Diamondback 7th Edition User Manual
Owner’s Manual
for multi-speed bicycles
7th Edition, 2004
IMPORTANT:
This manual contains important safety,
performance, and service information.
Read it before you take the rst ride
on your new bicycle,
and keep it for reference.
Additional safety, performance and service information for
specic components such as suspension or pedals on your
bicycle, or for accessories such as helmets or lights that you
purchase, may also be available. Make sure that your dealer
has given you all the manufacturers’ literature that was
included with your bicycle or accessories.
If you have any questions or do not understand something,
take responsibility for your safety and consult with your dealer
or the bicycle’s manufacturer.
2
GENERAL WARNING:
Like any sport, bicycling involves risk of injury and
damage. By choosing to ride a bicycle, you assume the
responsibility for that risk, so you need to know — and
to practice — the rules of safe and responsible riding
and of proper use and maintenance. Proper use and
maintenance of your bicycle reduces risk of injury.
This Manual contains many “Warnings” and “Cautions”
concerning the consequences of failure to maintain or inspect
your bicycle and of failure to follow safe cycling practices.
• The combination of the ! safety alert symbol and
the word WARNING indicates a potentially hazardous
situation which, if not avoided, could result in serious
injury or death.
• The combination of the ! safety alert symbol and
the word CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous
situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor or
moderate injury, or is an alert against unsafe practices.
• The word CAUTION used without the safety alert
symbol indicates a situation which, if not avoided, could
result in serious damage to the bicycle or the voiding of
your warranty.
Many of the Warnings and Cautions say “you may
lose control and fall”. Because any fall can result in
serious injury or even death, we do not always repeat the
warning of possible injury or death.
Because it is impossible to anticipate every situation or
condition which can occur while riding, this Manual makes
no representation about the safe use of the bicycle under
all conditions. There are risks associated with the use of
any bicycle which cannot be predicted or avoided, and
which are the sole responsibility of the rider.
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Contents
GENERAL WARNING p. 1
A special note to parents p. 4
1. First
A. Bike Fit p. 5
B. Safety First p. 5
C. Mechanical Safety Check p. 5
D. First ride p. 6
2. Safety
A. The Basics p. 7
B. Riding Safety p. 8
C. Off Road Safety p. 9
D. Wet Weather Riding p. 9
E. Night Riding p. 10
F. Extreme, Stunt, Or Competition Riding p. 11
G. Changing Components
Or Adding Accessories p. 12
3. Fit
A. Standover Height p. 12
B. Saddle Position p. 13
C. Handlebar Height And Angle p. 14
D. Control Position Adjustments p. 15
E. Brake Reach p. 15
4. Tech
A. Wheels p. 16
1. Wheel Quick Release p. 16
2. Removing And Installing
Quick Release Wheels p. 17
3. Removing And Installing Bolt-on Wheels p. 19
B. Seatpost Quick Release p. 20
C. Brakes p. 21
D. Shifting Gears p. 23
E. Pedals p. 25
F. Bicycle Suspension p. 26
G. Tires and Tubes p. 27
5. Service
A. Service Intervals p. 29
B. If Your Bicycle Sustains An Impact p. 31
NOTE:
This manual is not intended as a comprehensive use, service,
repair or maintenance manual. Please see your dealer for all
service, repairs or maintenance. Your dealer may also be able
to refer you to classes, clinics or books on bicycle use, service,
repair or maintenance.
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A special note for parents:
As a parent or guardian, you are responsible for the
activities and safety of your minor child, and that includes
making sure that the bicycle is properly tted to the child;
that it is in good repair and safe operating condition;
that you and your child have learned and understand
the safe operation of the bicycle; and that you and your
child have learned, understand and obey not only the
applicable local motor vehicle, bicycle and trafc laws,
but also the common sense rules of safe and responsible
bicycling. As a parent, you should read this manual, as
well as review its warnings and the bicycle’s functions
and operating procedures with your child, before letting
your child ride the bicycle.
!
WARNING: Make sure that your child always wears
an approved bicycle helmet when riding; but also make
sure that your child understands that a bicycle helmet is
for bicycling only, and must be removed when not riding.
