Wh
en you change gears, decreas
e the force on the pedals. Lower tension helps the chain change
gears quickly and smoothly. This can decrease chain and gear wear, and prevent bent chains,
derailleurs, or chainrings.
Do not ride with the chain in the “crossover” position. If you shift the chain so that it crosses from
the biggest sprocket to the biggest sprocket (or the smallest sprocket to the smallest sprocket),
the chain is placed at an extreme angle. This angle causes the chain and gears to run roughly,
and will also cause the components to wear at a faster rate.
With modern gear-change systems, a movement of the shift-lever from one position to the other
position (or movement of the shift-lever to the “shift” position) will promptly move the chain to a
different gear.
Bicycles that have Shimano STI road shiftlevers and three chainrings can change front gears
better if you “hold” the lever for a moment before you release the left shift-lever.
This is most important when you change gears from the smallest chainring to the middle
chainring.
BEFORE EACH RIDE:
Every time you ride your bicycle, its condition changes. The more you ride, the more frequently
maintenance will be required. We recommend you spend a little time on regular maintenance
tasks. The following schedules are a useful guide. If you require assistance, we recommend you
see a bicycle specialist.
Warning: A bicycle that does not operate correctly can decrease your control and cause you to
fall. Fully check your bicycle before each ride, and do not ride your bicycle until you correct any
problem.
1 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 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.
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.
2 Check the Handlebar and Stem Make sure the stem is in alignment with the front wheel and
correctly attached to the fork and handlebar. To check the attachment, try to turn the handlebar
from side to side while you hold the front wheel between your knees. To check the connection of
the handlebar, try to twist it in the stem. The handlebar should not move or be loose. Make sure
that no cables are pulled or caught when you turn the handlebar.
Make sure grips are secure and that the handlebar ends are covered or that plugs are correctly
put into the ends of the handlebar.
F O R M E B I K E S . C O . U K
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