10
6.
You may be riding in sensitive habitat, so stay on the
designated trail. Don’t contribute to
erosion by riding in
mud or with unnecessary sliding. Don’t disturb wildlife or livestock; and
don’t disturb the ecosystem by cutting your own trail through vegetation or streams.
7.
It is your responsibility to minimize your impact on the environment. Ride accordingly. Leave
things as you found them; and always take out everything you brought in.
8.
If you crash: First, check yourself for injuries, and take care of them as best you can. Next,
check your bike for damage, and fix what you can. Then, when you get home, carefully
perform the maintenance procedure described this manual and check for any other damaged
parts. All bent, scored or discolored parts are suspect and should be replaced.
WARNING:
A crash can put extraordinary stress on bicycle components, causing them to fatigue
prematurely. Components suffering from stress fatigue can fail suddenly and catastrophically, causing
loss of control, serious injury or death.
CAUTION:
If you have any doubt about the condition of the bicycle or any of its parts, take it
to your dealer for a thorough check.
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 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.
NIGHT RIDING
Riding a bicycle at night is many times more dangerous than riding during the day. Therefore,
children should never ride at dawn, at dusk or in the dark. Adults should not ride at dawn, at dusk or
at night unless it is absolutely necessary.
WARNING:
Riding at dawn, at dusk, at night or at other times of poor visibility without a bicycle
lighting system which meets local and State laws and without reflectors is dangerous and can result in
serious injury or death.
Even if you have excellent night vision, many of the people with whom
you’re sharing the road don’t.
A bicyclist is very difficult for motorists and pedestrians to see at dawn, at dusk, at night or at other
times of poor visibility. If you must ride under these conditions, check and be sure you comply with all
local laws about night riding: follow the Rules of the Road and of the Trail even more carefully; and
make sure to take the following additional precautions:
Before riding at dawn, at dusk, at night or at other times of poor visibility,
take the following
steps to make yourself more visible:
•
Make sure that your bicycle is equipped with correctly positioned and securely mounted
reflectors.
•
Purchase and install an adequate battery or generator powered head and tail light.
•
Wear light colored, reflective clothing and accessories, such as a reflective vest, reflective arm
and leg bands, reflective stripes on your helmet, flashing lights...any reflective device or light
source that moves will help you get the attention of approaching motorists, pedestrians and
other traffic.
•
Make sure your clothing or anything you may be carrying on the bicycle does not obstruct a
reflector or light.
While riding at dawn, at dusk, at night or at other times of poor visibility:
•
Ride slowly.
