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.
•
Protective eyewear, to protect against airborne dirt, dust and
bugs — tinted when the sun is bright, clear when it’s not.
6.
Don’t jump with your bike. Jumping a bike — particularly a BMX
or mountain bike — can be fun; but it puts incredible stress on
everything from your spokes to your pedals. Riders who insist on
jumping their bikes risk serious damage, to their bicycles as well
as to themselves.
7.
Ride at a speed appropriate for conditions. Increased speed means
higher risk.
B. Riding Safety
1
.
Observe all local bicycle laws and regulations. Observe regula-
tions about licensing of bicycles, riding on sidewalks, laws regulat-
ing bike path and trail use, and so on. Observe helmet laws, child
carrier laws and special bicycle traffic laws. It’s your responsibility
to know and obey the laws.
2.
You are sharing the road or the path with others — motorists,
pedestrians and other cyclists. Respect their rights.
3.
Ride defensively. Always assume that others do not see you.
4.
Look ahead, and be ready to avoid:
•
Vehicles slowing or turning, entering the road or your lane
ahead of you, or coming up behind you.
•
Parked car doors opening.
•
Pedestrians stepping out.
•
Children or pets playing near the road.
•
Pot holes, sewer gratings, railroad tracks, expansion joints,
road or sidewalk construction, debris and other obstructions
that could cause you to swerve into traffic, catch your wheel or
otherwise cause you to lose control and have an accident.
•
The many other hazards and distractions which can occur on
a bicycle ride.
5.
Ride in designated bike lanes, on designated bike paths or as close
to the edge of the road as possible.
6.
Stop at stop signs and traffic lights; slow down and look both ways
at street intersections. Remember that a bicycle
always
loses in a
collision with a motor vehicle, so be prepared to yield even if you
have the right of way.
7.
Use approved hand signals for turning and stopping.
8.
Never ride with headphones. They mask traffic sounds and emer-
gency vehicle sirens, distract you from concentrating on what’s
going on around you, and their wires can tangle in the moving
parts of the bicycle, causing you to lose control.
SECTION: II Safety
7
26
SECTION: IV Tech
F. Bicycle Suspension
Many bicycles are equipped with suspension systems. There are many differ-
ent types of suspension systems — too many to deal with individually in this
Manual. If your bicycle has a suspension system of any kind, be sure to read
and follow the suspension manufacturer’s setup and service instructions. If
you do not have the manufacturer’s instructions, see your dealer or contact the
manufacturer.
WARNING:
Failure to maintain, check and properly adjust the suspension
system may result in suspension malfunction, which may cause you to lose
control and fall.
If your bike has suspension, the increased speed you may develop also
increases your risk of injury. For example, when braking, the front of a
suspended bike dips. You could lose control and fall if you do not have
experience with this system. Learn to handle your suspension system safely.
See also Section IV.C.
WARNING:
Changing suspension adjustment can change the handling
and braking characteristics of your bicycle. Never change suspension
adjustment unless you are thoroughly familiar with the suspension system
manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations, and always check for
changes in the handling and braking characteristics of the bicycle after a
suspension adjustment by taking a careful test ride in a hazard-free area.
Suspension can increase control and comfort by allowing the wheels to
better follow the terrain. This enhanced capability may allow you to ride
faster; but you must not confuse the enhanced capabilities of the bicycle
with your own capabilities as a rider. Increasing your skill will take time
and practice. Proceed carefully until you have learned to handle the full
capabilities of your bike.
CAUTION:
Not all bicycles can be safely retrofitted with some types of
suspension systems. Before retrofitting a bicycle with any suspension,
check with the bicycle’s manufacturer to make sure that what you want to do
is compatible with the bicycle’s design.
G. Tires and Tubes
1. Tires
Bicycle tires are available in many designs and specifications,
ranging from general-purpose designs to tires designed to per-
form best under very specific weather or terrain conditions. If,
once you’ve gained experience with your new bike, you feel that
a different tire might better suit your riding needs, your dealer can
help you select the most appropriate design.
The size, pressure rating, and on some high-performance tires the
specific recommended use, are marked on the sidewall of the tire
(see Fig. 22). The part of this information which is most important
to you is Tire Pressure.
