Giant Bicycles - Page 30

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2. Some bicycles come equipped with pedals that have sharp and
potentially dangerous surfaces. These surfaces are designed to add safety
by increasing grip between the rider’s shoe and the pedal. If your bicycle
has this type of high-performance pedal, you must take extra care to avoid
serious injury from the pedals’ sharp surfaces. Based on your riding style or
skill level, you may prefer a less aggressive pedal design, or chose to ride
with shin pads. Your dealer can show you a number of options and make
suitable recommendations.
3. Toeclips and straps are a means to keep feet correctly positioned and
engaged with the pedals. The toeclip positions the ball of the foot over the
pedal spindle, which gives maximum pedaling power. The toe strap, when
tightened, keeps the foot engaged throughout the rotation cycle of the pedal.
While toeclips and straps give some benet with any kind of shoe, they work
most effectively with cycling shoes designed for use with toeclips. Your dealer
can explain how toeclips and straps work. Shoes with deep treaded soles
or welts which might might make it more difcult for you to remove your foot
should not be used with toeclips and straps.
WARNING: Getting into and out of pedals with toeclips and straps
requires skill which can only be acquired with practice. Until it becomes a
reex action, the technique requires concentration which can distract your
attention and cause you to lose control and fall. Practice the use of toeclips
and straps where there are no obstacles, hazards or trafc. Keep the straps
loose, and don’t tighten them until your technique and condence in getting
in and out of the pedals warrants it. Never ride in trafc with your toe straps
tight.
4. Clipless pedals (sometimes called “step-in pedals”) are another means
to keep feet securely in the correct position for maximum pedaling efciency.
They have a plate, called a “cleat,” on the sole of the shoe, which clicks into
a mating spring-loaded xture on the pedal. They only engage or disengage
with a very specic motion which must be practiced until it becomes
instinctive. Clipless pedals require shoes and cleats which are compatible
with the make and model pedal being used.
Many clipless pedals are designed to allow the rider to adjust the
amount of force needed to engage or disengage the foot. Follow the pedal
manufacturer’s instructions, or ask your dealer to show you how to make this
adjustment. Use the easiest setting until engaging and disengaging becomes
a reex action, but always make sure that there is sufcient tension to prevent
unintended release of your foot from the pedal.
WARNING: Clipless pedals are intended for use with shoes specically
made to t them and are designed to rmly keep the foot engaged with the
pedal. Using shoes which do not engage the pedals correctly is dangerous.
Practice is required to learn to engage and disengage the foot safely. Until
engaging and disengaging the foot becomes a reex action, the technique
requires concentration which can distract your attention and cause you to
lose control and fall. Practice engaging and disengaging clipless pedals in a