Chapter. 5 Riding Techniques - MARIN Owner's Manual

7. I will respect public and private property, including trail-use
signs and no-trespassing signs and will leave gates as I found
them.
8. I will always be self-sufficient and my destination objective and
travel speed will be determined by my ability, my equipment,
the terrain and present and potential weather conditions.
9. I will not travel solo when bicycle packing in remote areas. I will
leave word of my destination and when I plan to return.
10. I will observe the practice of minimum-impact bicycle packing
by taking only pictures and memories, leaving only waffle prints.
11. I will always wear a helmet whenever I ride.
C H A P T E R 5
R I D I N G T E C H N I Q U E S
It's a good idea to first practice riding your Marin bicycle on flat roads
in a relatively safe area in order to get the feel of your bicycle and to
practice shifting and braking. Then you can graduate to more chal-
lenging terrain to practice climbing/descending, cornering and deal-
ing with obstacles. After your first ride, you'll need to check out both
your brakes and your derailleurs to see if they need any adjustment.
SHIFTING:
There are two shift levers on your handlebar: the one on the right con-
trols the rear derailleur and the one on the left the front derailleur.
The rear derailleur guides (or "derails") the chain up and down the
rear set of cogs. The front derailleur moves the chain from one chain-
wheel to another. As the chain is guided from a large chain ring to a
small, the tension roller on the rear derailleur keeps the chain taut. Do
not attempt to shift when not pedaling;-the pedals must be moving
forward for either derailleur to function properly.
Shift to a bigger rear cog and on to a smaller chainring when you feel
strain or before you begin a climb. In easy riding situations or when
riding downhill, shift the chain on to the smallest rear cog and the
largest chainring. Avoid using extreme combinations such as the large
chainring with the largest cog as these combinations cause excessive
wear.
BRAKING:
The right lever operates the rear brake and the left lever controls the
front brake (except in some countries such as the UK). When you first
get your Marin bike, you must practice braking in a controlled envi-
ronment. You will need this controlled practice to become accus-
tomed to the feel, modulation and power of the brakes. The brakes
equipped on your bicycle are very powerful; use them with care and
caution.
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