery or open the battery case There is a risk of electric shock and damage to the battery Never short circuit the discharge ter minals of th...

Page 53: ...e for the given conditions Keep your hands on the brake levers and remember that they will always slow or stop the bike if pulled Even on bikes without brake inhibit switches see Brakes on page 43 the...

Page 54: ...e maximum pressure printed on the tire sidewall Have your bicycle serviced periodically to ensure that the bearings turn freely and the brakes do not rub the rims or rotors for a disc brake when they...

Page 55: ...it at high speed Make sure you consider how you are perceived by other road users Cars pedestrians and other cyclists will often underestimate your speed and make decisions assuming you are traveling...

Page 56: ...er drive motor can put extra stress on drivetrain components such as the chain cassette derailleur and derailleur hanger if not ridden with care The best way to avoid excess wear on the drivetrain is...

Page 57: ...customer service department at 800 377 4532 Do not ride a bike you suspect may not be functioning fully To find an authorized dealer in your area check the Dealer Locater on www CurrieTech com There a...

Page 58: ...aced on the carrier of the cargo bicycle have to be securely fastened Check that no edges or parts of the load can get come into contact with moving parts of the bicycle The carrier is the space to be...

Page 59: ...fastened That no components or frame members are cracked or broken in general if at any time you notice a crack or bend in your bike stem forks or bars of your bicycle stop riding immediately take you...

Page 60: ...away from moving traffic and facilitate mounting on the bicycle Carrying passengers and children Carrying passengers by bicycle is sub ject to limitations and regulations in most countries Check local...

Page 61: ...57 EBCC Technical and Customer Service 1 800 377 4532 7 6 Cargo indd Last Modified March 24 2015 12 42 PM Cargo...

Page 62: ...or death Before performing ANY service inspec tion or maintenance on your electric bicycle you should first remove the bat tery Failure to remove the battery could lead to the bicycle turning on unexp...

Page 63: ...of on road or more casual off road use But if you think something is wrong with the bike take it to your dealer before riding it again Before every ride Mechanical Safety Check page 5 After every lon...

Page 64: ...gue from stress at different rates and have dif ferent life cycles If a component s life cycle is exceeded the component can suddenly and catastrophically fail caus ing serious injury or death to the...

Page 65: ...omplete checkup If your bicycle sustains an impact For information on necessary service after an accident see The lifespan of your bike and its components on page 68 and After an accident on page 15 A...

Page 66: ...he following pages we generally outline the intended uses of various types of bikes Industry usage conditions are gener alized and evolving Consult your dealer about how you intend to use your bike MA...

Page 67: ...oosing light weight over more dent resistant or rugged frames that weigh more All frames that are very light need frequent inspection These frames are likely to be damaged or broken in a crash They ar...

Page 68: ...ssive over intermediate terrain e g hilly with small obsta cles like roots rocks loose surfaces and hard pack and depressions Cross country and marathon equipment tires shocks frames drive trains are...

Page 69: ...that fit the intermediate intended use 5 cover a fairly wide range of intended use and within this range are models that are more or less heavy duty Talk to your retailer about your needs and these mo...

Page 70: ...s is extreme riding and the terms describing it are constantly evolving Gravity Freeride and Downhill bikes are 1 heavier and have more suspension travel than All Mountain bikes allowing them to be ri...

Page 71: ...cycles and their components will usually have a shorter life than heavier bicycles and their components In selecting a lightweight bicycle or components you are making a tradeoff favoring the higher p...

Page 72: ...anium The main factor driving this change is interest by cycling enthusiasts in lighter bicycles Properties of Metals Please understand that there is no simple statement that can be made that charac t...

Page 73: ...ts forever The more you use something and the harder you use it and the worse the conditions you use it in the shorter its life Fatigue is the term used to describe accumulated damage to a part caused...

Page 74: ...TE START ING POINTS FOR CRACKS Think about the cut surface as a focal point for stress in fact engineers call such areas stress ris ers areas where the stress is increased Perhaps you have seen glass...

Page 75: ...t ride a bicycle or component with any crack bulge or dent even a small one Riding a cracked frame fork or component could lead to complete fail ure with risk of serious injury or death Understanding...

Page 76: ...tive 73 EBCC Technical and Customer Service 1 800 377 4532 Appendix Lifespan indd The lifespan of your bike and its components Perspective and have reasonable fatigue life It does not mean that the or...

Page 77: ...case of a conflict between the instructions in this manual and information provided by a component manufacturer consult with your dealer or the manufacturer s customer service representative for clari...

Page 78: ...eur mounting bolt 70 86 7 9 9 7 Shift lever MTB thumb type 22 26 2 5 2 9 Shift lever SRAM grip shift type 17 1 9 Rack area Bicycle rack to frame 6mm bolts 88 5 10 Wheel area Wheel axle nuts to frame f...

Page 79: ...the power cord from the wall or from the back of the charger 2 Disconnect the charge cord from the battery pack If the charger is plugged into the wall before being plugged into the battery it will n...

Page 80: ...e battery Unplug the charger from the wall and from the battery Wait about 10 seconds then connect to the battery followed by the wall outlet If the indicator LED still flashes red there may be a prob...

Page 81: ...echnologies 3850A Royal Avenue Simi Valley CA 93063 currietech com sales currietech com 800 377 4532 Yuba Bicycles LLC 409 Petaluma Blvd S STE C Petaluma CA 94952 yubabikes com info yubabikes com 877...

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