MARIN Bicycle Owner's Manual
BICYCLE OWNER’S MANUAL
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Bicycle Owner’s Manual
This manual meets EN Standards 14764, 14766 and 14781.
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. In case of a
conict between the instructions in this manual and information provided by
a component manufacturer, always follow the component manufacturer’s
instructions.
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.
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.
You may also purchase repair manuals at: www.bbinstitute.com
Note this manual is available online at: www.marinbikes.com/manuals
Please note that Marin customer service for USA/Canada purchasers is at:
www.marinbikes.com/customer_service
PRODUCT REGISTRATION:
In order to improve warranty service you must completely ll out the online
Bicycle Registration at time of purchase.
This can be found at: http://www.marinbikes.com/registration.
To see Marin’s current limited warranty and related warranty claims
information please visit: http://www.marinbikes.com/warranty
Outside the USA and Canada the WARRANTY REGISTRATION CARD
included in the back of this Owners Manual must be lled out immediately
and returned to the Marin Bikes distributor in your country or at their
website if that distributor offers web based warranty registration. The
contact information of the distributor in the country in which you bought the
bicycle is listed at: www.marinbikes.com/international_distributors
Please do not assume that the Warranty policies shown for the USA and
Canada apply in your country. Warranty policies vary depending upon the
Marin Distributor in the country of your purchase. Please check with your
Marin Dealer or the Marin Distributor in your country for the warranty policy
covering your purchase or check: www.marinbikes.com/warranty
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CONGRATULATIONS!
You’ve just bought one of the nest bicycles in the world; a Marin! Since
our beginning in 1986, we’ve been developing and rening the quality of
our bicycles. We have been an industry leader, working with top name
suppliers to identify the best new materials and latest developments in
technology. All of these improvements are the result of several factors:
First: We race our top end bicycles on the toughest trails and roads in the
world through our national and international race teams in North America
and Europe.
Second: We ride and rene the bicycles ourselves. We are bicycle
enthusiasts, and have been since our inception. We ride Marin bikes daily
to test and re-test our race-proven and time-tested frames. The result is a
collection of durable, lightweight, high-performance bicycles that we’re sure
you will be proud to own and ride.
We are extremely proud of the products we offer, and the service offered
by our staff and our distributors. We have been recognized year after year,
and in 40 countries around the world, for our superior frame designs and
unique performance characteristics. We are certain our hard work will be
evident every time you go fora ride. So here’s wishing you many years of
enjoyment!
Thanks for investing in a Marin,
Marin Bikes
Table of Contents
GENERAL WARNING..................................................................................6
A Special Note for Parents...........................................................................6
Chapter 1: First 7
A. Bike Fit......................................................................................................7
B. Safety First................................................................................................7
C. Mechanical Safety Check.........................................................................8
D. First Ride...................................................................................................9
Chapter 2: Safety 10
A. The Basics .............................................................................................10
B. Riding Safety..........................................................................................10
C. Off Road Safety......................................................................................12
D. Wet Weather Riding..............................................................................12
E. Night Riding...........................................................................................12
F. Extreme, Stunt or Competition Riding....................................................14
G. Changing Components or Adding Accessories.....................................15
Chapter 3: Fit 16
A. Standover Height....................................................................................16
B. Saddle Position.......................................................................................16
C. Handlebar Height and Angle...................................................................18
D. Control Position Adjustments..................................................................19
E. Brake Reach...........................................................................................19
Chapter 4: Tech 20
A. Wheels...................................................................................................20
1. Front Wheel Secondary Retention Devices........................................22
2. Wheels with Cam Action Systems.......................................................22
3. Removing and Installing Wheels........................................................23
B. Seat Post Cam Action Clamp................................................................25
C. Brakes...................................................................................................26
D. Shifting Gears........................................................................................28
E. Pedals...................................................................................................30
F. Bicycle Suspension...............................................................................31
G. Tires and Tubes.....................................................................................32
Chapter 5: Service 34
A. Service Intervals...................................................................................34
B. If Your Bicycle Sustains an Impact......................................................36
Appendix A: Intended Use.....................................................................37
Appendix B: Lifespan of Your Bike and its Components........................42
Appendix C: Coaster Brakes..................................................................48
Appendix D: Fastener Torque Specications.........................................49
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Chapter 1: First
NOTE: We strongly urge you to read this Manual in its entirety before your
rst ride. At the very least, read and make sure that you understand each
point in this section, and refer to the cited sections on any issue which
you don’t completely understand. 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 seat post 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 rst 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 secure your front and rear wheels? Check
Section 4.A.1 to make sure. Riding with an improperly secured wheel
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 (“step-in”) 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. to check whether 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.
