Owner’s Manual for Single-speed bicycles 3rd Edition, 2003 This manual contains important safety, performance and service information. Read it before you take the first ride on your new bicycle, and keep it for reference. AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO PARENTS: This Manual contains important safety information. For your child's safety, it is your responsibility to review this information with your child and make sure that your child understands all warnings, cautions, instructions and safety topics.
GENERAL WARNING: A special note for parents: 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.
Contents GENERAL WARNING A special note for parents p. 2 p. 2 1. First A. Bike Fit B. Safety First C. Mechanical Safety Check D. First Ride p. p. p. p. 2. Safety A. The Basics B. Riding Safety C. Off Road Safety D. Wet Weather Riding E. Night Riding F. Bicycling in Traffic G. Downhill, Stunt or Competition Biking H. Changing Components or Adding Accessories 3. Fit A. Standover Height B. Saddle Position C. Handlebar Height And Angle D. Control Position Adjustments E. Brake Reach 4 4 4 5 p. 6 p.
1. First and follow the helmet manufacturer’s instructions for fit, use and care of your helmet. 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. If your bike has wheel quick releases, do you know how to correctly operate them? Check Section Appendix B to make sure.
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 Section 3.B and 3.C. If not, align and tighten them. Handlebar ends: Make sure the handlebar grips are secure and in good condition. If not, replace them. Make sure the handlebar ends are plugged. If not, plug them before you ride. ask someone with experience to check.
If your bike has suspension, familiarize yourself with how the suspension responds to brake application and rider weight shifts. See paragraph B.5 above and Section 4.F. 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, take the bike back to your dealer for advice. Most serious bicycle injuries involve head injuries which might have been avoided if the rider had worn an appropriate helmet.
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 weave through traffic 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 influence of alcohol or drugs. 15.
you plan. 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. Learn and obey the local laws regulating where and how you can ride off-road, and respect private property. 5. You may be sharing the trail with others — hikers, equestrians, other cyclists. Respect their rights. 6. Yield right of way to pedestrians and animals.
the cable jumps out of its yoke or breaks. • If possible, ride on familiar routes. Bicycling in Traffic • Be predictable. Ride so that drivers can see you and predict your movements. • Be alert. Ride defensively and expect the unexpected. • Read Appendix B and learn the rules for riding in traffic which are illustrated there. F. ! WARNING: Do not remove the front or rear reflectors or reflector brackets from your bicycle. They are an integral part of the bicycle’s safety system.
We recommend against this type of riding because of the increased risks; but if you ignore this recommendation, at least: • Take lessons from a competent instructor first • Do stunts, racing or fast downhill riding only in areas designated for this type of riding • Start with easy learning exercises and slowly develop your skills before trying more dangerous riding • Wear a full face helmet, safety pads, and other safety gear • Make sure by checking with your dealer that your bike is suitable for the kind o
! WARNING: If your bicycle does not fit properly, you may lose control and fall. If your new bike doesn’t fit, ask your dealer to exchange it before you ride it. 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, who has the tools and skill to change it. The saddle can be adjusted in three directions: 1. Up and down 2. Forward and back 3.
NOTE: If your bicycle is equipped with a suspension seat post, periodically ask your dealer to check it. be able to change handlebar height by moving height adjustment spacers from below the stem to above the stem, or vice versa. Otherwise, you’ll have to get a stem of different length or rise. Consult your dealer. Do not attempt to do this yourself, as it requires special knowledge. If your bike has a “quill” stem, you can ask your dealer to adjust the handlebar height a bit by adjusting stem height.
between your legs and attempt to twist the handlebar/stem assembly. If you can twist the stem in relation to the front wheel, turn the handlebars in relation to the stem, or turn the bar end extensions in relation to the handlebar, the bolts are insufficiently tightened. D. Control position adjustments The angle of the controls and their position on the handlebars can be changed. Ask your dealer to make the adjustments for you.
your dealer or contact the brake manufacturer. 1. Coaster Brake with the right brake lever controlling the rear brake, and the left lever controlling the front brake. NOTE: If your bicycle is equipped with both front and rear brakes, most ef fective braking is achieved by using both brakes and apply them simultaneously. (See also par. 3. Braking technique, below). a. How the coaster brake works The coaster brake is a sealed mechanism which is a part of the bicycle’s rear wheel hub.
wheel is removed or reinstalled. When the brake quick release is in the released position, the brakes are inoperative. Ask your dealer whether you have a quick release on your brakes; and if you do, make sure that you understand the way the brake quick release works, and check each time to make sure both brakes work correctly before you get on the bike. Check, have your dealer check the brakes.
of pressure to the brake, until the wheel locks. When you apply the brake(s), the bike begins to slow, but your body wants to continue at the speed at which it was going. This causes a transfer of weight to the front wheel (or, under heavy braking with hand brakes, around the front wheel hub, which could send you flying over the handlebars). A wheel with more weight on it will accept greater brake pressure before lockup; a wheel with less weight will lock up with less brake pressure.
