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MEC BIKE MANUAL
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6 Does your bike have suspension? If so, check Section 4F. Suspension can
change the way a bicycle 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 and other fasteners Because manufacturers use a wide
variety of fastener sizes and shapes made in a variety of materials, often diering
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 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 you bicycle. If you choose to
work on your own bicycle, you must use a torque wrench and the correct
tightening torque specifications from the bicycle or component manufacturer
or from your dealer. If you need to make an adjustment at home or in the field,
we urge you to exercise care, and to have the fasteners you worked on
checked by your dealer 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 loose control and fall.
Make sure nothing is loose Lift the front wheel o the ground by two or
three inches, then let it bounce on the ground. Anything sound, feel or look
loose? Do a visual and tactile inspection of the whole bike. Any loose parts or
accessories? If so, secure them. If you’re not sure, ask someone with experi-
ence to check.
Tires and wheels Make sure tires are correctly inflated (see Section 4G1). 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 tire deflection.
Compare what you see with how it looks when you know the tires are correctly
inflated; and adjust if necessary.
Tires in good shape? Spin each wheel slowly and look for cuts in the tread
and sidewall. Replace damaged tires before riding the bike.
Wheels true? Spin each wheel and check for brake clearance and side-to-side
wobble. If a wheel wobbles side to side even slightly, or rubs against or hits the
brake pads, take the bike to a qualified bike shop to have the wheel trued.
1 Prep
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 cited sections on any issue which you don’t completely
understand. Please note that not all bicycles have all of the features described
in this Manual. Ask your dealer to point out the features of your bicycle.
A Bike fit
1 Is your bike the right size? To check, see Section 3A. If your bicycle is too large
or too small for you, you may lose control and fall. If your new bike is not the
right size, ask your dealer to exchange it before you ride it.
2 Is the saddle at the right height? To check, see Section 3B. If you adjust your
saddle height, follow the Minimum Insertion instructions in Section 3B.
3 Are saddle and seat post securely clamped? A correctly tightened
saddle will allow no saddle movement in any direction. See Section 3B.
4 Are the stem and handlebars at the right height for you? If not, see
Section 3C.
5 Can you comfortably operate the brakes? If not, you may be able to adjust
their angle and reach. See Section 3D and 3E.
6 Do you fully understand how to operate your new bicycle? If not, before
your first ride, have your dealer explain any functions or features which 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 4A1 to make sure. Riding with an improperly secured wheel can
cause the wheel to wobble or disengage from the bicycle, and cause
serious injury or death.
4 If your bike has toeclips and straps or clipless (“step-in”) pedals, make sure
you know how they work (see Section 4E). 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 bicycles your toe or toeclip
may be able to contact the front wheel when a pedal is all the way forward
and the wheel is turned. Read Section 4E. to check whether you have
toeclip overlap.
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