How to assemble a Bobbin Bicycle
Welcome to our first ever tutorial blog post!
We deliver Bobbin bikes all over the UK (hopefully you have just received yours and that's the reason for reading this) and for safe delivery they have to be carefully packed up in a big cardboard Bobbin box. This does mean a bit of assembly at your end and we appreciate that for some this is more daunting than for others. In our time as Bobbin stockists we have assembled thousands of Bobbin bikes and as such have developed a bit of a method (as you do) 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 Bobbin bicycle.
For the sake of this blog we have used the beautiful Bobbin Birdie, don't worry if this is not the same model that you have as most Bobbin 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 Bobbin 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:
Stand your Bobbin bike up so that it is 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 alan 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.
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 your 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 your wheel nut a rotation on one side and then move to the other, and then back again and so forth. Don't just tighten one side all the way and then the other as your wheel will be out of line.
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.
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 simply a case of sliding the reflector under the brake and securing it so that each prong sits on either side of the brake rod.
Then for the 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 Bobbin 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 the 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.
Your new Bobbin is nearly complete! Take your pedals and you'll notice they have left and right stickers on them. Simply wind 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.
Now to fit your saddle; Take your seat post and loosen the bracket by turning the alan 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 is at the height you need, tighten the seat bolt clamp at the top of the down tube.
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 Bobbin Bike.