82 •
O W N E R ’ S M A N U A L
biCyClE ChECk
Before you ride your bicycle the first time, you must
make sure it is in a safe operating condition. Below
are some basic, simple, but important checks:
•
Nuts, bolts and parts are tight, not worn, not
damaged.
•
Cables are securely fixed on the frame, without
kinks.
•
Brakes are operating effectively.
•
Steering is free, i.e. handlebar turns without
resistance, but also without excessive play.
•
Wheels run true, without any kind of wobbling.
•
Wheels are securely fastened to frame and fork.
•
Tires are in good condition and under pressure
that is within the recommended values mentioned
on the tire itself.
•
Pedals are securely tightened to cranks.
•
Gears are correctly adjusted and shifting is
according to expectations.
•
Bell and lights are functioning and clean.
•
Handlebar grips are tightly fixed and in good
condition.
•
Front and rear suspension is not loose and does
not make any strange noise.
A pretty successful practical test is to lift your bike
5-8cm above the ground and then let it drop. Listen
for and try to locate any strange noise. Such noises
may be the start of something serious. The above
checks before your first ride must be ideally done in
the specialized bicycle shop where you purchase your
IDEAL bicycle. After you start riding your bicycle on a
regular basis, please refer to the necessary checks,
maintenance and service in page 57.
biCyClE TECh
Wheels
Riding your bicycle without properly adjusted wheels
may lead the wheels to wobble or even disassemble
from the rest of the bicycle, which can cause you to
lose control and fall.
Your specialized IDEAL bicycle dealer must help you
understand how to remove and install back safely
both wheels on your bicycle.
In case your bicycle is equipped with through axle
front and/or rear, please read carefully and follow
the manufacturer’s instructions. If you do not feel
comfortable, have your specialized bicycle dealer do
the job whenever you need it.
Most bicycles nowadays use quick release (QR)
mechanisms.
These are cams that apply pressure and clamp the
wheels in place on the fork (front) and the frame
(rear). Holding the nut with one hand and turning
the lever like a wing nut with the other hand until
they both become as tight as you can do, will not be
enough. In order for the QR to properly fasten the
wheels, the full force of the cam action is necessary.
The wheel hub is clamped in place by the force of
the quick release cam pushing against one dropout
and pulling the tension adjusting nut, by way of the
skewer, against the other dropout. The amount of
clamping force is controlled by the tension adjusting
nut. Turning the tension adjusting nut clockwise
while keeping the cam lever from rotating increases
clamping force; turning it counterclockwise while
keeping the cam lever from rotating reduces
clamping force. Less than half a turn of the tension
adjusting nut can make the difference between safe
clamping force and unsafe clamping force.
Most bicycles have front forks which utilize a
secondary wheel retention device to reduce the risk
of the wheel disengaging from the fork if the quick
release is incorrectly adjusted. Secondary retention
devices are not a substitute for correct quick release
adjustment. Secondary retention devices fall into
two basic categories: (1) The clip-on type is a part
which the manufacturer adds to the front wheel hub
or front fork. (2) The integral type is molded, cast
or machined into the outer faces of the front fork
dropouts. Ask a specialized bicycle dealer to explain
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