A helmet must not be worn while playing, in play areas,
on playground equipment, while climbing trees, or at
any time while not riding a bicycle. Failure to follow this
warning could result in serious injury or death.
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1. First
NOTE: All operators must read and understand all sections
of this owner’s manual before their initial operation of the
bicycle. If after reading this manual in its entirety you have
any questions, please contact your authorized dealer
for clarication or an explanation of specic topics that
you are unsure about. Please note that not all bicycles
have all of the features described in this Manual. Ask your
dealer to point out the features of your bicycle.
A. Bike Fit
1. Is your bike the right size? To check, see Section 3.A.
If your bicycle is too large or too small for you, you may
lose control and fall. If your new bike is not the right size,
ask your dealer to exchange it before you ride it.
2. Is the saddle at the right height? To check, see
Section 3.B. If you adjust your saddle height, follow the
Minimum Insertion instructions in Section 3.B.
3. Are saddle and seatpost securely clamped?
A correctly tightened saddle will allow no saddle
movement in any direction. See Section 3.B.
4. Are the stem and handlebars at the right height for
you? If not, see Section 3.C.
5. Can you comfortably operate the brakes? If not,
you may be able to adjust their angle and reach. See
Section 3.D and 3.E.
6. Do you fully understand how to operate your
new bicycle? If not, before your first ride, have your
dealer explain any functions or features which you do
not understand.
B. Safety First
1. Always wear an approved helmet when riding your
bike, and follow the helmet manufacturer’s instructions
for t, use and care.
2. Do you have all the other required and
recommended safety equipment? See Section 2. It’s
your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the laws
of the areas where you ride, and to comply with all
applicable laws.
3. Do you know how to correctly operate your wheel
quick releases? Check Section 4.A.1 to make sure.
Riding with an improperly adjusted wheel quick release
can cause the wheel to wobble or disengage from the
bicycle, and cause serious injury or death.
4. If your bike has toeclips and straps or clipless (“stepin”) pedals, make sure you know how they work (see
Section 4.E). These pedals require special techniques
and skills. Follow the pedal manufacturer’s instructions
for use, adjustment and care.
5. Do you have “toe overlap”? On smaller framed
bicycles your toe or toeclip may be able to contact
the front wheel when a pedal is all the way forward
and the wheel is turned. Read Section 4.E. If you have
toeclip overlap.
6. Does your bike have suspension? If so, check Section
4.F. Suspension can change the way a bicycle performs.
Follow the suspension manufacturer’s instructions for use,
adjustment and care.
C. Mechanical Safety Check
Routinely check the condition of your bicycle before
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every ride.
Nuts, bolts & straps: Make sure nothing is loose. Lift the
front wheel off the ground by two or three inches, then
let it bounce on the ground. Anything sound, feel or look
loose? Do a visual and tactile inspection of the whole
bike. Any loose parts or accessories? If so, secure them. If
you’re not sure, ask someone with experience to check.
Tires & Wheels: Make sure tires are correctly inated
(see Section 4.G.1). Check by putting one hand on
the saddle, one on the intersection of the handlebars
and stem, then bouncing your weight on the bike
while looking at tire deection. Compare what you see
with how it looks when you know the tires are correctly
inated; and adjust if necessary.
Tires in good shape? Spin each wheel slowly and look
for cuts in the tread and sidewall. Replace damaged
tires before riding the bike.
Wheels true? Spin each wheel and check for brake
clearance and side-to-side wobble. If a wheel wobbles
side to side even slightly, or rubs against or hits the brake
pads, take the bike to a qualied bike shop to have the
wheel trued.
!
CAUTION: Wheels must be true for the brakes to work
effectively. Wheel truing is a skill which requires special
tools and experience. Do not attempt to true a wheel
unless you have the knowledge, experience and tools
needed to do the job correctly.
Wheel rims clean and undamaged? Make sure the
rims are clean and undamaged along the braking
surface, and check for excess rim wear.
