4
2. Table of contents
1. Introduction ................................................1
2. Table of contents
.........................................4
3. Before your first ride ..................................
6
4. Before every ride .......................................
8
5. After an accident ......................................10
6. Legal requirements for riding on public .........
roads .......................................................12
7. How to use the quick-releases ...................
13
7.1 Use of quick-releases ...............................
13
7.2 Notes on the mounting of thru axle wheels
15
8. Adjusting the bike to the rider .................17
8.1 Adjusting the saddle to the correct height ..
17
8.2 Adjusting the height of the handlebars ......
20
8.2.1 Conventional stems ............................
20
8.2.2 Adjustable stems ...............................
21
8.2.3 Stems for threadless systems, .................
the so-called Aheadset system ............
22
8.3 Correcting the fore-to-aft position and .........
horizontal tilt of the saddle .......................
24
8.3.1 Adjusting saddle position and tilt ........
24
8.4 Adjusting the gripping distance ...................
of the brake levers ...................................
25
8.5 Adjusting the tilt of the handlebars,
brake levers and bar ends ......................
25
8.6 Adjusting the handlebar position .................
by turning the handlebar. .........................
26
8.7 Adjusting the bar ends
.............................27
8.8 Adjusting the tilt of the handlebars and
brake levers with road, triathlon and
cyclocross bikes .......................................
28
8.9 Adjusting the tilt of the handlebars and
brake levers with road, triathlon and
cyclocross bikes .......................................
29
8.10 Seating position on BMX and dirt bikes ....
30
9. The brake system .....................................
31
9.1 Brakes – how they work and what to do
about wear .............................................
31
9.2 Rim brakes (general) ..............................
32
9.3 Checking, adjusting and synchronizing
V-brakes .................................................
32
9.3.1 Functional check ................................
33
9.3.2 Synchronizing and adjusting
the brakes .........................................
33
9.4 Checking, adjusting and synchronizing
racing or side-pull brakes .......................
34
9.4.1 Functional check ................................
34
9.4.2 Vertical adjustment of the
brake pads .......................................
34
9.4.3 Synchronizing and adjusting
the side-pull brakes ..........................
34
9.5 Characteristics of cantilever brakes ..........
35
9.5.1 Functional check ................................
35
9.5.2 Synchronizing and adjusting
the cantilever brakes ..........................
35
9.6 Rim brakes (U-brakes) .............................
36
9.6.1 Checking, adjusting and
synchronizing U-brakes .....................
36
9.6.2 Adjustment possibilities at the lever .....
37
9.6.3 Adjustment possibilities at the brake
pads and bowden cables ...................
37
9.6.4 Adjustment of the rear brake
at the rotor system .............................
38
9.6.5 Synchronization ................................
38
9.7 Drum or roller brakes ..............................
39
9.7.1 Checking and readjusting ..................
39
9.8 Back-pedalling brakes (coaster brakes) .....
40
9.9 Disc brakes .............................................
41
9.9.1 Checking and adjusting hydraulic
disc brakes .......................................
42
9.9.2 Checking, adjusting and synchronizing
mechanical disc brakes ......................
43
10. The gears ................................................
44
10.1 Derailleur gears ......................................
44
10.1.1 How they work and how
to use them .....................................
45
10.1.2 Mountain bike gear levers ................
45
10.1.3 Road bike gear levers ......................
48
10.1.4 Bar end gear levers .........................
49
10.1.5 Inspecting and adjusting
the derailleur gear ...........................
50
10.1.6 Rear gear changer (rear derailleur) ..
50
10.1.7 Front gear changer (front derailleur) .
52
10.2 Multi-speed hubs - internal gear hubs .....
53
10.2.1 How they work and how to use them
53
10.2.2 Readjustment ...................................
54
10.2.3 Readjustment of the chain tension of
bikes with adjustable drop outs .......
54
10.3 Chain maintenance ...............................
55
10.3.1 Chain wear .....................................
56
11. The wheels ..............................................
57
11.1 Tires, tubes, rim tapes, valves,
tire pressure .........................................
57
11.2 Rim trueness, spoke tension ....................
60
11.3 Wheel fastening with wheel nuts
or quick-releases ...................................
61
11.4 Repairing punctures
...............................62
11.4.1 Dismounting wheels .........................
62
11.4.2 Dismounting tires .............................
63
11.4.3 Mounting tires .................................
64
11.4.4 Mounting wheels .............................
66
12. The headset ............................................
67