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CAUTION: Holding the nut with one hand and
turning the lever like a wing nut until tight will
not clamp the seat post safely. The full force
of the cam action is needed to clamp the seat
post securely.
7.9 Brakes
NOTE: For most effective braking, always
apply both brakes simultaneously.
WARNING: Sudden or excessive
application of the front brake may pitch
the rider over the handlebar, which
may cause serious injury.
7.9.1 How brakes work
It’s important to your safety that you
instinctively know which brake lever controls
which brake on your bike. The braking action
of a bicycle is a function of the friction between
the brake surfaces - the brake shoes and the
wheel rim on the front brake and internal brake
shoes on the rear roller brake. To make sure
that you have maximum friction available, keep
your wheel rims and brake shoes clean and
free of lubricants, waxes or polishes.
Brakes are designed to control your speed,
not just to stop the bike. Try, as much as
possible, to get used to the (strong) braking
performance during your first ride.
Braking and traction forces change
dramatically when riding on loose surfaces or
in wet weather. Tyre adhesion is reduced, so
the wheels have less cornering and braking
traction and can lock up with less brake force.
Moisture or dirt on the brake shoes can
reduce their ability to slow and stop the wheel
effectively. Riding more slowly will help you
control the bicycle in wet or rough conditions.
7.9.2 Brake Actuated Motor Shut-Off
Lafree is equipped with a special safety
feature that disengages the motor assist any
time the brakes are applied. If you notice
Lafree’s power assisted pedals or VPC
Throttle operating while the brakes are
applied, take it to your authorised Lafree
dealer immediately for service.
WARNING: Always run the Self
Diagnostic test before every ride to
ensure Brake Actuated Motor Shut-Off
feature is operational. Riding Lafree
with a non-operational Brake Actuated
Motor Shut-Off could cause you to lose
control and fall.
7.10 Changing Gears
The gear-changing mechanism on your
bicycle consists of:
• Twist shifter on the left side of the handle bar
• Derailleur with sprocket or internal gear hub
7.10.1 What the gears are for
Lafree’s gearing is a simple yet effective way
to help you fine tune your pedal revolutions,
also known as cadence. Lafree’s gearing is
considered mid-range, meaning that it is
designed for rolling, steep terrain. Lafree’s
power assisted pedals and VPC Throttle
motor assist features are effective up to a
maximum of 15 percent grade.
The more you ride, the more proficient you will
become at shifting gears. You will get the
greatest fitness benefit, produce the greatest
sustained power and have the greatest
endurance if you learn to spin the pedals at a
high cadence with low pedal resistance. You
will get the least fitness benefit and have the
least endurance by pushing hard on the
pedals against heavy resistance. At the same
time, this could lead to knee pain and injuries.
Lafree’s power assisted pedals and VPC
Throttle features assist your cadence by
giving you a boost anytime the Energy Set is
on and you are pedalling. However, you
should still use the gears to get the most
performance from your legs and motor assist.
Pedalling in a harder gear will cause the
power assisted pedals torque sensor to use
more energy, which can drain the available
energy stores more quickly.
7.10.2 shifting gears with derailleur
First and foremost, you must be pedalling
forward to shift the drive chain from one gear
to another.
0288 Opm Binnenwerk 11-02-2000 10:46 Pagina 25
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