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.
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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D. First Ride
When you buckle on your helmet and go for your rst familiarization ride on
your new bicycle, be sure to pick 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 you ride again.
Squeeze the brake levers. Are the brake quick-releases closed? All control
cables seated and securely engaged? If you have rim brakes, do the brake
pads contact the wheel rim squarely and make full contact with the rim?
Do the brakes begin to engage 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.
Wheel retention system: Make sure the front and rear wheels are
correctly secured. See Section 4.A
Seat post: If your seat post has an over-center cam action fastener for
easy height adjustment, check that it is properly adjusted and in the locked
position. See Section 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, have your dealer 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.
VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE:
Please also read and become thoroughly familiar with the important
information on the lifespan of your bicycle and its components in
Appendix B on Page 43.
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 rim brakes to work
effectively. Wheel trueing 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 at the tire bead and, if you have rim brakes, along the braking
surface. Check to make sure that any rim wear indicator marking is not
visible at any point on the wheel rim.
WARNING: Bicycle wheel rims are subject to wear. Ask your
dealer about wheel rim wear. Some wheel rims have a rim wear
indicator which becomes visible as the rim’s braking surface
wears. A visible rim wear indicator on the side of the wheel rim
is an indication that the wheel rim has reached its maximum
usable life. Riding a wheel that is at the end of its usable life
can result in wheel failure, which can cause you to loose
control and fall.
Brakes: Check the brakes for proper operation (see Sections 4.C).
C. Mechanical Safety Check
Routinely check the condition of your bicycle before every ride.
Nuts, bolts screws & other fasteners: Because manufacturers use a
wide variety of fastener sizes and shapes made in a variety of materials,
often differing by model and component, the correct tightening force or
torque cannot be generalized. To make sure that the many fasteners
on your bicycle are correctly tightened, refer to the Fastener Torque
Specications in Appendix D of this manual or to the torque specications
in the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the component in
question. Correctly tightening a fastener requires a calibrated torque
wrench. A professional bicycle mechanic with a torque wrench should
torque the fasteners on you bicycle. If you choose to work on your own
bicycle, you must use a torque wrench and the correct tightening torque
specications from the bicycle or component manufacturer or from your
dealer. If you need to make an adjustment at home or in the eld, we urge
you to exercise care, and to have the fasteners you worked on checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING: Correct tightening force on fasteners –nuts, bolts,
screws– on your bicycle is important. Too little force, and the
fastener may not hold securely. Too much force, and the
fastener can strip threads, stretch, deform or break. Either
way, incorrect tightening force can result in component failure,
which can cause you to loose control and fall.
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
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10. 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.
11. Never hitch a ride by holding on to another vehicle.
12. Don’t do stunts, wheelies or jumps. If you intend 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.
13. Don’t weave through trafc or make any moves that may surprise
people with whom you are sharing the road.
14. Observe and yield the right of way.
15. Never ride your bicycle while under the inuence of alcohol or drugs.
16. 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.
4. Look ahead, and be ready to avoid:
• 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Use approved hand signals for turning and stopping.
8. 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.
9. 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.
Chapter 2: Safety
A. The Basics
WARNING: The area in which you ride may require specic safety
devices. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the laws
of the area 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 bicycle lighting, licensing of bicycles, riding on sidewalks,
laws regulating bike path and trail use, helmet laws, child carrier
laws, special bicycle trafc laws. 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 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. Make sure that
shoe laces cannot get into moving parts, and 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. Higher speed means higher
risk.
B. Riding Safety
1. Obey all Rules of the Road and all local trafc laws.
2. You are sharing the road or the path with others — motorists,
pedestrians and other cyclists. Respect their rights.
3. Ride defensively. Always assume that others do not see you.
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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 and other trafc.
