How to mount a Fixie / Singlespeed bike?
This guide is for assembling these bikes:
Congratulations, you have just acquired your bike; We thank you for your trust and assure you that with the correct assembly and maintenance, it will ensure years of enjoyment.
Read this guide carefully and keep it for future reference.
This guide has been designed to help you and is not intended to be a complete guide to bicycle maintenance and repair. The cycle you have purchased is a complex set of parts, which must be correctly assembled and maintained in order to be able to ride safely.
Do not hesitate to use a professional cycle mechanic to assemble your bike.
Faulty assembly or lack of maintenance of your bike can lead to serious injury.
OWNER'S DUTY
Reading and following the information and instructions in this guide is essential to ensure your safety while riding.
- It is the responsibility of the owner or his parents in the case of a minor to ensure that all fitting instructions have been followed even if it was fitted by the seller or another cycle professional.
- The brakes are essential for safety, be sure that they work and check before each use of the bike that they do not require any particular maintenance.
- The rules for using a cycle on public roads vary from country to country, make sure you know and understand these rules. In France, for example, it is compulsory to have front and rear reflectors.
- Learn how to use your bike and its equipment before you use it and make sure everyone who uses the bike does so.
For your safety, we recommend that you wear a helmet, it must:
- be comfortable
- be light
- be ventilated
- be your size
- protect your forehead
Wearing a helmet can save your life.
See our selection of bicycle helmets .
Identifying the different parts of a single-speed bicycle
A few tips before riding...
- Be careful on and off the road: the condition of the surface you ride on matters a lot. If the surface is wet or strewn with debris (sand, small pebbles, etc.) adjust your speed and drive with caution. The braking distance will be greater, brake earlier and less hard to avoid skidding the wheels of the bike.
- We recommend long sleeves as well as pants with gloves and a helmet. However, avoid loose clothing that could get caught in the chain.
- Avoid anything that can limit your hearing.
- You are not exempt from the highway code, know how to respect the various signs and signals, and be attentive to other users (pedestrians, moving or parked cars, etc.).
- Use your hands as a signal to inform other users of your movements.
- It is dangerous to ride at night without lighted equipment, we strongly recommend it. See our selection of bicycle lights .
- This list is not exhaustive, always be on the lookout for new tips.
Each bike has a unique serial number stamped under the bike.
This number will help you in case of problem to identify your bike.
Be careful, this information is only available on your bike; the seller cannot therefore provide it to you after the sale.
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
After these few introductory paragraphs, here we are at the long-awaited part of the editing. To do this you will need a number of tools :
| For freewheel mounting | For fixed gear mounting |
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After carefully removing the various components from their boxes, carefully remove the various protections, taking care not to damage anything during the operation.
Step 1: Mounting the seat post and saddle
Start by greasing the seat tube.
Then insert the seat post into the seat tube. Then slightly tighten the clamp with a size 5 or size 4 allen key.
Adjust the angle of your saddle by loosening the saddle clamp screw with a size 6 allen key, when you feel it is in the ideal position, tighten the screw.
We will adjust the seat post height later.
Step 2: Installing the stem
This step only concerns bikes of the BLB brand, go directly to step 2bis if this does not concern you. (plunger stem)
- Loosen the expander screw with a size 6 allen key, if necessary, to ensure the alignment of the blocker and the stem body.
- Insert the blocker and stem into the steerer tube until you no longer see the minimum insertion line.
- Rotate the stem to align it with the front wheel, make sure the fork is facing the right way (it should point towards the front of the bike).
- Tighten the expander screw (clockwise), the recommended tightening torque is 20N.m.
Step 2bis: Installation of the handlebars
- Unscrew the (or the) clamping screws of the stem using a size 4 allen key in order to remove the cover.
- Insert the handlebars into the stem, being careful not to cross the brake cables.
- Position the handlebar as desired and re-tighten the screws (tightening torque 6Nm), note that there must be the same distance between the cowl and the stem at the top and bottom.
Step 3: Installing the front wheel
- Loosen the 2 wheel tightening nuts using a 15mm spanner.
- Insert the hub axle into the fork dropouts.
