Focus Bikes bicycle - First Ride; Bike Fit

14 Focus Bicycles - Bicycle Owner’s Manual
Safety 15
Removing the reflectors reduces your visibility to others using the roadway.
Being struck by other vehicles may result in serious injury or death.
The reflector brackets may protect you from a brake straddle cable
catching on the tire in the event of brake cable failure. If a brake straddle
cable catches on the tire, it can cause the wheel to stop suddenly, causing
you to loose control and fall.
If you choose to ride under conditions of poor visibility, check and be sure you
comply with all local laws about night riding, and take the following strongly
recommended additional precautions:
 •Purchaseandinstallbatteryorgeneratorpoweredheadandtaillightswhich
meet all regulatory requirements and provide adequate visibility.
 •Wearlightcolored,reectiveclothingandaccessories,suchasareective
vest, reective arm and leg bands, reective stripes on your helmet, ashing
lights attached to your body and/or your bicycle ... any reective device
or light source that moves will help you get the attention of approaching
motorists, pedestrians and other trafc.
 •Makesureyourclothingoranythingyoumaybecarryingonthebicycle
does not obstruct a reector or light.
 •Makesurethatyourbicycleisequippedwithcorrectlypositionedand
securely mounted reectors.
While riding at dawn, at dusk or at night:
•Rideslowly.
•Avoiddarkareasandareasofheavyorfast-movingtrafc.
•Avoidroadhazards.
•Ifpossible,rideonfamiliarroutes.
If riding in trafc:
•Bepredictable.Ridesothatdriverscanseeyouandpredictyourmovements.
•Bealert.Ridedefensivelyandexpecttheunexpected.
•Ifyouplantorideintrafcoften,askyourdealerabouttrafcsafetyclassesor
a good book on bicycle trafc safety.
F. Extreme, stunt or competition riding
Whether you call it Aggro, Hucking, Freeride, North Shore, Downhill, Jumping,
Stunt Riding, Racing or something else: if you engage in this sort of extreme,
aggressive riding you will get hurt, and you voluntarily assume a greatly
increased risk of injury or death.
Not all bicycles are designed for these types of riding, and those that are may
not be suitable for all types of aggressive riding. Check with your dealer or the
bicycle’s manufacturer about the suitability of your bicycle before engaging in
extreme riding.
Off Road Respect
Obey the local laws regulating where and how you can ride off-road, and respect
private property. You may be sharing the trail with others — hikers, equestrians,
other cyclists. Respect their rights. 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.
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.C.
E. Night Riding
Riding a bicycle at night is much more dangerous than riding during the day. A
bicyclist is very difcult for motorists and pedestrians to see. Therefore, children
should never ride at dawn, at dusk or at night. Adults who chose to accept the
greatly increased risk of riding at dawn, at dusk or at night need to take extra
care both riding and choosing specialized equipment which helps reduce that
risk. Consult your dealer about night riding safety equipment.
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 reectors are designed to pick up and reect car lights and street 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 reectors 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.
WARNING: Do not remove the front or rear reflectors or reflector
brackets from your bicycle. They are an integral part of the bicycle’s
safety system.