Brakes: Check the brakes for proper operation (see
Sections 4.C). Squeeze the brake levers. Are the brake
quick-releases closed? All control cables seated and
securely engaged? Do the brake pads contact the
wheel rim squarely and make full contact with the rim?
Do the brake pads touch the wheel rim within an inch of
brake lever movement? Can you apply full braking force
at the levers without having them touch the handlebar?
If not, your brakes need adjustment. Do not ride the bike
until the brakes are properly adjusted by a professional
bicycle mechanic.
Quick Releases: Make sure the front wheel, rear wheel
and seat post quick releases are properly adjusted and
in the locked position. See Section 4.A and 4.B.
Handlebar and saddle alignment: Make sure the
saddle and handlebar stem are parallel to the bike’s
center line and clamped tight enough so that you can’t
twist them out of alignment. See Sections 3.B and 3.C.
Handlebar ends: Make sure the handlebar grips
are secure and in good condition. If not, have your
dealer replace them. Make sure the handlebar ends
and extensions are plugged. If not, plug them before
you ride. If the handlebars have bar end extensions,
make sure they are clamped tight enough so you
can’t twist them.
!
WARNING: Loose or damaged handlebar grips
or extensions can cause you to lose control and fall.
Unplugged handlebars or extensions can cut you and
cause serious injury in an otherwise minor accident.
D. First Ride
When you buckle on your helmet and go for your rst
familiarization ride on your new bicycle, be sure to pick
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a controlled environment, away from cars, other cyclists,
obstacles or other hazards. Ride to become familiar with
the controls, features and performance of your new bike.
Familiarize yourself with the braking action of the bike
(see Section 4.C). Test the brakes at slow speed, putting
your weight toward the rear and gently applying the
brakes, rear brake rst. Sudden or excessive application
of the front brake could pitch you over the handlebars.
Applying brakes too hard can lock up a wheel, which
could cause you to lose control and fall. Skidding is an
example of what can happen when a wheel locks up.
If your bicycle has toeclips or clipless pedals, practice
getting in and out of the pedals. See paragraph B.4
above and Section 4.E.4.
If your bike has suspension, familiarize yourself with how
the suspension responds to brake application and rider
weight shifts. See paragraph B.6 above and Section 4.F.
Practice shifting the gears (see Section 4.D).
Remember to never move the shifter while pedaling
backward, nor pedal backwards immediately after
having moved the shifter. This could jam the chain and
cause serious damage to the bicycle.
Check out the handling and response of the bike; and
check the comfort.
If you have any questions, or if you feel anything
about the bike is not as it should be, consult your dealer
before riding.
2. Safety
A. The Basics
!
WARNING: Many states require specic safety
devices. It is your responsibility 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 trafc
laws, and so on. It’s your responsibility to know and obey
the laws.
1. Always wear a cycling helmet which meets the
latest certication standards and is appropriate for
the type of riding you do. Always follow the helmet
manufacturer’s instructions for t, 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
Fig.1
8
• Vehicles slowing or turning, entering the road or
your lane ahead of you, or coming up behind you.
• Parked car doors opening.
• Pedestrians stepping out.
• Children or pets playing near the road.
• Pot holes, sewer grating, railroad tracks, expansion
joints, road or sidewalk construction, debris and other
obstructions that could cause you to swerve into trafc,
catch your wheel or cause you to have an accident.
• The many other hazards and distractions which
can occur on a bicycle ride.
4. Ride in designated bike lanes, on designated bike
paths or as close to the edge of the road as possible,
in the direction of trafc ow or as directed by local
governing laws.
5. Stop at stop signs and trafc lights; slow down and
look both ways at street intersections. Remember that a
bicycle always loses in a collision with a motor vehicle, so
be prepared to yield even if you have the right of way.
6. Use approved hand signals for turning and stopping.
7. Never ride with headphones. They mask trafc
sounds and emergency vehicle sirens, distract you from
concentrating on what’s going on around you, and
their wires can tangle in the moving parts of the bicycle,
causing you to lose control.
8. Never carry a passenger, unless it is a small child
wearing an approved helmet and secured in a correctly
mounted child carrier or a child-carrying trailer.
