Raleigh 2008 Bicycle User Manual


 
8
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.A.
E. Night Riding
Riding a bicycle at night is many times 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 should not ride at dawn,
at dusk or at night unless it is absolutely necessary.
!
WARNING: Reectors 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 reectors is dangerous and may result in serious
injury or death.
Bicycle reectors are designed to pick up and reect street
lights and car lights in a way that may help you to be seen
and recognized as a moving bicyclist.
!
CAUTION: Check reectors 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.
3. Don’t ride alone in remote areas. Even when riding with
others, make sure that someone knows where you’re going
and when you expect to be back.
4. Learn and obey the local laws regulating where and
how you can ride off-road, and respect private property.
5. You may be sharing the trail with others hikers,
equestrians, other cyclists. Respect their rights.
6. Yield right of way to pedestrians and animals. Ride in
a way that does not frighten or endanger them, and stay
far enough away so that their unexpected moves don’t
endanger you.
7. 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.
8. Be prepared. If something goes wrong while you’re riding
off-road, help may not be close.
9. Before you attempt to jump with your bike, do stunt
riding or race with your bike, read and understand Section
2.G. Downhill, Stunt or Competition Biking.
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.