OWNER’S MANUAL
HALFWHEELER™ TRAILER CYCLE
Before you go riding with your new Halfwheeler trailer cycle for the first time all of us at GIANT strongly encourage you to read this manual. In return for the time spent reading this manual and learning about your new GIANT Halfwheeler you will be rewarded with many hours of safe bicycling.
IMPORTANT! If a minor will be riding a bicycle with this trailer attached, it is essential that a responsible adult/parent read and explain this owner’s manual to the minor.
Like anything else in life - and particularly in sporting activities, bicycling involves risk. The risk is that riding a bicycle may lead to injury or death. By choosing to ride a bicycle, with or without a trailer, you assume the responsibility for that risk. Not the people who sold you the trailer. Not the people that made it. Not the people who distribute it.
It’s all about you!
If you have questions that are not answered by this manual, or cannot be answered by your GIANT Dealer,
please contact GIANT directly: Toll free – 1.800. US.GIANT Orwww.giantbicycle.com
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GENERAL WARNING:
Bicycling is a hazardous activity! Proper maintenance of your bicycle and trailer is your responsibility, as it will reduce the risk of injury. This manual contains many “Warnings” and “Cautions” concerning the consequences of failing to maintain or inspect your trailer. Be sure to read and understand all of the Warnings and Cautions. Many refer to circumstances that may cause you to lose your balance and fall, which may result in personal injury or death, to you and/or your passenger.
TRAILER USE:
Use of a trailer changes the handling characteristics of your bicycle, and entails its own unique risks. Be sure to carefully read and understand the “Trailer Use” section in this manual. Failure to be aware of and responsive to the special characteristics of riding with a trailer may lead to serious personal injury or death, to you and/or your passenger.
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TRAILER USE
•Extra caution must be exercised when riding with your trailer.
Your bicycle will perform much differently when pulling your trailer. The additional weight of the trailer, passenger and cargo will make your bike less responsive.
You will need to ride slower than you normally would without a trailer.
Also, be aware that your bicycle with the trailer attached will be much longer than it is without the trailer.
Use extra caution in all situations.
•It will be more difficult and slower to get started and up to speed because of the extra weight.
•It will take longer to cross streets and paths because of the extra length.
•A greater distance and increased effort will be required to stop because of the extra weight.
•While riding down hills with a trailer you will accelerate more quickly and will reach higher speeds if unchecked by the rider. While riding down hills you will need to use your brakes sooner and more frequently to keep your speed under control. Remember to apply your rear brake before using the front brake.
•Negotiating corners should be done slowly and with caution. Your bicycle will handle corners differently with the trailer attached than it does without the trailer.
•Do not ride your bicycle over curbs, potholes or other obstacles with the trailer attached. It is highly recommended that you ride your bicycle
and trailer in an open area without traffic to get used to how your bicycle rides with the trailer attached before riding elsewhere.
•The Halfwheeler was design for use on smooth roads.
The trailer could be damaged and your passenger injured if the trailer is used off-road.
•Using the safety flag – included – will help make others aware that you are towing a trailer. Always use the safety flag when using the trailer, and avoid riding at night.
Failure to be aware of and respond to the special characteristics of riding your bicycle with a trailer may lead to serious personal injury and death, to you and/or your passenger. Be sure to practice riding your bike with the trailer in an open area without traffic until you are comfortable and familiar with the handling characteristics.
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DANGEROUS RIDING CONDITIONS
Riding a bicycle – with or without a trailer attached – in wet conditions requires earlier braking, greater stopping distances, and slower riding speeds.
WET RIDING CONDITIONS
Stopping a bicycle – with or without a trailer attached – in wet conditions is a potentially dangerous situation.
It will require a much greater distance to come to a safe stop, and even more with a trailer attached.
There is always the chance that you could be caught in a rainstorm while riding, and you will be surprised by how much it affects your brake performance!
We recommend that you ride more slowly, allow more time and distance for stopping, and feather the force used while applying the front and rear brakes together to prevent skidding.
NIGHT RIDING
Riding at night with a trailer is strongly discouraged due to reduced visibility. It is both harder to be seen as a cyclist at night, and harder to see at dusk and at night.
LIGHTS
If you must ride at night, the best way to improve your visibility and your vision is to use a high quality front headlight and a bright blinking red rear light.
Do not ride at night without front and rear lights, as well a rear light for the trailer.
REFLECTORS
Federal regulations require every bicycle (except children’s “sidewalk” bikes) to be equipped with front, rear, wheel and pedal reflectors.
The size, performance and location of each reflector are defined by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (the CPSC).
The GIANT Halfwheeler comes equipped with reflectors in accordance with CPSC guidelines.
The purpose of these reflectors is to protect you from accidentally being hit by a car or other road user, as well as to warn others of your presence.
The reflectors are designed to reflect light from cars, streetlights and
other ambient sources in order to identify you as a moving cyclist. Removing the reflectors will reduce your visibility to others using the roadway and put you and your passenger in great jeopardy.
Be forewarned that reflectors are not a substitute for front and rear lights.
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