How To Put Your Bike Together.

We deliver bikes all over the world and for safe delivery they have to be carefully packed up in a big bike box. This does mean a bit of assembly at your end and we appreciate that for some this is more daunting than for others. So, in what right now may be a head scratching time we thought we would share with you our step by step method to assembling your new bicycle.

For the sake of this blog we have used the Bobbin Birdie, don't worry if this is not the same model that you have as most of our bikes follow the same assembly process. These are the exceptions for which we will write another blog article on soon:

The Bobbin Dark Star
The Bobbin Black Orchid

So, let's crack on. First things first, assemble your tools. To put easily put together your Bobbin bike you will need the following:

An adjustable spanner
A 5mm alan/hex key
A cross head screw driver
A pedal spanner (not essential if you don't have one)

Once you have got your bike out of the big cardboard box it arrived in, it should look a little something like this.

This is probably the most daunting moment as it looks far more complicated than it actually is. Take all the packaging off, flatten the box and get it out the way and you should be left with this.

1. Handlebars

Stand your bike so that it's balancing on the rear wheel and the front forks. Pick up the handlebars and slot them into the headset. This is the headset:

Sometimes a bit of wiggling is required to get them in but once there remove the black plastic cap that sits in the center of the handlebars.

Then make sure the handlebars are straight and in the correct position for riding and tighten the central hex bolt that sits under the plastic cap. This is the only thing that prevents your handlebars from popping out so ensure it is done up really tight.

2. Front Wheel

Once your handlebars are in place, move onto the front wheel. Slot the front wheel into the two vertical drop outs of the front forks.

Before you tighten anything make sure the two safety washers are sitting in the correct position; between the wheel nuts and the drop outs and positioned in the holes provided.

Like so,

And so...

Then tighten the wheel nuts with your adjustable spanner, again really tight! A tip for tightening your front wheel is the wind in each side equally as you go. Tighten the wheel nut one rotation on one side and then move to the other, and then back again and so forth. Avoid tightening one side all the way and then the other as your wheel will be out of line.

3.Stand

Once the front wheel is on you can stand the bike up using its stand and the whole job becomes a whole lot more stable. You'll notice that your stand is too short to support the bike so take your adjustable spanner and loosen the little nut until the stand slips down and you can secure it at the correct height.

4. Front reflector

Find your front (white) reflector and slot it onto the front brake. You'll need to take off the nut at the back of the front brake to do this to give you a bit more space. Then it's a case of sliding the reflector under the brake and securing it so that each prong sits on either side of the brake rod.

5. Front mudguard

Have a look at the back of your front forks and you'll see a nut on the rear side of your brake. Take it off and you'll be left with the end of your brake rod poking through the center of your forks.

Grab your mudguard and slot the brake rod through the tab.

Then replace the nut and tighten. A tip for tightening your brakes - hold the calipers roughly central as you tighten to avoid them slipping over to one side and resting on the wheel rim. You can over tighten your brakes and cause this is happen to. If you do then loosen it, realign them centrally and start again.

You'll notice on your mudguard that there are two mudguard stays/support. They simply go into the two holes provide in the base of the front forks.

6. Pedals

Your new bike is nearly complete! Take your pedals and you'll notice they have left and right stickers on them. Screw in each pedal on the correct side of the crank arm by hand and when it is hand tight give it a last squeeze with your spanner. Tip! Remember, you always rotate right when screwing anything onto a bike thread.

7. Saddle

Now to fit your saddle; Take your seat post and loosen the bracket by turning the hex bolt (left) under the base of the seat post.

Turn the top plate so that it opens up and allows you to slide the two saddle rods into place. Like so.

Make sure the angle of your saddle is flat and the insert the end of the seat post into the main down tube.

When it's at the height you need, tighten the seat bolt clamp at the top of the down tube.

8. Bell

Then all that's left is your bell which you place on the left hand side of your handlebars within easy thumb distance from the grips.

And that's that! Happy cycling and congrats on your new Bike.