10
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 paragraph 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 having moved the shifter. This could
jam the chain and cause serious damage to the bicycle and may
cause you to lose control and fall.
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.
2. Safety
A. The Basics
1.
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.
2.
Always do the Mechanical Safety Check (Section 1.C)
before you get on a bike.
3.
Be thoroughly familiar with the controls of your bicycle:
brakes (Section 4.C.); pedals (Section 4.E.); shifting (Section4.D.)
4.
Be careful to keep body parts and other objects away from
the sharp teeth of chainrings; the moving chain; the turning pedals
and cranks; and the spinning wheels of your bicycle.
5.
Always wear:
• Shoes that will stay on your feet and will grip the
pedals. Never ride barefoot or while wearing sandals.
• Bright, visible clothing that is not so loose that it can be
tangled in the bicycle or snagged by objects at the side of
the road or trail.
Fig. 1
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