• Make sure your clothing or anything you may be carrying on the bicycle
does not obstruct a reector or light.
• Make sure that your bicycle is equipped with correctly positioned and
securely mounted reectors.
While riding at dawn, at dusk or at night:
• Ride slowly.
• Avoid dark areas and areas of heavy or fast-moving trafc.
• Avoid road hazards.
• If possible, ride on familiar routes.
If riding in trafc:
• Be predictable. Ride so that drivers can see you and predict your
movements.
• Be alert. Ride defensively and expect the unexpected.
• If you plan to ride in trafc often, ask your dealer about trafc safety
classes or a good book on bicycle trafc safety.
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 car lights and street
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 reduces
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 a 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.
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 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 much 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
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 some cash for food, 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.
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G. Changing Components or Adding Accessories
There are many components and accessories available to enhance the
comfort, performance and appearance of your bicycle. However, if you
change components or add accessories, you do so at your own risk. The
bicycle’s manufacturer may not have tested that component or accessory
for compatibility, reliability or safety on your bicycle. Before installing any
component or accessory, including a different size tire, make sure that it is
compatible with your bicycle by checking with your dealer. Be sure to read,
understand and follow the instructions that accompany the products you
purchase for your bicycle. See also Appendix A, p. 35 and B, p. 41.
WARNING: Failure to conrm compatibility, properly install,
operate and maintain any component or accessory can result
in serious injury or death.
WARNING: Changing the components on your bike with other
than genuine replacement parts may compromise the safety of
your bicycle and may void the warranty. Check with your dealer
before changing the components on your bike.
WARNING: Bicycles and bicycle parts have limitations with
regard to strength and integrity, and this type of riding can
exceed those limitations.
We recommend against this type of riding because of the increased risks;
but if you choose to take the risk, at least:
• Take lessons from a competent instructor rst
• Start with easy learning exercises and slowly develop your skills before
trying more difcult or dangerous riding
• Use only designated areas for stunts, jumping, racing or fast downhill
riding
• Wear a full face helmet, safety pads and other safety gear
• Understand and recognize that the stresses imposed on your bike by
this kind of activity may break or damage parts of the bicycle and void the
warranty
• Take your bicycle to your dealer if anything breaks or bends. Do not ride
your bicycle when any part is damaged.
If you ride downhill at speed, do stunt riding or ride in competition, know
the limits of your skill and experience. Ultimately, avoiding injury is your
responsibility.
F. Extreme, Stunt or Competition Riding
Whether you call it Aggro, Hucking, Freeride, North Shore, Downhill,
Jumping, Stunt Riding, Racing or something else: if you engage in this sort
of extreme, aggressive riding you will get hurt, and you voluntarily assume a
greatly increased risk of injury or death.
Not all bicycles are designed for these types of riding, and those that are
may not be suitable for all types of aggressive riding. Check with your dealer
or the bicycle’s manufacturer about the suitability of your bicycle before
engaging in extreme riding.
When riding fast down hill, you can reach speeds achieved by motorcycles,
and therefore face similar hazards and risks. Have your bicycle and
equipment carefully inspected by a qualied mechanic and be sure it is in
perfect condition. Consult with expert riders, area site personnel and race
ofcials on conditions and equipment advisable at the site where you plan to
ride. Wear appropriate safety gear, including an approved full face helmet,
full nger gloves, and body armor. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to have
proper equipment and to be familiar with course conditions.
WARNING: Although many catalogs, advertisements and
articles about bicycling depict riders engaged in extreme riding,
this activity is extremely dangerous, increases your risk
of injury or death, and increases the severity of any injury.
Remember that the action depicted is being performed by
professionals with many years of training and experience.
Know your limits and always wear a helmet and other
appropriate safety gear. Even with state-of-the-art protective
safety gear, you could be seriously injured or killed when
jumping, stunt riding, riding downhill at speed or in
competition.
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tube with the tip of your nger without inserting your nger beyond its rst
knuckle. Also see NOTE above and g. 5).
WARNING: If your seat post is
not inserted in the seat tube as
described in B.1 above, the
seat post may break, which
could cause you to lose control
and fall.
