16
17
instructions, and follow those when installing or removing a through axle
wheel. If you don’t know what a through axle is, ask your dealer.
Wheels are secured in one of three ways:
• A hollow axle with a shaft (“skewer”) running through it which has an
adjustable tension nut on one end and an over-center cam on the other (cam
action system, fig.8 a & b)
• A hollow axle with a shaft (“skewer”) running through it which has a nut on
one end and a fitting for a hex key, lock lever or other tightening device on the
other (through bolt, fig. 9)
• Hex nuts or hex key bolts which are threaded on to or into the hub axle (bolt-
on wheel, fig. 10)
D. Control position adjustments
The angle of the brake and shift control levers and their position on the
handlebars can be changed. Ask your dealer to make the adjustments for you.
If you choose to make your own control lever angle adjustment, be sure to re-
tighten the clamp fasteners to the recommended torque (Appendix D or the
manufacturer’s instructions).
E. Brake reach
Many bikes have brake levers which can be adjusted for reach. If you have
small hands or find it difficult to squeeze the brake levers, your dealer can either
adjust the reach or fit shorter reach brake levers.
WARNING: 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
insufficient to apply full braking power can result in loss of control, which
may result in serious injury or death.
4. Tech
It’s important to your safety, performance and enjoyment to understand how
things work on your bicycle. We urge you to ask your dealer how to do the
things described in this section before you attempt them yourself, and that you
have your dealer check your work before you ride the bike. If you have even the
slightest doubt as to whether you understand something in this section of the
Manual, talk to your dealer.
See also Appendix A, B, C and D.
A. Wheels
Bicycle wheels are designed to be removable for easier transportation and for
repair of a tire puncture. In most cases, the wheel axles are inserted into slots,
called “dropouts” in the fork and frame, but some suspension mountain bikes use
what is called a “through axle” wheel mounting system.
If you have a mountain bike equipped with through axle front or rear
wheels, make sure that your dealer has given you the manufacturer’s