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MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING
Inspect and tighten all parts of your bicycle regularly.
Replace any worn parts immediately.
CLEANING
Use a damp cloth and a small amount of mild soap to
clean alloy, chrome, and enamel parts on your bicycle.
Make sure to clean the chain, derailleurs, and rear
cogs regularly. Tip: You may find an old toothbrush
useful for removing grit and grime.
Rinse your bicycle with clean water and then wipe it
dry with a soft cloth. Wipe the chrome with a lightly
oiled cloth.
LUBRICATION
IMPORTANT: Do not use a vegetable-based oil to
lubricate bicycle parts. This type of oil may dry
and leave a harmful gum residue. Also, keep all oil
and grease off the wheel rims, brake pads, and
tires.
Every month, use a bicycle-specific spray lubricant to
lubricate the chain, the rear cogs, and all pivot points
on both the front and rear derailleurs. Wipe off the
excess lubricant with a cloth. Tip: Place a cloth
behind the chain to avoid getting lubricant on the
rest of the bicycle.
In addition, lubricate the pivot points on caliper brakes
with a bicycle-specific spray lubricant once a month;
make sure that no lubricant gets on the brake
pads or the wheel rims.
REFLECTORS
Your bicycle is equipped with a front reflector on the
handlebar and a rear reflector on the seat post. Your
bicycle also has two side reflectors, one attached to
each wheel. Make sure that all reflectors are posi-
tioned perpendicular to the ground. Keep the reflectors
clean and in good condition.
FORK
Check your bicycle fork to make sure that the gaiters
(foam covers) at the top of the fork are in good condi-
tion. The gaiters prevent dirt and grit from entering the
front suspension unit.
Wipe the chrome tube of the fork regularly with a light-
ly oiled cloth.
HANDLEBAR STEM
Any adjustments to the handlebar stem should be
made by a qualified bicycle repair specialist. IMPOR-
TANT: Do not attempt to adjust the height of the
handlebar stem; any attempt to raise the handle-
bar stem will loosen the head bearings and make
the bicycle unsafe.
PEDALS
Check the pedals weekly to make sure they are tight.
Use an adjustable wrench to tighten the left pedal
counterclockwise into the left arm of the crank. Tighten
the right pedal clockwise into the right arm of the
crank.
WHEELS AND TIRES
Check the wheel rims and spokes to make sure that
they are straight and true. If a wheel rim or spoke is
crooked, bent, or broken, have it trued or repaired by
a qualified bicycle repair specialist.
Check the tire pressure weekly. Make sure to inflate
the tires to the pressure marked on the sidewalls of
the tires. Use a manual hand pump to inflate the tires;
do not use compressed air to inflate the tires.
Inspect the tires weekly to make sure that the treads
and sidewalls are not cracked or damaged.
SUSPENSION FRAME
Bicycles with a full suspension frame have a pivot that
allows the rear end of the frame to move as the sus-
pension unit is compressed under a load.
If your bicycle has a suspension frame, check the
tightness of this pivot as part of your maintenance rou-
tine. Any further maintenance should be performed by
a qualified bicycle repair specialist.
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