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Riding a bicycle can be dangerous. Keep this in mind
and be cautious at all times. See and be seen. Use lights
and reflective clothing in low light conditions. Wearing
a helmet when riding can protect thhead and save a life.
Always conduct a pre-ride check (detailed information
can be found further in this manual).
Never ride the bicycle if you observe any technical prob-
lems or have any doubts about the proper functioning of
any elements in the bicycle.
Keep the bike clean and well maintained.
It is strongly recommended to carry a pump, spare inner
tube, patch kit, and a basic tool kit.
It could be required in case of a flat tire or other common
mechanical problem. If any doubts or questions ask a bi-
cycle dealer for advice on that issue.
If the bicycle is equipped with gears and user can choose
a gear combination that is the most comfortable for rid-
ing conditions. Gears will allow a rider to maintain a con-
stant rate of pedaling. Use lower gears for going uphill
and higher gears for going downhill. Ease up on your
pedaling pressure when you shift gears. Ask a bicycle
dealer to give more advice on that issue if needed.
Pay attention to the brakes - they can be powerful and
if activated too aggressively, may cause a crash. You
should spend some time to get a better feel of the brakes
on a side road or empty parking lot before the first ride.
Avoid riding too fast, especially downhill. It is easy to
lose control of the bicycle and crash at high speeds, and
also you will find it very difficult to slow down especially
if the hill is steep.
If a bike has been equipped with suspension, the in-
creased speed a rider may develop will also increase the
risk of injury. For example, the front of the bike may dive
on the suspension fork while hard braking. A Rider can
easily lose control and fall if he is not prepared for this.
Please, learn how to operate your suspension system
safely. Thanks to the suspension the wheels can follow
the terrain better, which improves control and comfort.
This improved capacity may provide an opportunity for
riding faster, but riders should be careful, not to mistake
the enhanced capabilities of the bicycle for their riding
skills. Improving skills takes time and practice.
It is highly recommended to use locks to protect a bicy-
cle from theft. Even if you are planning to be away from
a bicycle for just a few minutes never leave your bike un-
locked while unattended.
2. GENERAL RIDING INFORMATION
