Electra Bicycle - Manual (Page 19)

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If you want to learn to do major service and repair work on your bike:
1. Ask your 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 dealer to recommend a book on bicycle repair.
3. Ask your dealer about the availability of bicycle repair courses in your area.
We recommend that you ask your 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.
We also recommend that you ask your dealer for guidance on what spare
parts, such as inner tubes, light bulbs, etc. it would be appropriate for you to
have once you have learned how to replace such parts when they require
replacement.
A. Service Intervals
Some service and maintenance can and should be performed by the owner,
and require 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 repair 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 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 dealer for a checkup. Dealers typically suggest you bring
the bike in for a 30 day checkup. 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 dealer before riding it again.
2. Before every ride: Mechanical Safety Check (Section 1.C )
3. After every long or hard ride; if the bike has been exposed to water or
grit; or at least every 100 miles: Clean the bike and lightly lubricate the
chain’s rollers with a good quality bicycle chain lubricant. Wipe off excess
lubricant with a lint-free cloth. Lubrication is a function of climate. Talk to
your dealer about the best lubricants and the recommended lubrication
frequency for your area. Avoid contaminating the rims with lubricant!
4. After every long or hard ride or after every 10 to 20 hours of riding:
• Squeeze the front brake and rock the bike forward and back. Everything feel
solid? If you feel a clunk with each forward or backward movement of the bike,
you probably have a loose headset. Have your dealer check it.
• Lift the front wheel off the ground and swing it from side to side. Feel
smooth? If you feel any binding or roughness in the steering, you may have a
tight headset. Have your dealer check it.
2. Tire Valves
There are primarily two kinds of bicycle tube valves: The Schraeder
Valve and the Presta Valve. The bicycle pump you use must have the
fitting appropriate to the valve stems on your bicycle.
The Schraeder valve (fig. 18a) is like the valve on a car tire. To
inflate a Schraeder valve tube, remove the valve cap and clamp
the pump fitting onto the end of the valve stem. To let air out of a
Schraeder valve, depress the pin in the end of the valve stem with the end of a
key or other appropriate object.
The Presta valve (fig. 18b) has a narrower diameter and is
only found on bicycle tires. To inflate a Presta valve tube using
a Presta headed bicycle pump, remove the valve cap; unscrew
(counterclockwise) the valve stem lock nut; and push down on the
valve stem to free it up. Then push the pump head on to the valve
head, and inflate. To inflate a Presta valve with a Schraeder pump
fitting, you’ll need a Presta adapter (available at your bike shop) which
screws on to the valve stem once you’ve freed up the valve. The adapter fits
into the Schraeder pump fitting. Close the valve after inflation. To let air out of a
Presta valve, open up the valve stem lock nut and depress the valve stem.
WARNING: We highly recommend that you carry a spare inner tube
when you ride your bike. Patching a tube is an emergency repair. If
you do not apply the patch correctly or apply several patches, the
tube can fail, resulting in possible tube failure, which could cause you to
loose control and fall. Replace a patched tube as soon as possible.
5. Service
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 dealer. Equally important is that your individual
maintenance requirements will be determined by everything from your
riding style to geographic location. Consult your 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 dealer how to properly
complete them. Improper adjustment or service may result in damage to
the bicycle or in an accident which can cause serious injury or death.