Understanding Components - Cannondale Bicycle Owner's Manual

Composite frame, fork, and
Component inspection
Cracks:
Inspect for cracks, broken, or splintered areas. Any
crack is serious. Do not ride any bicycle or component
that has a crack of any size.
delamination:
Delamination is serious damage. Composites are
made from layers of fabric. Delamination means that
the layers of fabric are no longer bonded together.
Do not ride any bicycle or component that has any
delamination. These are some delamination clues:
• A cloudy or white area. This kind of area looks
different from the ordinary undamaged areas.
Undamaged areas will look glassy, shiny, or "deep, "
as if one was looking into a clear liquid. Delaminated
areas will look opaque and cloudy.
•Bulging or deformed shape. If delamination occurs,
the surface shape may change. The surface may have
a bump, a bulge, soft spot, or not be smooth and fair.
•A difference in sound when tapping the surface.
If you gently tap the surface of an undamaged
composite you will hear a consistent sound, usually
a hard, sharp sound. If you then tap a delaminated
area, you will hear a different sound, usually duller,
less sharp.
Unusual noises:
Either a crack or delamination can cause creaking
noises while riding. Think about such a noise as a
serious warning signal. A well maintained bicycle
will be very quiet and free of creaks and squeaks.
Investigate and find the source of any noise. It may
not be a crack or delamination, but whatever is
causing the noise must be fixed before riding.
WaRninG
do not Ride a fRame oR foRk With
any delamination oR CRaCk. RidinG a
delaminated oR CRaCked fRame oR foRk
CoUld lead to ComPlete fRame failURe,
With Risk of aCCident, seRioUs inJURy,
PaRalysis oR death.

3. UndeRstandinG ComPonents

It is often necessary to remove and disassemble
components in order to properly and carefully
inspect them. Most customers will use this
component list as a checklist. The intention here is to
tell you what parts, and what area of each part, most
need inspection. Insist that your mechanic do such
inspections. Our intention is definitely not to teach
bicycle mechanics.
WaRninG
failURe to disassemBle oR ReassemBle
BiCyCle ComPonents PRoPeRly CoUld
ResUlt in an aCCident, With Risk of
seRioUs inJURy, PaRalysis oR death.
There are many special tools and techniques
required. Unless you are a very experienced and
skilled bicycle mechanic, we urge you to have
this work done by a professional bicycle retailer.
if yoU see any CRaCk, oR anythinG yoU
aRe UnsURe of, Please take yoUR BiCyCle
to a RetaileR. RidinG a ComPonent With
a CRaCk CoUld lead to failURe, With Risk
of aCCident, seRioUs inJURy, PaRalysis
oR death.
if yoU have CaRBon fiBeR ComPonents,
yoU mUst Read PaRt ii, seCtion d. 2.
UndeRstandinG ComPosites.
do not ride any component with a crack, even a
small one. Replace the component before riding.
Break or saw in half any component you replace
so that no one uses it again.
73