D. First ride
When you buckle on your helmet and go for your first familiarization ride on your new bicycle, be sure to pick a controlled environment, away
from cars, other cyclists, obstacles or other hazards. Ride to become familiar with the controls, features and performance of your new bike.
Familiarize yourself with the braking action of the bike (see Section
4.C). Test the brakes at slow speed, putting your weight toward the rear
and gently applying the brakes, rear brake first. Sudden or excessive application of the front brake could pitch you over the handlebars. Applying
brakes too hard can lock up a wheel, which could cause you to lose control and fall.
If your bicycle has toeclips or clipless pedals, practice getting in and out of the pedals. See paragraph B.4 above.
If your bike has suspension, familiarize yourself with how the suspension responds to brake application and rider weight shifts. See para-
graph B.5 above and Section 4.F.
Practice shifting the gears (see Section 4.D). Remember to never move the shifter while pedaling backward, nor pedal backwards after hav-
ing moved the shifter. This could jam the chain and cause serious damage to the bicycle.
Check out the handling and response of the bike; and check the comfort. If you have any questions, or if you feel anything about the bike is
not as it should be, take the bike back to your dealer for advice.
4BGFUZ
A. The Basics
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. Always wear a cycling helmet which meets the latest certification standards and follow the helmet manufacturer’s instructions for fit, use and
care of your helmet. Most serious bicycle injuries involve head injuries which might have been avoided if the rider had worn a helmet.
!
WARNING:
Failure to wear a helmet while riding may result in serious injury or death. Observe ALL local bicycle laws
and regulations. Observe regulations about licensing of bicycles, riding on sidewalks, laws regulating bike path and trail use,
helmet laws, child carrier laws, special bicycle traffic laws, and so on. It’s your responsibility to know and obey the laws.
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