Assembly Guide - Gondola

The bike you have received has been partially assembled by Biciel, with 80% of the work already completed.

Now it's time to start unboxing and unpacking it. Due to the weight of the bike (30 kg / 66 lbs), it's advisable to have someone assist you in lifting it out of the box. Alternatively, you can cut the front of the box to roll the bike out without lifting.

After the bike is out of the box, the next step is to remove the packing material. Your bike is protected with extensive foam wrapping to ensure it stays safe during shipping. We recommend using snips instead of a knife to cut the plastic zip ties securing this foam to avoid damaging the bike's paint.

Once the bike is unpacked, it's important to closely inspect it for any shipping damage that may have gone unnoticed while it was in the box. While we hope that there is no damage, please take photos if you do notice any, which you can send to us later if necessary.

If you are not confident about assembling the bike on your own, do not have the required tools, or are unsure whether you have correctly assembled it, please take it to a local bike shop to have it assembled or inspected. This is particularly important if the bike feels unstable, has moving parts in the frame, is making unusual noises while moving, or doesn't feel as it should.

 

Front Wheel Installation Guide

When you receive your bike, you will notice a large bolt on the fork that was installed to protect it during transit. Using an adjustable wrench, remove the bolt and set it aside or dispose of it. Once the bolt is removed, you can proceed to install the quick release skewer. The skewer has a nut, two springs, and a lever. Remove one spring and the nut, and then slide the skewer through the hub. Re-attach the nut and spring, and then lift the bike while ensuring the disc rotor fits between the gap in the brake pads and the axle is in the forks. Finally, tighten the nut until the lever is firm enough to close.

 

Handlebars Installation Guide

With your front wheel installed, the next step is to attach the handlebars. Begin by removing the four bolts that secure the front faceplate. When attaching the handlebars, ensure that they are centered and angled to your desired position before tightening them down. Once the handlebars are in the correct position, place the faceplate back on and hand-tighten the bolts to hold the bars in place. Finally, use an Allen wrench to tighten the bolts to the recommended torque specification.

 

Pedals Installation Guide

To install your pedals, you'll need either an allen wrench or a crescent wrench, depending on the type of pedal that comes with your bike. You can identify the left and right pedals by the letters "L" or "R" marked on them, indicating which side they should be attached to. It's crucial to grease the threads of your pedals before installation to make sure they can be easily removed later. Begin by aligning the threads and screwing in the pedal by hand to ensure that they are correctly lined up. Once you have the pedal started, you can use the appropriate wrench to finish tightening it securely.

 

Seat Post Adjustment

Begin by inserting the seat post into the seat post tube on the frame, then close the seat post clamp lever to secure it in place.

To determine the correct seat height, place your heel on the pedal at the bottom of its stroke and adjust the saddle until your leg is fully extended with a slight bend at the knee. Once you begin pedaling, check that your knee has a soft bend and the bottom of the pedal stroke is around 30 degrees. If you experience knee pain, adjust the seat height in increments of 3mm until you find a comfortable position. Keep in mind that if you feel pain in the front of your knee, the seat may be too low, and if you feel pain in the back of your knee, the seat may be too high.

It is crucial to set the correct seat height for comfortable and safe riding. Biciel's seat posts feature number indicators on the back to help you find the perfect fit for your riding comfort level. Keep in mind that lowering your seat post below the #1 indicator may not only void your frame's warranty but also increase your risk of injury.

 

Tire Pressure Adjustment

Determining the optimal tire pressure for your bike largely depends on the type of terrain you plan to ride on and your personal riding preferences. We recommend a pressure range of 10-30 PSI for our fat bike models and 20-35 PSI for our Sport models. However, you may need to adjust the pressure within this range based on your specific needs. A lower PSI is ideal for rougher terrain, such as 4x4 roads, while higher PSI is better suited for harder surfaces, such as pavement or hard-pack gravel.

Keep in mind that running your tires at too low of a pressure can cause pinch flats or damage to the wheel rim if the tire bottoms out. To accurately measure your tire pressure, use a bike floor pump with an attached pressure gauge. Consider your riding conditions and aim for a pressure that will provide the most comfortable ride. Don't hesitate to make adjustments as needed until you find the perfect balance.

 

Air Suspension Fork Adjustment

The air suspension fork on your Gondola is equipped with adjustable compression damping and lockout features. When you receive your bike, the fork comes pre-set with approximately 90 PSI which is ideal for most riders. However, you can make incremental adjustments to the air pressure using a bike-specific shock pump to achieve a softer or firmer ride that is more suitable for your body type and riding style.

To make air pressure adjustments, first, remove the air pressure cap and connect a bike-specific shock pump. These pumps are designed to offer high pressure, low volume pumping for micro adjustments to help set up air forks and shocks. After you have achieved the desired air pressure, unthread the pump and re-install the air valve cap.

Note that any sound you hear when unthreading the pump from the fork is due to the built-up pressure in the pump, not the fork. It is essential to use a bike-specific shock pump and never add more than 125 PSI. Overinflating can cause damage to the seals and result in the fork not working properly.

In addition to adjusting air pressure, you can vary the compression damping by turning the lockout switch to adjust the firmness of your fork while riding off-road. This is typically the easiest and most effective way to make your fork feel firmer.