Focus Bikes bicycle - Shifting Gears

34 Focus Bicycles - Bicycle Owner’s Manual
Tech 35
ced. If the brake disc has come into contact with oil or grease it must be
cleaned, otherwise braking efciency may be strongly impaired.
Use water with a little dishwashing detergent or a dry cloth to clean and
maintain the braking system. Contact an authorised dealer for the use of
brake cleaning agents or agents for preventing brake noises as these may
damage parts such as seals.
D. Shifting gears
Your multi-speed bicycle will have a derailleur drivetrain (see 1. below),
an internal gear hub drivetrain (see 2. below) or, in some special cases, a
combination of the two.
1. How a derailleur drivetrain works
If your bicycle has a derailleur drivetrain, the gear-changing mechanism will have:
•arearcassetteorfreewheelsprocketcluster
•arearderailleur
•usuallyafrontderailleur
•oneortwoshifters
•one,twoorthreefrontsprocketscalledchainrings
•adrivechain
a. Shifting Gears
There are several different types and styles of shifting controls: levers, twist
grips, triggers, combination shift/brake controls and push-buttons. Ask your
dealer to explain the type of shifting controls that are on your bike, and to show
you how they work.
The vocabulary of shifting can be pretty confusing. A downshift is a shift to a
“lower” or “slower” gear, one which is easier to pedal. An upshift is a shift to
a “higher” or “faster”, harder to pedal gear. What’s confusing is that what’s
happening at the front derailleur is the opposite of what’s happening at the rear
derailleur (for details, read the instructions on Shifting the Rear Derailleur and
Shifting the Front Derailleur below). For example, you can select a gear which
will make pedaling easier on a hill (make a downshift) in one of two ways: shift
the chain down the gear “steps” to a smaller gear at the front, or up the gear
“steps” to a larger gear at the rear. So, at the rear gear cluster, what is called a
downshift looks like an upshift. The way to keep things straight is to remember
that shifting the chain in towards the centerline of the bike is for accelerating
and climbing and is called a downshift. Moving the chain out or away from the
centerline of the bike is for speed and is called an upshift.
Whether upshifting or downshifting, the bicycle derailleur system design
requires that the drive chain be moving forward and be under at least some
tension. A derailleur will shift only if you are pedaling forward.
CAUTION: Never move the shifter while pedaling backward, nor pedal
backwards immediately after having moved the shifter. This could jam
the chain and cause serious damage to the bicycle.
If you continue to ride in this condition, there is a large risk of brake failure. If the
brake blocks have come into contact with oil or grease they must be replaced. If
the brake disc has come into contact with oil or grease it must be cleaned,
otherwise braking efciency may be strongly impaired.
Steam bubble formation
•Steambubbleformationmayoccurifthebrakesareappliedconstantly.
Therefore, release the brake lever from time to time in order to avoid such a
situation.
•Steambubblesareformedwhentheoilheatsuptotheextentthatwaterin
the braking system boils and air bubbles expand. Due to this, the brake lever
travel can suddenly become larger.
The bicycle is stored or transported upside down, air bubbles may form in
the brake system. Avoid pulling the brake lever, as long as the bicycle is
placed upside down.
If the bicycle is used in this condition, there is a risk of brake failure which could
lead to serious accident.
After bringing the bicycle back into an upright position, the brake lever must be
pulled a few times to check that the brakes respond normally. If the brakes do
not respond normally, they must be adjusted as follows:
Set the brake lever parallel to the ground and pull it a few times slowly so that
the bubbles return to the reservoir.
If the response is still bad after this, the brake system needs to be bled.
Consult an authorised dealer.
Brake pads and brake blocks are consumable parts. Have the brake
pads of hydraulic oil pressure disc brakes checked regularly by a
dealer and replaced if necessary.
Removing / Refitting the Wheel
It is recommended to use a brake block spacer when removing the wheel.
The use of a brake block spacer can prevent the pistons falling out if the
brake lever is pulled after the wheel has been removed.
If the brake lever is pulled and no brake block spacer is tted, the pistons can
move as usual. Use a grease free at blade screwdriver to push the brake
blocks back, taking care not to scratch them. (If the brake blocks are not tted,
put them back in place before moving the pistons). If it is difcult to push
back the brake blocks or pistons, contact an authorised dealer.
After tting the wheel, check whether or not the quick release lever is located
on the right-hand side (opposite side to the brake disc). If the quick release
lever is located on the same side as the brake disc, there is a danger that the
lever and the brake disc could impair one another.
Cleaning the Braking System
If the brake blocks have come into contact with oil or grease they must be repla-