Jamis Bicycle Owner's Manual - page 5
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•Wheel rims clean and undamaged? Make sure the rims are clean and undamaged at the tire bead and, if you have rim brakes, along the
braking surface. Check to make sure that any rim wear indicator marking is not visible at any point on the wheel rim.
WARNING: Bicycle wheel rims are subject to wear. Ask your dealer about wheel rim wear. Some wheel rims have a rim wear
indicator which becomes visible as the rim’s braking surface wears
.
A visible rim wear indicator on the side of the wheel rim is
an indication that the wheel rim has reached its maximum usable life. Riding a wheel that is at the end of its usable life can result in
wheel failure, which can cause you to loose control and fall.
•Brakes: Check the brakes for proper operation (see Sections 4.C). Squeeze the brake levers. Are the brake quick-releases closed? All control
cables seated and securely engaged? If you have rim brakes, do the brake pads contact the wheel rim squarely and make full contact with the
rim? Do the brakes begin to engage within an inch of brake lever movement? Can you apply full braking force at the levers without having
them touch the handlebar? If not, your brakes need adjustment. Do not ride the bike until the brakes are properly adjusted by a professional
bicycle mechanic.
•Wheelretentionsystem: Make sure the front and rear wheels are correctly secured. See Section 4.A
•Seatpost: If your seat post has an over-center cam action fastener for easy height adjustment, check that it is properly adjusted and in the
locked position
.
See Section 4.B
.
•Handlebarandsaddlealignment: Make sure the saddle and handlebar stem are parallel to the bike’s center line and clamped tight
enough so that you can’t twist them out of alignment. See Sections 3.B and 3.C.
•Handlebarends: Make sure the handlebar grips are secure and in good condition. If not, have your dealer replace them. Make sure the
handlebar ends and extensions are plugged. If not, have your dealer plug them before you ride. If the handlebars have bar end extensions,
make sure they are clamped tight enough so you can’t twist them.
WARNING: Loose or damaged handlebar grips or extensions can cause you to lose control and fall. Unplugged handlebars or
extensions can cut you and cause serious injury in an otherwise minor accident.
VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE:
Please also read and become thoroughly familiar with the important information on the lifespan of your bicycle and its components in
Appendix B on Page 43.
C. Mechanical Safety Check
Routinely check the condition of your bicycle before every ride.
•Nuts,boltsscrews&otherfasteners: Because manufacturers use a wide variety of fastener sizes and shapes made in a variety of materials,
often differing by model and component, the correct tightening force or torque cannot be generalized. To make sure that the many fasteners
on your bicycle are correctly tightened, refer to the Fastener Torque
Specifications
in Appendix D of this manual or to the torque specifications
in the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the component in question. Correctly tightening a fastener requires a calibrated torque
wrench. A professional bicycle mechanic with a torque wrench should torque the fasteners on you bicycle. If you choose to work on your own
bicycle, you must use a torque wrench and the correct tightening torque specifications from the bicycle or component manufacturer or from
your dealer. If you need to make an adjustment at home or in the field, we urge you to exercise care, and to have the fasteners you worked on
checked by your dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING: Correct tightening force on fasteners –nuts, bolts, screws– on your bicycle is important. Too little force, and the
fastener may not hold securely. Too much force, and the fastener can strip threads, stretch, deform or break. Either way,
incorrect tightening force can result in component failure, which can cause you to loose control and fall.
•Make sure nothing is loose. Lift the front wheel off the ground by two or three inches, then let it bounce on the ground. Anything sound, feel
or look loose? Do a visual and tactile inspection of the whole bike. Any loose parts or accessories? If so, secure them. If you’re not sure, ask
someone with experience to check.
•Tires&Wheels: Make sure tires are correctly inflated (see Section 4.G.1). Check by putting one hand on the saddle, one on the intersection
of the handlebars and stem, then bouncing your weight on the bike while looking at tire deflection. Compare what you see with how it looks
when you know the tires are correctly inflated; and adjust if necessary.
•Tires in good shape? Spin each wheel slowly and look for cuts in the tread and sidewall. Replace damaged tires before riding the bike.
•Wheels true? Spin each wheel and check for brake clearance and side-to-side wobble. If a wheel wobbles side to side even slightly, or rubs
against or hits the brake pads, take the bike to a qualified bike shop to have the wheel trued.
CAUTION: Wheels must be true for rim brakes to work effectively. Wheel trueing is a skill which requires special tools and
experience. Do not attempt to true a wheel unless you have the knowledge, experience and tools needed to do the job correctly.