Servicing; Service Intervals - Halfords 13 2014 User Manual

5. Servicing

WARNING: Technological advances
have made bicycles and bicycle
components more complex, and the pace of
innovation is increasing. It is impossible for
this manual to provide all the information
required to properly repair and/or maintain
your bicycle. In order to help minimize the
chances of an accident and possible injury, it
is critical that you have any repair or
maintenance, which is not specifically
described in this manual, performed by your
local 13 dealer. Equally important is that your
individual maintenance requirements will be
determined by everything from your riding
style to geographic location. Consult your
local 13 dealer for help in determining your
maintenance requirements.
WARNING: Many bicycle service and
repair tasks require special
knowledge and tools. Do not begin any
adjustments or service on your bicycle until
you have learned from your local 13 dealer
how to properly complete them. Improper
adjustment or service may result in damage
to the bicycle or in an accident,
A. Service Intervals
Some service and maintenance can and should
be performed by the owner, and requires no
special tools or knowledge beyond what is
presented in this manual.
The following are examples of the type of service
you should perform yourself. All other service,
maintenance and repairs should be performed in
a properly equipped facility by a qualified bicycle
mechanic using the correct tools and procedures
specified by the manufacturer.
1 Break-in Period: Your bike will last longer and
work better if you break it in before riding it
hard. Control cables and wheel spokes may
stretch or "seat" when a new bike is first used
and may require readjustment by your local
13 dealer. Your Mechanical Safety Check
(Section 1.C) will help you identify some
things that need readjustment. But even if
everything seems fine to you, it's best to take
your bike back to the local 13 dealer for a
checkup. We recommend that you bring the
bike in to store 6 weeks after purchase for our
free safety check.
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which can cause serious injury or death.
If you want to learn to do major service and
repair work on your bike:
1 Ask your local 13 dealer for copies of
the manufacturer's installation and service
instructions for the components on your bike,
or contact the component manufacturer.
2 Ask your local 13 dealer to recommend a book
on bicycle repair.
We recommend that you ask your local 13
dealer to check the quality of your work the first
time you work on something and before you
ride the bike, just to make sure that you did
everything correctly. Since that will require the
time of a mechanic, there may be a modest
charge for this service.
Another way to judge when it's time for the first
checkup is to bring the bike in after three to
five hours of hard off-road use, or about 10 to
15 hours of on-road or more casual off-road
use. But if you think something is wrong with
the bike, take it to your local 13 dealer before
riding it again.
2 Before every ride: carry out the Mechanical
Safety Check (Section 1.C)
3 After every long or hard ride: especially if the
bike has been exposed to water or grit; or at
least every 100 miles: Clean the bike and
lightly oil the chain. Wipe off any excess oil.
Apply an aerosol spray lubricant to the brake
and gear control cables, to ensure that they
move freely.
The need for lubrication is affected by the
climate in which you ride. Talk to your local
13 dealer about the best lubricants and the
recommended lubrication frequency for your
area.