smoothness. If any bearings on your bicycle get submerged in water, take
your bicycle to a professional for service.
Avoid high-pressure washing systems, like those at most car washes. The high
pressure may force water into the bearings.
As with anything mechanical, every part of a bicycle has a limited useful life
due to wear. Avoid riding in a manner that is beyond the design of your
bicycle, and avoid riding practices that increase stress and fatigue.
Do not use unsafe riding practices. Do not ride "no hands." The slightest
road imperfection could initiate a wheel shimmy or cause the front wheel to
turn unexpectedly.
Do not ride with a loose object attached to the handlebar or any other part of
the bicycle. It could get caught in the wheel spokes, cause the handlebar to
turn unexpectedly, or in other ways cause loss of control.
Do not ride while intoxicated or while using medications which might make
you drowsy. Bicycles require good coordination to ride in control, and riders
must be alert for hazards.
Do not "ride double." Standard bicycles are not designed to carry the
additional load of a second rider. Also, extra weight makes a bicycle much
harder to balance, steer, and stop.
Do not ride with headphones or anything else which might prevent you from
hearing traffic noise. In some areas, riding with headphones is illegal. In all
areas, being aware of traffic is an important part of bicycle safety.
before every ride, check your bicycle
Check your bicycle and its components against the following checklist before
every ride. This is not a comprehensive maintenance program. If you are not
certain if your bicycle has a problem, take your bicycle to a professional
mechanic for service.
In addition, if you have an impact, crash, or accident, even a minor one,
always have the bicycle inspected thoroughly by a professional before riding
the bicycle again.
WARNING: A bicycle that does not work properly can cause you to lose
control and fall. Inspect the entire bicycle thoroughly before every ride, and
do not ride it until any problem has been corrected.
