Inspection, Adjustment And Lubrication Of Your Bicycle; Handlebar, Bar Ends And Stems - Orbea ALMA Instruction And Maintenance Manual

- Loosen the nuts of the rear hub and follow the specifications in chapter 2.
- Put the bicycle upright and position the training wheels about 6mm from the ground. Make
sure the height is the same on both sides of the bicycle.
- Retighten the nuts as specified in the chapter "Inspection, adjustment and lubrication of your
bicycle", including how to adjust the tension of the chain.
- Inspect the anchoring of the wheel as specified in that chapter.
Readjust the wheels as the child becomes more skilled
As the child becomes more comfortable on the bike, gradually increase the distance of the
training wheels from the ground until the child no longer needs them.
INSPECTION, ADJUSTMENT
AND LUBRICATION OF YOUR BICYCLE
This chapter addresses the inspection intervals to follow for each component of your bicycle, as
well as the instructions for adjustment and lubrication. If during inspection, you find that any of
the pieces does not satisfy the requirements for operation, the bicycle should not be used until
that issue has been repaired, the piece replaced or the bike taken to your authorized dealer.
The inspection interval for each component is based on a regimen of normal use. If you use
your bicycle more than normal, under adverse weather conditions, like rain or snow, or on unpa-
ved roads, maintenance should be performed more often than indicated in this chapter.
Bicycles are not indestructible: like any machine, the different parts of the bike have a service
life limited to wear and tear, tension and fatigue. Fatigue refers to small magnitude forces that,
due to repetition in a large number of cycles, could compromise the integrity of the material.
The service life of the different parts varies according to its design, material, use and mainte-
nance. Some possible signs of bicycle fatigue are: dents, cracks, scratches, deformities and
discoloring.
WARNING If during inspection, you find that any of the pieces does not satisfy the requirements
for operation, the bicycle should not be used until that issue has been repaired, the piece replaced
or the bike taken to your authorized dealer.
What is torque?
Torque is a measure of the force needed to rotate an object about an axis, like a screw or bolt.
These measurements are made using a dynamometric wrench. The indicated specifications for
torque are guidelines to help you determine the correct tightness of the different pieces and
their threads.
It is important to respect the torque specifications so the threads are not over-exerted. Applying
greater torque than recommended to a piece does not provide greater fastening, but could
cause the piece to be damaged or rendered unusable.

1. HANDLEBAR, BAR ENDS AND STEMS

The handlebar is the part of your bike that you hold with your hands when riding. Controlling the
bicycle is the responsibility of the rider. Moreover, the handlebar and saddle define the cyclist's
position on the bike. You must make sure that the position is as ergonomic as possible. The han-
dlebar is connected to the rest of the assembly through the stem. This section will explain how
to inspect, adjust and lubricate handlebars, stems and bar ends.
Never allow the bar ends to come into contact with any object that could cause you to lose con-
trol of the bicycle. The bar ends have been designed exclusively to support your hands during
ascents. Make sure the bar ends are facing forward at an angle greater than 15_ with respect to
the ground.
There are two types of stems:
- Traditional (quill) stem: has a tube that fits inside the fork steerer tube using an adjustable
wedge.
- Ahead (threadless) stem: attaches to the outside of the steerer tube.
Inspection
If you have any doubts about the reliability of your handlebar, take your bicycle to your authori-
sed dealer. Once a month, you must ensure that the stem is aligned with the front wheel. Check
the connection between the stem and the handlebar by moving it against the front wheel. You
should also inspect the safety of the handlebars and the bar ends by checking that the handle-
bars do not turn independently of the stem and that the bar ends to do not move independently
of the handlebar. Make sure no cables are stretched or crimped when rotating the handlebar.
Check that all bolts are tightened. You should always heed the torque indicated by the piece. If
that information is not available, it will vary based on the size of the Allen wrench required for
the bold:
Nm
Allen wrench size (mm) Min. Max.
3 2,5 3
4 4 5
5 6 8
6 11 15
Lb.In Kg.cm
Min. Max Min. Max.
22 27 25 31
35 44 41 51
53 71 61 82
97 133 112 153
42