Four Point Cleaning and Safety Inspection

Before every ride...

ONE
Conduct the loose headset 'rocking' test. Stand over the bicycle. While squeezing the front brake lever, push the bike back and forth with the handlebars. The bike should feel firm with no indications of looseness and no audible sounds or creaks.

TWO
Check both brakes. Be sure the pads are away from the tire and hitting the rims.

At least once a week...more often if riding in rain, on dirt roads or racing

THREE
Clean your bike--Regular cleaning will remove road and sweat salts as well as other chemicals, minimizing the likelihood of external corrosion.

• Always use a mild soap and low pressure water
• On polished titanium surfaces, finish up with Windex® or Pledge®
• On painted, clear coated and all other surfaces Armor All® or Bike Lust nourishes the clear coat and brings up the luster
• Use a soft 100% cotton rag for all cleaning and polishing tasks

Repair paint chips and scratches with factory touch-up paint or nail polish as soon as they occur. After a wet ride, we recommend removing the seat post and hanging the bicycle upside down to drain and dry thoroughly. After extreme wet weather cycling, you may need to remove the bottom bracket assembly to fully drain all water. If in doubt, consult your dealer.

FOUR
Inspect your bike. Carefully inspect all surfaces of your bicycle, paying special attention to high stress areas like tube junctions, especially the down and head tube joints, the handlebar, handlebar stem, seat post and fork. The entire length of the fork should be inspected with particular attention to the dropouts and crown area.

Look for scratches, dents and gouges, as well as signs of hairline cracking, delaminating of carbon fibers, or separation; as any of these may be early signs of damage. In addition to these visible warnings, any squeaks, creaks or chirps should also be considered warning signs of potential failure. Most dents, dings and scratches are cosmetic and most noises are related to dry surface friction, but in all cases, you should refrain from riding the bicycle until a determination regarding its safety use has been made.

If there is any reason to suspect the integrity of your bicycle frame or components, or if your bicycle has been involved in an accident of any kind, do not ride it. Take it to your Serotta dealer immediately for inspection.

Maintenance

Frame and Fork
Your new Serotta frame and fork require little more than our Four Point Cleaning and Inspection to keep them looking and performing like new. For frames outfitted with Serotta ST carbon stays, the ST bearing should be lubricated every few weeks, or more often under wet riding conditions. Use a light machine oil such as Marvel® Mystery Lubricant or similar. Serotta brand forks do not require any lubrication. For MTB forks, please refer to the manufacturer's recommendation.

Components
When picking up your new bicycle, ask your dealer to provide you with thorough instruction for general care of all of your new bicycle's components. Each component has specific instructions for tightening, lubricating and/or providing anti-seize properties. Be sure your dealer also shows you how to properly adjust and secure any components you may wish to remove or adjust, such as the wheels, saddle, seat post, handlebar and clamp, and pedals. As a rule, all metal to metal interfaces should be assembled with high quality grease such as Pedro's Syn or similar. Carbon to carbon or carbon to metal interfaces should generally be clean and dry, free of lubricants. Please refer to the manufacturer instructions provided by your dealer for each component.

Torque
To prevent parts seizure and eliminate creaking, use proper torque settings on all threaded parts and apply grease, such as Pedro's Syn or similar, or anti-seize, such as Loctite Silver or similar. How tight is right? Always use a torque wrench and follow component manufactures specifications for all bolts and screws. For torque specifications regarding threaded components of the frame, please refer to the chart below.

Annual or 6,000 mile service
A complete service overhaul by your local service professional is recommended at least once a year or every 6,000 miles (10,000 km). Service your bicycle more often if ridden in extreme conditions. A comprehensive overhaul will include a complete disassembly and reassembly of the bicycle and its moving components, as well as checking the frame and all components for structural integrity and signs of wear, cleaning or replacing cables and bearings where appropriate, regreasing and applying anti-seize protection. Your dealer may also recommend replacing additional components based on wear or damage.

Special Care for Special Materials

Carbon Fiber Frames, Forks and Components
All of the carbon fiber used in our bicycles is manufactured according to our demanding specifications. Serotta's carbon fiber products are rigorously tested and proven to perform under the most difficult conditions. Even so, carbon fiber has unique qualities that distinguish it from metal. When damaged, carbon fiber does not bend, bulge or deform. It cracks and breaks. A carbon fiber frame, fork or component that has been damaged by impact or accident may appear normal even though it is damaged. Oftentimes, failure of a carbon fiber part could have been prevented if the cyclist had performed simple routine inspections of his or her bicycle. Look: Inspect all carbon fiber parts of your bicycle at least weekly.

• Look for gouges or deep scratches, cracks, loose fibers or other surface blemishes.
• Listen: When riding, listen for any unusual creaking, cracking or popping.
• Feel: A change in the ride quality or handling of your bike and/or a change in shifting or braking, which is not directly related to the mechanical parts, may indicate there is a problem somewhere else.

Any impact or accident has the potential to seriously damage a carbon fiber frame, fork and/or components. Damage may not always be apparent. If for any reason you suspect that your bicycle may have been damaged, do not ride it. Take it to your authorized Serotta dealer for immediate inspection.

Steel Frames
Serotta uses the finest modern steel alloys in the construction of our steel bicycle frames. With proper care, corrosion should not affect the long-life and integrity of the frame. To help limit the potential for corrosion, an approved rust inhibitor such as 'Frame Saver' should be reapplied to the inside of your frame at least once a year. Ask your dealer to provide this service at the time of your annual overhaul service