which you’ll be riding, and with feet shoulder
(pedal) width apart. If the top of your inseam
(crotch) touches the frame, the bike is too big
for you.
4.1.2 Saddle Position
Saddle height and position are extremely
important factors in determining your comfort
and performance. Due to Lafree’s unique
hinged saddle, fore/aft saddle position is fixed.
However, the most important aspect of saddle
position - saddle height - can and should be
adjusted for maximum comfort and pedalling
efficiency.
4.1.2.1 Height Adjustment
Put your heel on the pedal at its lowest
position. Your leg should be stretched with a
slight bend in the knee. Use this as a rule of
thumb. If you do not feel comfortable, slight
adjustments may be necessary.
To adjust the saddle height: Loosen the seat
binder quick-release cam lever (Fig. 4B; see
also Section 7.8 on Seat Post Quick-Re-
leases) and move the seat post up or down as
required. Re-tighten the seat binder, securing
it so that the post does not twist. Check the
adjustment as described above. Under no
circumstances should the seat post protrude
from the frame beyond its “Minimum Insertion”
or “Maximum Extension” mark (Fig. 4C).
8
4
BIKE SIZING AND SAFETY
FIGURE 4B
4.1 Size
WARNING: A bike that is too big or too
small for the rider can be difficult to
control and can be uncomfortable. If
your bicycle does not fit properly, you
may lose control and fall.
4.1.1 Frame size
Lafree’s sloping “primary frame tube” allows
for greater standover clearance for a wide
variety of riders (clearance between primary
frame tube and top of inseam while straddling
the bike just in front of the saddle). Your
dealer will have made sure you had the
correct standover clearance, based on
physical examination. If someone else
selected a Lafree for you, as a gift, for
example, it is important to have the correct
standover clearance before attempting to ride
it (Fig. 4A). If you cannot stand flat-footed with
feet at shoulder width without coming into
contact with the primary frame tube, we
strongly suggest that you do not attempt to
ride Lafree.
To check for safe standover height, straddle
the bike while wearing the kind of shoes in
FIGURE 4A
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