!WARNING: If your bicycle does not fit properly, you may lose control and fall. If your new bike doesn’t fit, ask your dealer to exchange it before you ride it.
A.Standover height
Standover height is the basic element of bike fit (see fig. 2). It is the distance from the ground to the top of the bicycle’s frame at that point where your crotch would be if you were straddling the bike and standing half way between the saddle and the handlebars. To check for correct standover height, straddle the bike while wearing the kind of shoes in which you’ll be riding, and bounce vigorously on your heels. If your crotch touches the frame, the bike is too big for you.
Don’t even ride the bike around the block. A bike which you ride only on paved surfaces and never take
clearance of two inches (5 cm). A bike that you’ll ride on unpaved surfaces should give you a minimum of four inches (7.5 cm) of standover height clearance. And a bike that you’ll use for rough terrain, jumping or stunt riding should give you four inches (10 cm) or more of clearance.
!WARNING: If you plan to use your bike for jumping or stunt riding, read Section 2.G again.
B. Saddle position
Correct saddle adjustment is an important factor in getting the most performance and comfort from your bicycle. If the saddle position is not comfortable for you, see your dealer, who has the tools and skill to change it.
The saddle can be adjusted in three directions:
1.Up and down
2.Forward and back
3.Horizontal angle
Ask your dealer to set the saddle in the position he recommends for you, and to show you how to make further adjustments.
Small changes in saddle position can have a substantial effect on performance and comfort. Only one directional change at a time, and only a small change at a time, should be made to your saddle position.
Always make sure that your seat post does not extend from the frame beyond the Minimum Insertion or Maximum Extension mark engraved on it.
!WARNING: If your seat post projects from the frame beyond the Minimum Insertion or Maximum Extension mark (see fig. 3) or you cannot touch the bottom of the seat post through the bottom of the interrupted seat tube with the tip of your finger without inserting your finger beyond its first knuckle (see fig. 4), the seat post may break, which could cause you to lose control and fall.
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