If your bike has suspension, familiarize yourself with how the suspension responds to brake application and rider weight shifts. See paragraph B.5 above and Section 4.F.
Check out the handling and response of the bike; and check the comfort.
If you have any questions, or if you feel anything about the bike is not as it should be, take the bike back to your dealer for advice.
2. Safety
!WARNING: Many states require specific safety devices. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the laws of the state where you ride and to comply with all applicable laws, including properly equipping yourself and your bike as the law requires.
An important note to parents: Appendix A of this Manual contains some rules and lessons which adults are already expected to know, but which children need to be taught and to have frequently reinforced. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with Appendix A as well as with the information below, and to teach these rules to your child before you let your child ride unsupervised.
A.The Basics
1.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.
!WARNING: Failure to wear a helmet when riding may result in serious injury or death.
2.Always do the Mechanical Safety Check (Section 1.C) before you get on a bike.
3.Be thoroughly familiar with the controls of your bicycle: brakes (Section 4.A) and pedals (Section 4.C).
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 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. Ride at a speed appropriate for conditions. Increased speed means higher risk.
7. Before you attempt to jump, do stunt riding or race with your bike, read and understand Section 2.G. Downhill, Stunt or Competition Biking.
B. Riding Safety
1.Observe all local bicycle laws and regulations. Observe regulations about licensing of bicycles, riding on sidewalks, laws regulating bike path and trail use, and so on. Observe helmet
