As fellow cyclists, the team at Cycle Cave Inc lets you in on a few secret of how to keep your bike in the best shape possible. We want to ensure that you make you install your new tube and adjust your index shifts correctly.

Installation of new tube

1. After removing old tube, inspect inside of tire for protruding sharp objects or cuts in casing.
2. Check rim strip or rim tape, replace if required.
3. Check rim for any sharp edges or protruding spokes, repair as required.
4. Slightly inflate tube to give it shape.
5. With one side of tire on rim, put valve stem through valve hole. Work tube into tire all the way around rim.
6. Work other side of tire onto rim, making sure not to leave any of the tube exposed.
7. Use only bicycle tire levers! Use of screwdrivers or other sharp tools will cause tube failure. Take small bites when working the last part of tire on rim.
8. Slowly inflate tire, making sure tire is seated on rim. If not seated, deflate and start over.
9. Inflate tire to recommended pressure on side of tire.

Shimano front and rear index shift adjustments

Rear index shift adjustment

1. Shift chain to second from the smallest cog on rear cassette. Shifter in second position.
2. While pedaling forward, turn adjusting barrel on rear derailleur counter-clockwise until chain makes noise like it wants to shift to third cog. Turn barrel clockwise until the noise goes away.
3. Shift through all gears to make sure adjustments are right.

Front index adjustment

1. Shift chain to large rear cog (low gear) and to the middle chain ring on crankset.
2. While pedaling forward, turn adjusting barrel on front shifter counter-clockwise until inside of derailleur cage plate almost rubs the chain.
3. Shift through all gears to make sure adjustments are right.

How to size your road bike frame

The sloping top tube design results in a shorter seat tube, so you can't compare a sloping top tube bike with a horizontal top tube bike by measuring the seat tube itself. The frame size is measured along the centerline of the seat tube from the center of the bottom bracket to where a horizontal top tube would intersect. Top tubes have an actual and a virtual length. The virtual length corresponds with the top tube length of a traditional horizontal top tube for that frame size.

If you would like more tips on how to keep your bike running great, contact us, and one of our trained technicians will help you.

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