Pacific Cycles FROG - Manual (Page 10)

riese und müller GmbH Frog Manual
After you’ve adjusted the brakes, it is essential that you test them away from traffic, so as to get used to their performance after
adjustment.
Tip
:A regular cleaning of the rim surfaces ensures optimum brake performance.
Coaster brake
As an option the Frog is equipped with a coaster brake. The brake is activated by turning back the cranks. Best brake performance
is reached with horizontal position of the cranks and kicking the rear pedal.
Tip
:Because of the chain tensioner the brake function starts after tunring the cranks back a little bit. This is not dangerous but
should be trained away from traffic through sometest braking.
PAGE 24, Gear Hub Frog
A bike’s gears have the job of matching your power output to the gradient and to your desired speed. The amount of physical work
you need to do won’t be reduced by the gears, because this remains constant for the same distance covered at the same speed.
What does change is the power input per turn of the cranks. In other words, this means that in a ‘smaller’ gear you can get up
steep hills without undue effort, but to do so you’ll have to turn the pedals more often.
Going downhill you can choose a higher ratio. This means that each turn of the cranks takes you several metres, so you speed can
be high.
To ride energy-efficiently, you need to change gear often. Just like a motor vehicle, you must keep you ‘motor’ running in its
‘cruising’ rev-band, to ensure you get the best performance.
On the flat, a pedalling frequency, also known as ‘cadence’, of around 60 turns per minute is reasonable. Racing cyclists increase
this on the flat to around 90-110 revolutions per minute. When climbing, the cadence naturally falls somewhat – but you should
always be able to pedal smoothly.
The fine steps between gears and the easy action of modern gearing systems put you in the best position to ride efficiently. In
addition, wear on chain and sprockets, as well as the loading on your knee joints, can all be much reduced.
One advantage of hub gears is that they are enclosed: the mechanism is almost completely hidden away inside. Dirt has little
chance of getting at it. The transmission on the Frog, which is equipped with hub gears, will last considerably longer than a
derailleur system – if properly cared for. The disadvantage is the somewhat higher level of power losses within the hub.
PAGE 25
How they work, and how to use them.
A twist-grip controls the gears. The chosen gear is clearly displayed. When changing gear on the SRAM hub gear of the Frog, you
should pedal not or just lightly.
Danger
: Practice changing gear on a traffic-free street. Make yourself familiar with the functioning of the twist-shifters. Getting
used to the gears in traffic could distract your attention from possible dangers.
Check the instructions from the gear manufacturer, which accompany your bike.
Adjustment and checking
The various gears are selected via the gear cable. Read the accompanying instruction booklets from the hub gear manufacturer
carefully. If you have questions, consult your dealer.
Check regularly, and particularly after removing a wheel, that the rear axle washers with fixing tabs (which fit into the frame
dropouts) are properly in place, and that the axle nuts are tightened to the appropriate torque. Also check the bolt securing the
brake reaction arm.
PAGE 26, Wheels and tyres
The wheels of a bike are your points of contact with the ground. They are highly loaded with the weight of the rider, luggage, and
by bumps on the road surface. Although the wheels are carefully manufactured and centred before delivery, they will ‘settle in’ in
the first few kilometres of riding. After an initial running-in period of 200 to 400 km (125 to 250 miles) you should get your
wheels trued by your dealer. After this running-in period you should regularly check the wheels, though in general re-truing is
seldom necessary.
The wheels consist of hubs, spokes and rim. The tyre is mounted on the rim, with the inner tube inside it. To protect the delicate
inner tube a rim tape is glued over the often-sharp edges of the spoke holes and over the ends of the spokes.
Tyres, tubes, rim tape, valves and air pressure
Tyres are responsible for traction on the riding surface, vital for braking, accelerating and turning. They should also have low
rolling resistance. Both street tyres (road) and knobblies (MTB) for rough tracks are available. Tyres can only function well when