Raleigh 2008 manual Wet Weather Riding, Night Riding

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3.Don’t ride alone in remote areas. Even when riding with others, make sure that someone knows where you’re going and when you expect to be back.

4.Learn and obey the local laws regulating where and how you can ride off-road, and respect private property.

5.You may be sharing the trail with others — hikers, equestrians, other cyclists. Respect their rights.

6.Yield right of way to pedestrians and animals. Ride in a way that does not frighten or endanger them, and stay far enough away so that their unexpected moves don’t endanger you.

7.Stay on the designated trail. Don’t contribute to erosion by riding in mud or with unnecessary sliding. Don’t disturb the ecosystem by cutting your own trail or shortcut through vegetation or streams. It is your responsibility to minimize your impact on the environment. Leave things as you found them; and always take out everything you brought in.

8.Be prepared. If something goes wrong while you’re riding off-road, help may not be close.

9.Before you attempt to jump with your bike, do stunt riding or race with your bike, read and understand Section 2.G. Downhill, Stunt or Competition Biking.

D.Wet Weather Riding

!WARNING: Wet weather impairs traction, braking and visibility, both for the bicyclist and for other vehicles sharing the road. The risk of an accident is dramatically increased in wet conditions.

Under wet conditions, the stopping power of your brakes (as well as the brakes of other vehicles sharing the road) is dramatically reduced and your tires don’t grip nearly as well. This makes it harder to control speed and easier to lose control.

To make sure that you can slow down and stop safely in wet conditions, ride more slowly and apply your brakes earlier and more gradually than you would under normal, dry conditions. See also Section 4.A.

E. Night Riding

Riding a bicycle at night is many times more dangerous than riding during the day. A bicyclist is very difficult for motorists and pedestrians to see. Therefore, children should never ride at dawn, at dusk or at night. Adults should not ride at dawn, at dusk or at night unless it is absolutely necessary.

!WARNING: Reflectors are not a substitute for required lights. Riding at dawn, at dusk, at night or at other times of poor visibility without an adequate bicycle lighting system and without reflectors is dangerous and may result in serious injury or death.

Bicycle reflectors are designed to pick up and reflect street lights and car lights in a way that may help you to be seen and recognized as a moving bicyclist.

!CAUTION: Check reflectors and their mounting brackets regularly to make sure that they are clean, straight, unbroken and securely mounted. Have your dealer replace damaged reflectors and straighten or tighten any that are bent or loose.

The mounting brackets of front and rear reflectors are often designed as brake straddle cable safety catches which prevent the straddle cable from catching on the tire tread if the cable jumps out of its yoke or breaks.

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Contents For single-speed bicycles Read it before you take the first ride On your new bicycleGeneral Warning Special note for parentsContents Safety first Mechanical Safety CheckFirst Bike fitHandlebar and saddle alignment Make sure the saddle First rideSafety Riding SafetyWear safety gear appropriate to the kind of riding you plan Wet Weather Riding Night RidingBicycling in Traffic Downhill, Stunt or Competition BikingChanging Components or Adding Accessories FitStandover height Saddle positionHandlebar height and angle Brakes TechBrake reach Hand Brakes How hand brakes work Adjusting your coaster brakeCoaster Brake How the coaster brake works Page Wheels Front Wheel Secondary Retention Devices Removing a Bolt‑On Front WheelRemoving a Bolt‑On Rear Wheel with Hand Brake Installing a Bolt‑On Front WheelInstalling a Bolt‑On Rear Wheel with Hand Brake Installing a Bolt‑On Rear Wheel with Coaster Brake PedalsWhich may cause you to lose control and fall Tires and Tubes Service Tire ValvesService Intervals Before every ride Mechanical Safety CheckIf your bicycle sustains an impact Appendix a LessonsDriveway Rideout Turning Without WarningFollowing the Leader SummaryAppendix B Page Appendix C Installing a Quick Release Front Wheel Removing a Quick Release Rear Wheel Seatpost Quick Release Raleigh America, Inc. Bicycle Limited Warranty