9. Never carry anything which obstructs your vision
or your complete control of the bicycle, or which could
become entangled in the moving parts of the bicycle.
10. Never hitch a ride by holding on to another vehicle.
11. Don’t do stunts, wheelies or jumps. If you intend
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.
B. Riding Safety
1. You are sharing the road or the path with others
— motorists, pedestrians and other cyclists. Respect
their rights.
2. Ride defensively. Always assume that others do not
see you.
3. Look ahead, and be ready to avoid:
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to do stunts, wheelies, jumps or go racing with your bike
despite our advice not to, read Section 2.F, Downhill,
Stunt or Competition Biking, now. Think carefully about
your skills before deciding to take the large risks that go
with this kind of riding.
12. Don’t weave through trafc or make any moves
that may surprise people with whom you are sharing
the road.
13. Observe and yield the right of way.
14. Never ride your bicycle while under the inuence
of alcohol or drugs.
15. If possible, avoid riding in bad weather, when
visibility is obscured, at dawn, dusk or in the dark, or when
extremely tired. Each of these conditions increases the
risk of accident.
C. Off Road Safety
We recommend that children not ride on rough terrain
unless they are accompanied by an adult.
1. The variable conditions and hazards of off-road
riding require close attention and specic skills. Start
slowly on easier terrain and build up your skills. If your bike
has suspension, the increased speed you may develop
also increases your risk of losing control and falling. Get
to know how to handle your bike safely before trying
increased speed or more difcult terrain.
2. Wear safety gear appropriate to the kind of riding
you plan to do.
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. Always take along some kind of identication, so
that people know who you are in case of an accident;
and take along a couple of dollars in cash for a candy
bar, a cool drink or an emergency phone call.
5. Yield right of way to pedestrians and animals. Ride
in a way that does not frighten or endanger them, and
give them enough room so that their unexpected moves
don’t endanger you.
6. Be prepared. If something goes wrong while you’re
riding off-road, help may not be close.
7. Before you attempt to jump, do stunt riding or race
with your bike, read and understand Section 2.F.
Off Road respect
Obey the local laws regulating where and how you
can ride off-road, and respect private property. You
may be sharing the trail with others — hikers, equestrians,
other cyclists. Respect their rights. 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.
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
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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. 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.C.
E. Night Riding
Riding a bicycle at night is many times more dangerous
than riding during the day. A bicyclist is very difcult for
motorists and pedestrians to see. Therefore, children
should never ride at dawn, at dusk or at night. Adults
who chose to accept the greatly increased risk of riding
at dawn, at dusk or at night need to take extra care both
riding and choosing specialized equipment which helps
reduce that risk. Consult your dealer about night riding
safety equipment.
!
WARNING: Reectors 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 reectors is dangerous and may
result in serious injury or death.
Bicycle reectors are designed to pick up and reect
street lights and car lights in a way that may help you to
be seen and recognized as a moving bicyclist.
!
CAUTION: Check reectors and their mounting
brackets regularly to make sure that they are clean,
straight, unbroken and securely mounted. Have your
dealer replace damaged reectors and straighten or
tighten any that are bent or loose.
The mounting brackets of front and rear reectors 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.
!
WARNING: Do not remove the front or rear reectors
or reector brackets from your bicycle. They are an
integral part of the bicycle’s safety system.
Removing the reectors may reduce your visibility to
others using the roadway. Being struck by other vehicles
may result in serious injury or death.
The reector brackets may protect you from the brake
straddle cable catching on the tire in the event of brake
cable failure. If a brake straddle cable catches on the
tire, it can cause the wheel to stop suddenly, causing you
to loose control and fall.
If you choose to ride under conditions of poor
visibility, check and be sure you comply with all local
laws about night riding, and take the following strongly
recommended additional precautions:
• Purchase and install battery or generator
powered head and tail lights which meet all regulatory
requirements and provide adequate visibility.
• Wear light colored, reective clothing and
accessories, such as a reective vest, reective arm
and leg bands, reective stripes on your helmet, ashing
lights attached to your body and/or your bicycle ... any
reective device or light source that moves will help you
get the attention of approaching motorists, pedestrians
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