Preparation

• 1). Open the carton that the bike came in, making certain that you're opening from the top, and remove the bicycle, setting the box aside.
  
  
• 2). Take off any tags, wrapping, protective cardboard or any other covering that would keep a bike safe during shipping, and throw it away. Put the owner's manual and store tags in a safe place for your own record.
  
  
• 3). Check over your bike, making certain that all the parts are there and appear to be in working order. Look inside the box carefully for any loose parts that might have settled during shipping.
  
  
• 4). Apply a thin layer of waterproof lubricant to all of the threads and metal-to-metal parts. This includes the axles, quill stem and seat tube/post.
  
  

Assembly

• 1). Insert the seat/seat post into the open space atop the frame and nearest the rear wheel. As you slide the seat down into the frame, make sure the "minimum insertion mark" is hidden and that the nose of the seat is centered with the top tube and facing forward. Tighten the quick-release mechanism or the bolt on the seat (may vary) to prevent slippage.
  
  
• 2). Insert the handlebar into the front of the bike, atop the fork, with the front fork facing forward, and tighten the stem bolts. The handlebars should be perpendicular to the front fork and wheel, with all bolts being as tight as possible. Make certain the brake and shift cables are straight, as they have the potential to become kinked.
  
  
• 3). Attach the pump head to each of the valves on the tires, one at a time. Your Protocol 1.0 will have a Schrader valve, so your pump needs to have that type of adapter. Inflate each tire to the pressure noted on the sidewall of the tire. Use a hand-held pressure gauge if your pump doesn't have one.
  
  
• 4). Install your wheels, if necessary. Tightening the wheels will vary, especially if you have nuts or quick-release levers on the wheels. If you have nuts, tighten each nut by hand and finish the job with your adjustable or box-end wrench. Quick-release levers are easier to tighten: make sure the lever is in the "open" position and the palm of your other hand is on the nut, tightening each until the nut side is tight. Flip the lever closed to secure the wheel in the fork.
  
  
• 5). Locate the right (R) and left (L) pedals. The right pedal threads clockwise and the left threads counterclockwise. Attach the right pedal to the chain ring side and tighten the wheel with your 15mm open-end wrench. Do the same with the left pedal, on the opposite side of the chain ring.
  
  

Final Finishing Steps

• 1). Shift the bike through the entire range of gears by pedaling with one hand and shifting with the other hand. The gears should shift easy, upon your own command, and shouldn't skip or be difficult to change.
  
  
• 2). Spin the front and rear wheels separately to check the brakes, looking for signs of rubbing or if the wheel is off-center within the frame and brake caliper. Squeeze the brake levers to make certain there is enough contact with the rim to stop your bike wheel upon lever activation.
  
  
• 3). Adjust your front and rear reflectors with the Phillips screwdriver so that both are 5 degrees of perfectly vertical. Adjust the bike seat to the proper height, which is roughly as tall as your waist when you're standing next to your upright bicycle and facing forward.
  
  
• 4). Visit your local bike shop if any steps in this particular section go awry. It's better to have a professional look at your new bike before riding it than to hesitate when assembling or ride an unsafe bicycle.