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• Lift the front wheel off the ground and swing it from side to side. Feel smooth? If you feel any
binding or roughness in the steering, you may have a tight headset. Have your dealer or local bike
shop check it.
• Grab one pedal and rock it toward and away from the centerline of the bike; then do the same with
the other pedal. Anything feel loose? If so, have your dealer or local bike shop check it.
• Take a look at the brake pads. Starting to look worn or not hitting the wheel rim squarely? Time to
have the dealer or local bike shop adjust or replace them.
• Carefully check the control cables and cable housings. Any rust? Kinks? Fraying? If so, have your
dealer or local bike shop replace them.
• Squeeze each adjoining pair of spokes on either side of each wheel between your thumb and index
finger. Do they all feel about the same? If any feel loose, have your dealer or local bike shop check
the wheel for tension and trueness.
• Check to make sure that all parts and accessories are still secure, and tighten any that are not.
• Check the frame, particularly in the area around all tube joints; the handlebars; the stem; and the
seatpost for any deep scratches, cracks or discoloration. These are signs of stress-caused fatigue
and indicate that a part is at the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced.
WARNING
: Like any mechanical device, a bicycle and its components are subject to wear
and stress. Different materials and mechanisms wear or fatigue from stress at different rates
and have different life cycles. If a component’s life cycle is exceeded, the component can
suddenly and catastrophically fail, causing serious injury or death to the rider. Scratches,
cracks, fraying and discoloration are signs of stress-caused fatigue and indicate that a part is
at the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced. While the materials and workmanship of
your bicycle or of individual components may be covered by a warranty for a specified period
of time by the manufacturer, this is no guarantee that the product will last the term of the
warranty. The bicycle’s warranty is not meant to suggest that the bicycle cannot be broken or
will last forever. It only means that the bicycle is covered subject to the terms of the warranty.
5. As required: If either brake lever fails the Mechanical Safety Check (Section 1.C), don’t ride the
bike. Have your dealer or local bike shop check the brakes.
If the chain won’t shift smoothly and quietly from gear to gear, the deraileur is out of adjustment. See
your dealer or local bike shop.
6. Every 25 (hard off-road) to 50 (on-road) hours of riding: Take your bike to your dealer or local bike
shop for a complete checkup.
B. If your bicycle sustains an impact:
First, check yourself for injuries, and take care of them as best you can. Seek medical help if
necessary. Next, check your bike for damage. If you see any damage, don’t ride the bike until it has
been repaired. After any crash, take your bike to your dealer or local bike shop for a thorough check.
WARNING
: A crash or other impact 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.