frogbikes.com
Frog Bikes
Owner’s Manual
3
rd
Edition
2014
NOTE: We strongly urge you to read this manual in its entirety before your first
ride. At the very least, read and make sure that you understand each point in
this section, and refer to the sections on any issue which you don’t completely
understand. Please note that not all bikes have all the features described in this
manual. Ask your local stockist to point out the features of your bike.
A. Bike Fit
1. Is your bike the right size? To check, see Section 3.A. If your bike is too large or too
small you may lose control and fall. If your new bike is not the right size, ask your
stockist to exchange it before you ride it.
2. Is the saddle at the right height? To check, see Section 3.B. If you adjust your
saddle height, follow the Minimum Insertion instructions in Section 3.B.
3. Are saddle and seat post securely clamped? A correctly tightened saddle will allow
no saddle movement in any direction. See Section 3.B.
4. Are the stem and handlebars at the right height? If not, see Section 3.C.
5. Can you comfortably operate the brakes? If not, you may be able to adjust their
angle and reach. See Section 3.D and 3.E.
6. Do you fully understand how to operate your new bike? If not, before your first ride,
ask your stockist to explain any functions or features you do not understand.
B. Safety First
1. Always wear an approved helmet when riding your bike, and follow the helmet
manufacturer’s instructions for fit, use and care.
2. Do you have all the other required and recommended safety equipment? See
Section 2. It’s your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the laws of the areas
where you ride, and to comply with all applicable laws.
3. Do you know how to correctly secure your front and rear wheels? Check Section
4.A.1 to make sure. Riding with an improperly secured wheel can cause the wheel
to wobble or disengage from the bike, and cause serious injury or death.
4. If your bike has toe clips and straps or clipless (“step-in”) pedals, make sure you
know how they work (see Section 4.E). These pedals require special techniques
and skills. Follow the pedal manufacturer’s instructions for use, adjustment and
care.
5. Do you have “toe overlap”? On smaller framed bikes your toe or toe clip may be
able to contact the front wheel when a pedal is all the way forward and the wheel is
turned. Read Section 4.E. to check whether you have toe overlap.
6. Does your bike have suspension? If so, check Section 4.F. Suspension can change
the way a bike performs. Follow the suspension manufacturer’s instructions for
use, adjustment and care.
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 bike 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 your bike. If
you choose to work on your own bike, you must use a torque wrench and the correct
tightening torque specifications from the bike or component manufacturer or from
your stockist. If you need to make an adjustment we urge you to exercise care, and to
have the fasteners checked by your stockist 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 lose 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. Does anything sound, feel or look
loose? Do a visual and tactile inspection of the whole bike. Are there any loose
parts or accessories? If so, secure them. If you’re not sure, ask someone with
experience to check.
Tyres and wheels: Make sure tyres 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 tyre deflection. Compare
what you see with how it looks when you know the tyres are correctly inflated; and
adjust if necessary. Are the tyres in good condition? Spin each wheel slowly and look
for cuts in the tread and sidewall. Replace damaged tyres before riding the bike. Are
the wheels “true”? Spin each wheel and check for brake clearance and lateral wobble.
If a wheel wobbles side to side even slightly, or rubs against the brake pads, take the
bike to a qualified bike stockist to have the wheel corrected.
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 tyre 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.
WARNING
: Bicycle wheel rims are subject to wear. Ask your stockist 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 lose control and fall.
Brakes: Check the brakes for proper operation (see Section 4.C). Squeeze the brake
levers. Are the brake quick-releases closed? Are all the control cables in place? 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 without the levers touching the
handlebar? If not, your brakes need adjustment. Do not ride the bike until the brakes
are properly adjusted by a professional mechanic.
1/ INTRODUCTION
