8
2.a - the BasiCs
. Always wear a cycling helmet which meets the
latest certification standards and is appropriate
for the type of riding you do. Always 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
an appropriate helmet.
Figure . Bicycle Helmet
Your helmet should be:
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) certified (look for the label on the
helmet)
•
Properly Sized for You
•
Properly Fitted to You
•
Properly Attached to Your Head!
•
Undamaged
ASK YOUR RETAILER FOR HELP
WaRninG
failURe to WeaR a helmet When
RidinG may ResUlt in seRioUs inJURy
oR death.
. Always do the Mechanical Safety Check
(SECTION .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 (SECTION 4.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 in 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 can put huge and unpredictable
stress on the bicycle and its components.
Riders who insist on jumping their bikes risk
serious damage, to their bicycles as well as to
themselves. Before you attempt to jump, do
stunt riding or race with your bike, read and
understand SECTION .F.
7. Ride at a speed appropriate for conditions.
Increased speed means higher risk.
