Derby cycle IMPULSE 2.0 - Appendix A: Intended Use; Appendix B: Lifespan of Your Bike and Its Components

28 Original User Manual | Pedelec Impulse 2.0
Appendix B
The lifespan of your bike and its
components
1. Nothing Lasts Forever, Including Your Bike.
When the usel life of your bike or its components is
over, continued use is hazardous.
Every bicycle and its component parts have a nite,
limited usel life. The length of that life will vary with
the construction and materials used in the ame and
components; the maintenance and care the ame and
components receive over their life; and the type and
amount of use to which the ame and components are
subjected. Use in competitive events, trick riding, ramp
riding, jumping, aggressive riding, riding on severe
terrain, riding in severe climates, riding with heavy loads,
commercial activities and other types of non-standard
use can dramatically shorten the life of the ame and
components. Any one or a combination of these conditions
may result in an unpredictable failure.
All aspects of use being identical, lightweight bicycles
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
tradeo, favoring the higher performance that comes
with lighter weight over longevity. So, If you choose
lightweight, high performance equipment, be sure to have
it inspected equently.
You should have your bicycle and its components
checked periodically by your dealer for indicators of stress
and/or potential failure, including cracks, deformation,
corrosion, paint peeling, dents, and any other indicators
of potential problems, inappropriate use or abuse. These
are important safety checks and very important to help
prevent accidents, bodily injury to the rider and shortened
product life.
2. Perspective
Today’s high-performance bicycles require equent and
carel inspection and service. In this Appendix we try
to explain some underlying material science basics and
how they relate to your bicycle. We discuss some of the
trade-os made in designing your bicycle and what you
can expect om your bicycle; and we provide important,
basic guidelines on how to maintain and inspect it. We
cannot teach you everything you need to know to properly
inspect and service your bicycle; and that is why we
repeatedly urge you to take your bicycle to your dealer for
professional care and attention.
WARNING: Frequent inspection of your bike is
important to your safety. Follow the Mechanical
Safety Check in Section 1.C of this Manual before
every ride.
Periodic, more detailed inspection of your bicycle is
important. How oen this more detailed inspection is
needed depends upon you.
You, the rider/owner, have control and knowledge of
how oen you use your bike, how hard you use it and
where you use it. Because your dealer cannot track your
use, you must take responsibility for periodically bringing
your bike to your dealer for inspection and service. Your
dealer will help you decide what equency of inspection
and service is appropriate for how and where you use your
bike.
For your safety, understanding and communication
with your dealer, we urge you to read this Appendix in its
entirety. The materials used to make your bike determine
how and how equently to inspect.
Ignoring this WARNING can lead to ame, fork or other
component failure, which can result in serious injury or
death.
A. Understanding metals
Steel is the traditional material for building bicycle
ames. It has good characteristics, but in high
performance bicycles, steel has been largely replaced
by aluminum, carbon bre and some titanium. 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 characterizes the use of dierent
metals for bicycles. What is true is how the metal
chosen is applied is much more important than the
material alone. One must look at the way the bike is
designed, tested, manufactured, supported along with
the characteristics of the metal rather than seeking a
simplistic answer.
Metals vary widely in their resistance to corrosion.
Steel must be protected or rust will attack it. Aluminum
and Titanium quickly develop an oxide lm that protects
the metal om rther corrosion. Both are therefore quite
resistant to corrosion. Aluminum is not perfectly corrosion
resistant, and particular care must be used where it
contacts other metals and galvanic corrosion can occur.
Metals are comparatively ductile. Ductile means
bending, buckling and stretching before breaking.
Generally speaking, of the common bicycle ame building
materials steel is the most ductile, titanium less ductile,
followed by aluminum.
Metals vary in density. Density is weight per unit of
material. Steel weighs 7.8 grams/cm3 (grams per cubic
centimeter), titanium 4.5 grams/cm3, aluminum 2.75
grams/cm3. Contrast these numbers with carbon ber
composite at 1.45 grams/cm3.
Metals are subject to fatigue. With enough cycles of
use, at high enough loads, metals will eventually develop