how to assemble a bike

If you have a bike that has been assembled incorrectly then it will be very difficult to assemble the bike correctly. If you try and assemble a bike with major problems, there is a good chance you could actually make things worse. Always take the bike to an expert who can work on your brand of a bike if you are not sure of yourself.

Tools & Materials Required:

Bike, front-wheel, wrench or adjustable wrench, 15mm pedal wrench (pedals coming off the axle), cone wrenches (usually 13mm and 17mm), six-sided Allen key set (usually 5mm and 3/8in.), rubber work stand (for holding the bike upright while working on it), tire levers, a box of zip ties (for holding loose brake and derailleur cables in place while you work).

Bike Assembly Preparation:

Put the bike in some sort of a standing position. Make sure there is nothing around to bump into and that the floor or ground is strong enough to hold up the bike upright. Make sure the suspension is fully compressed so you can remove or install it easier.

Remove Front Wheel:

It’s pretty easy to remove the front wheel if you follow these steps; First, loosen off the quick release skewer by turning it all the way clockwise until it is bearing against the fork leg (not on the bike frame). Next, loosen the axle nut by turning it counterclockwise using a hex/Allen wrench. Now put your 15mm open-end or adjustable wrench on the axle and slowly turn counterclockwise to remove the front wheel.

Remove Handlebars:

To remove handlebars you should always do this when the bike is standing upright. You can take off the front brake if you find it easier to do so. First, flatten out any twist in the handlebars by grabbing each end and twisting one way then tightening it back up. After this is done push down on the stem (top piece of the frame where the handlebars are connected) with one hand while grabbing the handlebars firmly with the other hand. Now take your hex/Allen wrench and find where there are bolts connecting the handlebars to the stem. There should be two on each side. Loosen these either by turning them counterclockwise or using a hex/Allen key set. Pull up on the handlebars, making sure they are not stuck in tubing and slide them down. The handlebars should come right off the stem.

Remove the Seat:

To remove the seat you will need to flip your bike upside down or lay it on its side if that is easier. Next, take a hex/Allen wrench and look for bolts connecting the seat to either end of where it attaches to the frame. Loosen either by turning them counterclockwise or using a hex/Allen key set. Once you have taken care of these bolts, slowly slide the seat off its attachments.

Remove Pedals:

To remove the pedals, first, take your 15mm pedal wrench and place it on the axle of one pedal (on the side where you put your foot). Now turn counterclockwise to loosen and remove it from the axle. When done doing this, do the same thing with the other pedal.

Remove Gears:

The gears should be removed before moving forward with any assembly procedures because they can cause some problems when trying to assemble them if they are still on the bike. To do this, the first thing you need to do is turn out the pedals counterclockwise with your 15mm pedal wrench. Once you have done this, take off your brake rotor if it hasn’t been already. Now find where there are bolts connecting the gear to the frame. There should be two on each side. Loosen, but don’t remove these bolts by turning them counterclockwise or using an Allen key set.

Now that the gear and pedals are off move your bike into a standing position (this can be done by getting someone else to hold it up for you) and remove the chain from your cassette by putting a chain whip on your freewheel and twisting it counterclockwise. Now remove your rear derailleur by taking off its bolt at the bottom of the bike’s frame using an Allen wrench. After this is done, pull up on the derailleur with one hand and remove the chain. This can be a bit tricky so it is recommended you have someone hold down your derailleur while you do this.

Now that these components are removed, you can go forward with assembling your bike.

How To Assemble a Bike:

The Basic Components of a Bicycle: Frame, Wheels, and Gears

In order to assemble a bike, one must be familiar with the different parts of a bike. If these are not known, it may be difficult for someone trying to attempt this task on their own.

The frame (the main structure of your bike) will either lie horizontally or diagonally depending on how you have assembled it when you bought it from the store.

The wheels attach to the frame through a hub and are held in place by nuts. These nuts should be tight enough so that your wheel can’t easily come off but not too tight where you cannot rotate the wheel after assembling it. When rotating a wheel, make sure not to keep it completely upside down or completely right side up; try to keep it at a 90-degree angle.

The pedals and the cranks attach to the frame on either side of the front wheel axle (the neck of your bike where the front wheel connects to your frame). Make sure these are tightened completely.

It is important that you tighten each component properly so as not to risk anything falling off your bike during the riding process.

Watch a video…