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7. Before you attempt to jump, do stunt riding or race with your bike, read and understand Section 8
F.
8. We recommend that children not ride on rough terrain unless an adult accompanies them.
Off Road respect
Obey the local laws regulating where and how you can ride offroad, and respect private property. You
may be sharing the trail with others — hikers, equestrians, other cyclists. Respect their rights. Stay on
the designated trail. Don’t contribute to erosion by riding in mud or with unnecessary sliding. Don’t
disturb the ecosystem by cutting your own trail or shortcut through vegetation or streams. It is your
responsibility to minimize your impact on the environment. Leave things as you found them; and
always take out everything you brought in.
Wet Weather Riding
WARNING
: Wet weather impairs traction, braking and visibility, both for the bicyclist and
for other vehicles sharing the road. The risk of an accident is dramatically increased in wet
conditions.
Under wet conditions, the stopping power of your brakes (as well as the brakes of other vehicles
sharing the road) is dramatically reduced and your tires don’t grip nearly as well. This makes it harder
to control speed and easier to lose control. To make sure that you can slow down and stop safely in
wet conditions, ride more slowly and apply your brakes earlier and more gradually than you would
under normal, dry conditions. See also Section 8.C.
Night Riding
Riding a bicycle at night is many times more dangerous than riding during the day. A cyclist is very
difficult for motorists and pedestrians to see. Therefore, children should never ride at dawn, at dusk or
at night.
Adults who chose to accept the greatly increased risk of riding at dawn, at dusk or at night need to
take extra care both riding and choosing specialized equipment that helps reduce that risk. Consult
your dealer or local bike shop about night riding safety equipment.
WARNING
: Reflectors are not a substitute for required lights. Riding at dawn, at dusk, at
night or at other times of poor visibility without an adequate bicycle lighting system and
without reflectors is dangerous and may result in serious injury or death.
Bicycle reflectors are designed to pick up and reflect streetlights and car lights in a way that may help
you to be seen and recognized as a moving cyclist.
CAUTION
: Check reflectors and their mounting brackets regularly to make sure that they
are clean, straight, unbroken and securely mounted.
Have your dealer or local bike shop replace damaged reflectors and straighten or tighten any
that are bent or loose.
The mounting brackets of front and rear reflectors are often designed as brake straddle cable safety
catches that prevent the straddle cable from catching on the tire tread if the cable jumps out of its
yoke or breaks.
WARNING
: Do not remove the front or rear reflectors or reflector brackets from your
bicycle. They are an integral part of the bicycle’s safety system.
Removing the reflectors may reduce your visibility to others using the roadway. Being struck
by other vehicles may result in serious injury or death.