- Using the 2 15mm spanners tighten simultaneously (clockwise) the front wheel tightening nuts to a tightening torque of 30 Nm
Step 4: Tightening the bottom bracket
Using an allen key of 8, tighten the two screws (clockwise) linking the cranks and the crankset
The recommended tightening torque is 30 Nm
Step 5: Lubricate and install the pedals
- Differentiate the right pedal (denoted R as right) and the left pedal (L).
- Grease the thread of each of your pedals.
- Screw (clockwise) using the pedal spanner (or 15mm spanner) the right pedal on the right crank (noted R).
- Screw (anti-clockwise) the left pedal onto the left crank (labeled L).
- The recommended tightening torque is 30 Nm
Step 6: Tighten the sprocket and lock nut
This step is necessary if you want to mount your bike in fixed gear, these parts require a manual check of their tightness.
- Using a 15mm spanner, loosen the two rear hub clamping nuts.
- Using a 3 or 4 allen key, loosen the two chain tensioner screws, the chain should then relax, remove it from the crankset then finally from the rear sprocket, you can then remove the rear wheel from the dropouts rear of the bike.
- Using the chain whip, retighten the sprocket (clockwise) and the lock nut (counterclockwise) to a torque of 50 Nm
- You can then install your rear wheel again in the rear dropouts, making sure not to forget to replace the chain; we will see in the next step how to adjust this one.
Step 7: Adjusting the chain tension
The chain is an element that will naturally relax by the efforts it undergoes. During the life of the bike, it will be necessary to check its tension regularly.
- Using two 15mm spanners, loosen the rear hub clamping nuts.
- If you have chain tensioner screws, refer to paragraph 3. Otherwise, by pulling the rear wheel backwards, tension your chain.
- Using a size 3 or 4 allen key, gradually tighten the two chain tensioner screws until an acceptable tension is obtained (see below). By adjusting each chain tensioner screw uniquely, you can center the tire between your seatstays.
- You can then tighten the rear hub clamping nuts using two 15mm spanners to a torque of 30 Nm
When properly tensioned, the chain should be able to move vertically approximately 10mm when pressed in the middle of the chain
Step 8: Tire inflation
- Unscrew the inflation valve cap.
- Push the valve to the bottom of the tire (loosen the small ring on the valve if necessary).
- Unscrew the valve core.
- Connect the pump to the valve and inflate your tubes; take care that the inflation is done evenly, we recommend a pressure of 5 bar at the front and a pressure of 5.5 bar at the rear.
Step 9: Installing the calipers and brake levers
If these are already installed, go to the next step
- Using a size 5 allen key, loosen the screw located behind the caliper.
- Insert the axis of the caliper fixing screw in the hole provided for this purpose.
- Tighten the chimney screw.
- Loosen the clamp screw of the brake lever clamp using a size 5 or size 4 allen key.
- Attach the brake lever clamp to the handlebars so that you can operate it with your fingers in the position you want to adopt on your handlebars.
Step 10: Adjusting the brakes
We are interested in the front brake caliper. Check that your brake calipers are correctly fixed and retighten the chimney screw if necessary.
- Using a size 5 allen key, loosen the cable fixing nut.
- Place the brake pads on the rim, and keeping them in this position, pull the cable down and retighten the fixing nut.
- Using the brake pad screw, adjust the height of the brake pads so that they are in contact with the braking band (upper part of the rim).
- Carry out the same operation on the rear brake caliper.
Step 11: Adjusting the stem
This step is for bikes with Head-set stems: 6KU, State Bicycle, Pure Fix The purpose of this step is to check the bike's headset.
- If there is play, slightly loosen the clamping screws on the pivot using a size 5 allen key, then retighten the upper screw to compress the headset and reduce the play.
- When the play has disappeared, re-tighten the clamping screws on the pivot, taking care to center the stem on the front wheel.
Step 12: Seat post height adjustment
- Adjust the height of your seatpost (see step 1) according to the position you want to adopt on the bike, you must feel comfortable.
- Be careful not to exceed the minimum insertion line.
Step 13: Installing the reflectors
Using the clamps supplied with the reflectors, attach them to the handlebars and the seat post (white on the handlebars and red on the seat post).
Step 14: Testing
Your bike is finally mounted, it's time to test it; without rushing him.
You have just assembled your bike by yourself, we strongly advise you to have it checked by a cycle professional.
RIDE WITH FUN!
ANNEX
You will find in this part instructions that are not part of the assembly, however they are information on the components of your bike and their operation.