b. With a correctly sized socket, box, open-end or adjustable wrench, loosen the two axle nuts. c. If your front fork has a clip‑on type secondary retention device, disengage it and go to step (4). If your front fork has an integral or a washer type secondary retention device, loosen the axle nuts enough to allow removal of the wheel; then go to step (4). d. Raise the front wheel a few inches off the ground and tap the top of the wheel with the palm of your hand to knock the wheel out of the fork ends. b.
and squeeze the brake lever to make sure the brake is functioning correctly. 6. Removing a Bolt‑On Rear Wheel with Coaster Brake a. Disengage the coaster brake arm from its frame bracket (see fig. 15). b. With a correctly sized socket, box, open end or adjustable wrench, loosen the two axle nuts. c. Push the wheel forward to slacken the chain, and remove the chain from the chainring and wheel sprocket. d. Pull the wheel out of the frame.
! ask your dealer to show you how to make this adjustment. Use the easiest setting until engaging and disengaging becomes a reflex action, but always make sure that there is sufficient tension to prevent unintended release of your foot from the pedal. WARNING: Failure to maintain, check and properly adjust the suspension system may result in suspension malfunction, which may cause you to lose control and fall.
for bicycle tires. They move a large volume of air very rapidly, and will raise the pressure in your tire very rapidly, which could cause the tube to explode. Tire pressure is given either as maximum pressure or as a pressure range. How a tire performs under different terrain or weather conditions depends largely on tire pressure. Inflating the tire to near its maximum recommended pressure gives the lowest rolling resistance; but also produces the harshest ride.
do not apply the patch correctly or apply several patches, the tube can fail, resulting in possible tube failure, which could cause you to loose control and fall. Replace a patched tube as soon as possible. a unidirectional tire will have an arrow showing the correct rotation direction. If your bike has unidirectional tires, be sure that they are mounted to rotate in the correct direction. 2. Tire Valves There are primarily two kinds of bicycle tube valves: The Schraeder Valve and the Presta Valve.
3. Ask your dealer about the availability of bicycle repair courses in your area. Regardless of which option you select, we recommend that you ask your dealer to check the quality of your work the first time you work on something and before you ride the bike, just to make sure that you did everything correctly. Since that will require the time of a mechanic, there may be a modest charge for this service. 3.
of stress-caused fatigue and indicate that a part is at the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced. • Check to make sure that all parts and accessories are still secure, and tighten any which are not. Next, check your bike for damage, and fix what you can so you can get home. Then, take your bicycle to your dealer for a thorough check. WARNING: Like any mechanical device, a bicycle and its components are subject to wear and stress.
Appendix A your car in front of the driveway, if local ordinance permits. This way, your child can’t use the driveway as a launching pad. But the most important thing you can do is teach your child about driveway safety. Take your child outside to the driveway and have him/her practice the following steps: 1) Stop before entering the street. 2) Look left, right and left again for traffic. 3) If there’s no traffic, proceed into the roadway.
e. Following the Leader There is increased risk of car/bike collision if children are following each other, because if the first one does something dangerous, those following may do it too. What can you do? Teach your child to always assess the traffic situation for him/herself. When a group is riding around, each cyclist should stop for stop signs; each cyclist should look to the rear before making left turns; and so on.
Appendix B Bicycling in Traffic 26
Appendix C it properly, and how much force you need to apply to secure the wheel. ! Wheel and Seat Post Quick Release Mechanisms WARNING: The full force of the cam action is needed to clamp the wheel securely. Holding the nut with one hand and turning the lever like a wing nut with the other hand until everything is as tight as you can get it will not clamp the wheel safely in the dropouts. A. Quick Release Wheels 1. How a Wheel Quick Release Works a.
! a matching hole in the front fork dropout (fig. 12c). Ask your dealer to explain the particular secondary retention device on your bike. CAUTION: If your bike is equipped with disk brakes, be careful not to damage the disk, caliper or brake pads when re-inserting the disk into the caliper. Never activate a disk brake’s control lever unless the disk is correctly inserted in the caliper. See also Section 4.A.
the disk into the caliper. Never activate a disk brake’s control lever unless the disk is correctly inserted in the caliper. (5) If the lever cannot be pushed all the way to a position parallel to the fork blade, return the lever to the OPEN position. Then turn the tension adjusting nut counterclockwise onequarter turn and try tightening the lever again.
make sure that it is centered in the frame and clears the brake pads; then squeeze the brake lever and make sure that the brakes are operating correctly. ! WARNING: The full force of the cam action is needed to clamp the seatpost securely. Holding the nut with one hand and turning the lever like a wing nut with the other hand until everything is as tight as you can get it will not clamp the seatpost safely. B. Seatpost Quick Release Some bikes are equipped with a quick-release seat post binder.
DIAMONDBACK bicycles are distributed by Raleigh America, Inc. Raleigh America, Inc. Bicycle Limited Warranty It is the owner’s responsibility to thoroughly read and understand the owner’s manual and regularly examine the product to determine the need for professional, authorized service or replacement. Please consult an authorized Raleigh America, Inc. bicycle dealership with any questions on use and maintenance. Regardless of the length of the warranty, Raleigh America, Inc.
