Safety; The Basics - Giant MULTI-SPEED Manual

2. Safety

A. The Basics
WARNING: Many states require specific safety devices. It is your respon-
sibility to familiarize yourself with the laws of the state where you ride and to
comply with all applicable laws, including properly equipping yourself and your
bike as the law requires.
Observe all local bicycle laws and regulations. Observe regulations about
licensing of bicycles, riding on sidewalks, laws regulating bike path and trail use,
helmet laws, child carrier laws, special bicycle traffic laws, and so on. It's your
responsibility to know and obey the laws.
1. Always wear a cycling helmet which meets the latest certifica-
tion standards and is appropriate for the type of riding you do.
Always follow the helmet manufacturer's instructions for fit, use
and care of your helmet. Most serious bicycle injuries involve head
injuries which might have been avoided if the rider had worn an
appropriate helmet.
WARNING: Failure to wear a helmet when riding may result in serious
injury or death.
2. Always do the Mechanical Safety Check (Section 1.C) before you get on a bike.
3. Be thoroughly familiar with the controls of your bicycle: brakes (Section 4.C.);
pedals (Section 4.E.); shifting (Section 4.D.)
4. Be careful to keep body parts and other objects away from the sharp teeth of
chainrings, the moving chain, the turning pedals and cranks, and the spinning
wheels of your bicycle.
5. Always wear:
• Shoes that will stay on your feet and will grip the pedals. Never ride barefoot or
in sandals.
• Bright, visible clothing that is not so loose that it can be tangled in the bicycle or
snagged by objects at the side of the road or trail.
• Protective eyewear, to protect against airborne dirt, dust and bugs — tinted
when the sun is bright, clear when it's not.
6. Don't jump with your bike. Jumping a bike, particularly a BMX or mountain
bike, can be fun; but it can put huge and unpredictable stress on the bicycle and
its components. Riders who insist on jumping their bikes risk serious damage,
to their bicycles as well as to themselves. Before you attempt to jump, do stunt
riding or race with your bike, read and understand Section 2.F.
7. Ride at a speed appropriate for conditions. Increased speed means higher risk.
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