// MANUAL
2. Before every ride: Mechanical Safety Check (Section 1.C)
3. After every long or hard ride; if the bike has been exposed to water or grit; or at least
every 100 miles: Clean the bike and lightly lubricate the chain’s rollers with a good quality
bicycle chain lubricant. Wipe off excess lubricant with a lint-free cloth. Lubrication is
a function of climate. Talk to PROPAIN or your dealer about the best lubricants and the
recommended lubrication frequency for your area.
4. After every long or hard ride or after every 10 to 20 hours of riding:
• Squeeze the front brake and rock the bike forward and back. Everything feel solid?
If you feel a clunk with each forward or backward movement of the bike, you probably
have a loose headset. Have a bicycle dealer check it.
• Lift the front wheel off the ground and swing it from side to side. Feel smooth? If you
feel any binding or roughness in the steering, you may have a tight headset. Have a
bicycle dealer check it.
• Grab one pedal and rock it toward and away from the centerline of the bike; then do
the same with the other pedal. Anything feels loose? If so, contact PROPAIN or have a
dealer check it.
• Take a look at the brake pads. Starting to look worn or not hitting the wheel rim squa-
rely? Time to adjust or replace them. Contact PROPAIN or have a dealer to replace them.
• Carefully check the control cables and cable housings. Any rust? Kinks? Fraying? If so,
have a bicycle dealer replace them.
• Squeeze each adjoining pair of spokes on either side of each wheel between your
thumb and index nger. Do they all feel about the same? If any feel loose, have a bicycle
dealer check the wheel for tension and trueness.
• Check the tires for excess wear, cuts or bruises. Have a bicycle dealer replace them if
necessary.
• Check the wheel rims for excess wear, dings, dents and scratches. Consult PROPAIN or
a bicycle dealer if you see any rim damage.
• Check to make sure that all parts and accessories are still secure, and tighten any
which are not.
• Check the frame, particularly in the area around all tube joints; the handlebars; the
stem; and the seatpost for any deep scratches, cracks or discoloration. These are signs
of stress-caused fatigue and indicate that a part is at the end of its useful life and needs
to be replaced. See also Appendix C.
5. Disc brakes require a different set of inspection steps. Check for these issues before
every ride:
• Pads rubbing on rotors.
• Worn out pads (which can lead to over-extended pistons)
• Pistons that are stuck and/or won’t retract fully.
• Disc rotors that are bent and need straightening by a certied bike mechanic.
• Hydraulic brakes that feel sponge-y and/or levers that can be depressed all the way to
the grips w/o generating adequate stopping power (due to trapped air and/or leaks).
WARNING: Like any mechanical device, a bicycle and its components are subject
to wear and stress. Different materials and mechanisms wear or fatigue from stress at
different rates and have different life cycles. If a component’s life cycle is exceeded, the
component can suddenly and catastrophically fail, causing serious injury or death to the
rider. Scratches, cracks, fraying and discoloration are signs of stress-caused fatigue
and indicate that a part is at the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced. While the
materials and workmanship of your bicycle or of individual components may be covered
by a warranty for a specied period of time by the manufacturer, this is no guarantee that
the product will last the term of the warranty. Product life is often related to the kind of
riding you do and to the treatment to which you submit the bicycle. The bicycle’s warranty
is not meant to suggest that the bicycle cannot be broken or will last forever. It only means
that the bicycle is covered subject to the terms of the warranty. Please be sure to read
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