4
5
WARNING: Bicycle wheel rims are subject to wear. Ask your dealer about wheel
rim wear. Some wheel rims have a rim wear indicator which becomes visible as
the rim’s braking surface wears. A visible rim wear indicator on the side of the wheel
rim is an indication that the wheel rim has reached its maximum usable life. Riding a
wheel that is at the end of its usable life can result in wheel failure, which can cause
you to loose control and fall.
• Brakes: Check the brakes for proper operation (see Sections 4.C). Squeeze the
brake levers. Are the brake quick-releases closed? All control cables seated and
securely engaged? If you have rim brakes, do the brake pads contact the wheel rim
squarely and make full contact with the rim? Do the brakes begin to engage within an
inch of brake lever movement? Can you apply full braking force at the levers without
having them touch the handlebar? If not, your brakes need adjustment. Do not ride the
bike until the brakes are properly adjusted by a professional bicycle mechanic.
• Wheel retention system: Make sure the front and rear wheels are correctly
secured. See Section 4.A
• Seat post: If your seat post has an over-center cam action fastener for easy height
adjustment, check that it is properly adjusted and in the locked position. See Section
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. Make sure the handlebar ends and extensions are
plugged. If not, have your dealer plug them before you ride. If the handlebars have bar
end extensions, make sure they are clamped tight enough so you can’t twist them.
WARNING: Loose or damaged handlebar grips or extensions can cause you to
lose control and fall. Unplugged handlebars or extensions can cut you and cause
serious injury in an otherwise minor accident.
VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE:
Please also read and become thoroughly familiar with the important information
on the lifespan of your bicycle and its components in Appendix B on Page 43.
D. First Ride
When you buckle on your helmet and go for your first familiarization ride on your
new bicycle, be sure to pick a controlled environment, away from cars, other cyclists,
obstacles or other hazards. Ride to become familiar with the controls, features and
performance of your new bike.
Familiarize yourself with the braking action of the bike (see Section 4.C). Test the
brakes at slow speed, putting your weight toward the rear and gently applying the
brakes, rear brake first. Sudden or excessive application of the front brake could pitch
you over the handlebars. Applying brakes too hard can lock up a wheel, which could
cause you to lose control and fall. Skidding is an example of what can happen when a
wheel locks up.
C. Mechanical Safety Check
Routinely check the condition of your bicycle before every ride.
• Nuts, bolts screws & other fasteners: Because manufacturers use a wide variety
of fastener sizes and shapes made in a variety of materials, often differing by model and
component, the correct tightening force or torque cannot be generalized. To make sure
that the many fasteners on your bicycle are correctly tightened, refer to the Fastener
Torque Specifications in Appendix D of this manual or to the torque specifications in
the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the component in question. Correctly
tightening a fastener requires a calibrated torque wrench. A professional bicycle
mechanic with a torque wrench should torque the fasteners on you bicycle. If you
choose to work on your own bicycle, you must use a torque wrench and the correct
tightening torque specifications from the bicycle or component manufacturer or from
your dealer. If you need to make an adjustment at home or in the field, we urge you to
exercise care, and to have the fasteners you worked on checked by your dealer as soon
as possible.
WARNING: Correct tightening force on fasteners –nuts, bolts, screws– on your
bicycle is important. Too little force, and the fastener may not hold securely. Too
much force, and the fastener can strip threads, stretch, deform or break. Either way,
incorrect tightening force can result in component failure, which can cause you to
loose control and fall.
• Make sure nothing is loose. Lift the front wheel off the ground by two or three
inches, then let it bounce on the ground. Anything sound, feel or look loose? Do a visual
and tactile inspection of the whole bike. Any loose parts or accessories? If so, secure
them. If you’re not sure, ask someone with experience to check.
• Tires & Wheels: Make sure tires are correctly inflated (see Section 4.G.1). Check
by putting one hand on the saddle, one on the intersection of the handlebars and stem,
then bouncing your weight on the bike while looking at tire deflection. Compare what
you see with how it looks when you know the tires are correctly inflated; and adjust if
necessary.
• Tires in good shape? Spin each wheel slowly and look for cuts in the tread and
sidewall. Replace damaged tires before riding the bike.
• Wheels true? Spin each wheel and check for brake clearance and side-to-side
wobble. If a wheel wobbles side to side even slightly, or rubs against or hits the brake
pads, take the bike to a qualified bike shop to have the wheel trued.
CAUTION: Wheels must be true for rim brakes to work effectively. Wheel
trueing is a skill which requires special tools and experience. Do not attempt to
true a wheel unless you have the knowledge, experience and tools needed to do the
job correctly.
• Wheel rims clean and undamaged? Make sure the rims are clean and undamaged
at the tire bead and, if you have rim brakes, along the braking surface. Check to make
sure that any rim wear indicator marking is not visible at any point on the wheel rim.
