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Short Haul: The Basics

Thanks for choosing Tern, and congrats on your new Short Haul. In this article, we’ll help you get acquainted with your bike's main parts and features.

If you'd prefer to get this information from a video, please watch the Short Haul Owner Briefing—or click on one of the subheadings in this article to watch the corresponding video chapter.

Contents

1. Riding Your Bike

2. Adjusting the Bike Fit 

3. Essential Bike Parts

4. Vertical Parking and Rolling 

5. Daily Riding Checklist 

6. Maintenance 

7. Accessories 

8. For More Information

 


1. Riding Your Bike

Before we get started, an important reminder: your Short Haul is designed to be ridden with both wheels on the ground, on paved roads or graded and maintained gravel roads. Riding your bike on other types of roads may void your warranty, so please take note.

2. Adjusting the Bike Fit  

Your bike's seatpost can be adjusted in seconds—which allows you to find your perfect fit, and also share the Short Haul with family and friends.

To adjust the seatpost:

  1. Pull the quick-release lever open.
  2. Adjust the seatpost to your preferred height.
  3. Close the quick-release lever. If you find that the quick-release is too easy or too hard to close, open the lever and twist the clamp screw nut to adjust.

Safety Tip

Always stay within the minimum insertion indicator marked on the seatpost.

3. Essential Bike Parts

Before you hit the road, take a moment to get familiarized with your bike's gears and brakes.

3.1 Gears  

Shifting gears is the key to riding efficiently, particularly if you're carrying heavy loads. We recommend that you downshift to a lower gear as you come to a stop or prepare to go up a steep hill; and shift to a higher gear as you accelerate or ride downhill.

On your Short Haul, the shifter is located on the right side of the handlebar. Either push the rear-facing shift lever paddle to downshift, or pull the forward-facing shift lever paddle to shift to a higher gear. Remember to always pedal when shifting, but applying a little less pressure in order to prevent chain skipping.

Safety Tip

Never move the shifter while pedaling backwards, and never pedal backwards immediately after shifting—this could jam the chain and damage your bike.

3.2 Brakes  

Your Short Haul is equipped with front and rear hydraulic disc brakes for all-weather stopping power.

In most countries, the rear brake lever is on the right side of the handlebar, while the front brake lever is on the left. In a few countries this orientation can be reversed, so please double-check before your first ride if you are not sure.

Whenever you need to come to a stop, apply even pressure to both levers, and remember to avoid suddenly pulling the levers too hard.

Safety Tip

Brake pads wear out over time, and may be the first part on your Short Haul that you need to replace—so keep an eye on them!

4. Vertical Parking and Rolling  

Your Short Haul can stand on its end, so you can easily take it into elevators and store it indoors.

To vertically park and roll your Short Haul:

  1. Stand on one side of the bike and hold the handlebar with both hands.
  2. Apply the rear brake and walk backwards until the bike stands up. You don’t need to lift the bike up for it to stand vertically. In fact, it’s much easier to just focus on walking backwards.
  3. Make sure all of the contact points on the rear of the bike are touching the floor, and that the bike is parked on a flat, even surface.
  4. To roll your Short Haul, simply release the rear brake and gently roll the bike forward.

5. Daily Riding Checklist  

Before each ride, give your Short Haul a quick check to make sure it is safe and ready to go. We recommend that you always perform the ABCQD test, a daily riding checklist for your bike’s essential components that helps spot any issues before you are out and about.

6. Maintenance  

Basic maintenance from time to time will help you keep your Short Haul in tip-top shape. The following steps are easy to do, and should be done regularly. If you notice anything unusual when checking your Short Haul, bring your bike to your dealer.

  • Clean and lubricate your chain. If you're not sure how, watch this basic maintenance video.
  • Check if your wheels are trued, or straight. Spin them and check for any abnormal side-to-side motion.
  • Check for signs of wear. This includes wearable parts like the chain, brake pads, and tires.
  • Bring your bike back for regular service check-ups. This is normally a quick tune-up after one month or so of use, and other regular maintenance visits. Talk to your dealer to determine a maintenance schedule based on your riding frequency, typical load, etc.

7. Accessories  

The Short Haul is designed to help you do more, and by pairing the bike with the right accessories, you can easily transform your everyday ride into the perfect tool for all your needs. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

7.1 Lights  

We highly recommend adding front and rear lights to your bike, as they ensure you can see and be seen at any time of the day.

Safety Tip

To avoid blinding riders and pedestrians coming your way, make sure your front light is angled downwards.

7.2 Passenger-carrying Accessories  

The Short Haul has a sturdy rear rack that carries up to 50 kg (110 lb), and with the right accessories you can easily ride with a passenger—whether that's a young kid in a child seat, a bigger passenger, or even the family dog.

To learn more about how to safely carry passengers on the Short Haul and see our recommended setups, check out our Passenger Guide.

7.3 Cargo-carrying Accessories  

In addition to carrying up to 50 kg on the rear, the Short Haul can also carry up to 20 kg (44 lb) on a front-mounted rack. There are several cargo-carrying accessories to choose from, and some might even double as passenger-carrying accessories.

To learn more about how to safely carry cargo and find out how you can make the most of your Short Haul, read our Cargo Guide.

8. For More Information

This should be more than enough to get to know your Short Haul. If you have any questions, remember that you can always check your manuals or talk to your Tern dealer.

And if you'd like to connect with fellow riders and share your experiences, we recommend that you join The Tern Short Haul group on Facebook.

Happy riding!