Flip-flop hub and quick coupler
The quick release allows you to easily remove your wheel
It closes and opens according to the positions shown in the diagram opposite.
The flip-flop hub allows you to switch from singlespeed (free gear) to fixie (fixed gear), follow the instructions in the diagram below if you wish to carry out this operation.
Switching from a fixed gear assembly to a freewheel assembly:
Installing a kickstand
- Classic binding
The top plate may already be present on your bike model
- Flip the bike.
- Place the kickstand to the left of the bike, on the opposite side of the drivetrain assembly.
- Install the kickstand by tightening the nut.
Attention, the stand is made to support the weight of the bike only, it is not made to support the cyclist and the bike.
- Kickstand with rear attachment
- Lean the bike against a wall such that the left side of the bike remains exposed.
- Unscrew the rear hub clamping nut using a 15mm spanner.
- Insert the hub axle into the hole in the kickstand mounting plate.
- Retighten the clamping nut by adjusting the orientation of the plate.
Attention, the stand is made to support the weight of the bike only, it is not made to support the cyclist and the bike.
Maintenance and control
This guide is made up of advice and does not constitute a reference for the maintenance of your bike, do not hesitate to call on a professional bike dealer to have your bike serviced and maintained.
Correct maintenance of your bike will ensure a longer life and greater safety for you during your rides.
- Lubrication of your components
| Frequency | Making up | Lubricant | How to lubricate |
| Weekly | Chain brake lever |
Chain lubricant Oil |
Sprinkle along 2 drops |
| Every 6 months | Freewheel | Oil | 2 drops |
| Every year | Pedals Saddle stem Headset Ball bearings |
lithium grease lithium grease lithium grease lithium grease |
Disassemble then lubricate Disassemble then lubricate Disassemble then lubricate Disassemble then lubricate |
- Component control
| Frequency | Task |
| Before each outing | Check the tightness of the wheels and pedals Check tire pressure Check the operation of the brakes Check the spokes of your wheels |
| After each outing | Wipe with a damp cloth |
| Monthly | Check play in hubs, headset and ball bearings Check the tightness of the saddle clamp Check the tightness of the handlebars Check that all nuts and bolts are correctly tightened |
| Every 6 months | Control the chain Check brake pads |
- Overview of the various problems and possible causes
| Problem | Possible cause | Solution |
| derailed chain | - Distended or excessively worn chain - Not compatible sprocket and crank assembly - Broken sprocket tooth |
- Tighten or replace the chain - Go see your bike dealer to take advantage of his advice - Change the sprocket |
| Noise when pedaling (rattling) | - Rigid chain link - Loose crankset - Play in the axial ball bearings of the pedals |
- Lubricate or change the chain - Tighten the crankset - Adjust the axial bearing tightening nut |
| Freewheel locked | - Freewheel pawls stuck | - Lubricate, if the problem persists change the freewheel |
| Non-functional brakes | - Damaged brake cables / too little tension - Worn brake pads |
- Replace / adjust brake cables - Replace brake pads |
| Noisy brakes | - Worn brake pads - Dirty or wet brake pads - Brake caliper arm |
- Replace brake pads - Clean and dry the brake pads - Tighten the caliper arm using the adjustment nut |
GUARANTEE
This warranty applies only to the original purchaser, who must be able to provide proof of purchase to validate any complaint. This warranty is not transferable.
What does this warranty cover? This warranty covers all components of the bicycle in order to compensate for material and finish defects.
How do I keep this warranty active? The warranty is effective only if:
– The bike has been correctly and completely assembled
– The bicycle has been used under the normal conditions for which it was designed, by a person of the correct size and able to control the bicycle
– The bike has received the necessary maintenance and adjustments
What is not covered by the warranty? This warranty does not include labor and transportation. This bike was designed for transportation and recreational use only. This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, paint scratches, rust, wear parts, injury or any other damage, loss, caused by accident, incomplete assembly, improper maintenance, storage inappropriate or misuse of the bicycle.
The warranty will be revoked if the bike:
– is used for competitive use
– is used for jumping, acrobatics or any other similar activity
– is fitted with a motor or modified in any other way
– is ridden by more than one person at a time
– rented or used for commercial purposes
– used in a manner contrary to the instructions given in this guide