RIDLEY Bicycle Use And Maintenance Booklet page 40

are not intended to have the life expectancy of their heavier counter
parts, and you must therefore exercise extra care in checking for
signs of stress fatigue (see Section 7).
Because it is impossible to test all combinations of components, we
cannot guarantee that a component you select will be appropriate or
safe when used with your bicycle.
Suspension forks are also a popular component upgrade. Before
installing a suspension fork on a non-suspension bike or installing a
fork with different travel or geometry characteristics than the original
fork on the bicycle, you must make sure that the frame is designed to
take the change in geometry and the changes in stress
characteristics which the change in fork can cause. Ask your dealer
to check with the bike's manufacturer, or check with the
manufacturer's technical support staff yourself, before installing a
different fork on your bicycle.
WARNING: Suspension forks, particularly the "double clamp" and
"triple clamp" designs favored by downhill racers, put stresses on the
head tube and front part of the bicycle frame which may be beyond
the frame designer's original intent. Such stresses can result in
sudden, catastrophic frame failure, which can cause serious injury or
death.
Disc brakes are becoming a more common mountain bike
performance upgrade. Most front suspension forks are designed to
accept a disc brake, and can take the added stresses at the brake
mounting points. Be sure that the fork you are using is designed to
accept disc brake stresses.
Most bicycle frames, however, were not designed for the stresses
that a rear disc brake can put on the seatstay or chainstay. Before
attempting to install a rear disc brake, ask your dealer to check with
the bike's manufacturer, or check with the manufacturer's technical
support staff yourself, to make sure that the frame can absorb the
localized stresses at the disc brake's mounting points.
WARNING: Rear disc brakes put stresses on the seatstay or
chainstay that may be beyond the frame designers' original intent.
Such stresses can result in sudden, catastrophic frame failure, which
can cause serious injury or death.
Your Authorized Dealer has many other comfort and performance
accessories that can increase your cycling enjoyment.
10. ABOUT YOUR AUTHORIZED DEALER
Your Authorized Dealer is here to help you get the bike and
accessories which are most appropriate for the kind of riding that you
intend to do, and to help you maintain your equipment so that you
can get the maximum enjoyment from it. Your bike shop's staff has
the knowledge, tools and experience to give you reliable advice and
competent service. Your dealer carries the products of a variety of
manufacturers so that you can have the choices that best meet your
needs and your budget.
But your dealer's staff can't make decisions for you; nor can they
assume responsibility for your lack of knowledge, experience, skill or
common sense. They can explain to you how something works, or
what part or accessory will meet your special needs, but they can't
know your questions or your needs unless you tell them.
If you have a problem with your bike or your riding, talk to your
dealer. Make sure that the dealer understands your problem or
question, and make sure that you really understand the answers.
40