2. Front and back adjustment
The saddle can be adjusted forward
or back to help you get the optimal
position on the bike. Ask your dealer to
set the saddle for your optimal riding
position and to show you how to make
this adjustment. If you choose to make
your own front and back adjustment,
make sure that the clamp mechanism is clamping on the straight part of the
saddle rails and is not touching the curved part of the rails, and that you
are using the recommended torque on the clamping fastener(s) (Appendix
D or the manufacturer’s instructions).
3. Saddle angle adjustment
Most people prefer a horizontal saddle; but some riders like the saddle
nose angled up or down just a little. Your dealer can adjust saddle angle
or teach you how to do it. If you choose to make your own saddle angle
adjustment and you have a single bolt saddle clamp on your seat post, it is
critical that you loosen the clamp bolt sufciently to allow any serrations on
the mechanism to disengage before changing the saddle’s angle, and then
that the serrations fully re-engage before you tighten the clamp bolt to the
recommended torque (Appendix D or the manufacturer’s instructions).
hips must rock for the heel to reach the pedal, the saddle is too high. If your
leg is bent at the knee with your heel on the pedal, the saddle is too low.
Ask your dealer to set the saddle for your optimal riding position and to
show you how to make this adjustment. If you choose to make your own
saddle height adjustment:
loosen the seat post clamp
raise or lower the seat post in the seat tube
make sure the saddle is straight fore and aft
re-tighten the seat post clamp to the
recommended torque (Appendix D or the
manufacturer’s instructions).
Once the saddle is at the correct height,
make sure that the seat post does
not project from the frame beyond
its “Minimum Insertion” or “Maximum
Extension” mark (g. 4).
NOTE: Some bicycles have a sight hole
in the seat tube, the purpose of which
is to make it easy to see whether the
seat post is inserted in the seat tube far
enough to be safe. If your bicycle has
such a sight hole, use it instead of the “Minimum Insertion” or “Maximum
Extension” mark to make sure the seat post is inserted in the seat tube far
enough to be visible through the sight hole.
If your bike has an interrupted seat tube, as is the case on some suspension
bikes, you must also make sure that the seat post is far enough into the
frame so that you can touch it through the bottom of the interrupted seat
Chapter 3: Fit
NOTE: Correct t is an essential element of bicycling safety, performance
and comfort. Making the adjustments to your bicycle which result in correct
t for your body and riding conditions requires experience, skill and special
tools. Always have your dealer make the adjustments on your bicycle; or, if
you have the experience, skill and tools, have your dealer check your work
before riding.
WARNING: If your bicycle does not t properly, you may lose
control and fall. If your new bike doesn’t t, ask your dealer to
exchange it before you ride it.
A. Standover Height
1. Diamond frame bicycles
Standover height is the basic element of bike t (see g. 2). It is the
distance from the ground to the top of the bicycle’s frame at that point
where your crotch is when straddling the bike. To check for correct
standover height, straddle the
bike while wearing the kind
of shoes in which you’ll be
riding, and bounce vigorously
on your heels. If your crotch
touches the frame, the bike
is too big for you. Don’t even
ride the bike around the block.
A bike which you ride only on
paved surfaces and never
take off-road should give you
a minimum standover height
clearance of two inches (5 cm).
A bike that you’ll ride on unpaved surfaces should give you a minimum of
three inches (7.5 cm) of standover height clearance. And a bike that you’ll
use off road should give you four inches (10 cm) or more of clearance.
2. Step-through frame bicycles
Standover height does not apply to bicycles with step-through frames.
Instead, the limiting dimension is determined by saddle height range.
You must be able to adjust your saddle position as described in B without
exceeding the limits set by the height of the top of the seat tube and the
”Minimum Insertion” or “Maximum Extension” mark on the seat post.
B. Saddle Position
Correct saddle adjustment is an important factor in getting the most
performance and comfort from your bicycle. If the saddle position is not
comfortable for you, see your dealer.
The saddle can be adjusted in three directions:
1. Up and down adjustment. To
check for correct saddle height
(g. 3):
• sit on the saddle;
• place one heel on a pedal;
• rotate the crank until the pedal
with your heel on it is in the
down position and the crank
arm is parallel to the seat tube.
If your leg is not completely
straight, your saddle height
needs to be adjusted. If your
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