Diamondback 7th Edition manual

Owner’s Manual for multi-speed bicycles 7th Edition, 2004 IMPORT ANT: This manual contains important safety, per formance, and service infor mation. Read it before you take the rst ride on your new bicycle, and keep it for reference. Additional safety, per formance and service infor mation for specic components such as suspension or pedals [...]

2 GENERAL W ARNING: 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. T hi [...]

3 Contents GENERAL W ARNING 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. W et W eather Riding p. 9 E. Night Riding p. 10 F . Extreme, Stunt, Or Competition Riding p. 11 G. Changing Co[...]

4 A special note for parents: As a parent or guar dian, 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[...]

5 1. First NOTE: All operators must read and understand all sections of this owner’s manual befor e their initial operation of the bicycle. If after reading this manual in its entirety you have any questions, please contact your authorized dealer for clarication or an explanation of specic topics that you are unsure about. Please note that [...]

6 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 experie[...]

7 a cont ro lle d envi ro nme nt, away from ca rs, other cycl ist s, obs tac les or other haza rds . Rid e to beco me fam ili ar wit h the co ntr ol s, fea tur es and pe r f ormanc e o f y ou r n ew bik e. Familiarize yourself with the braking action of the bike (see Section 4.C). T est the brakes at slow speed, putting your weight toward the rear [...]

8 • V ehicles slowing or tur ning, 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 ca[...]

9 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 trafc or make any moves that may surprise people with whom yo[...]

10 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. T o 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 nor mal, dry conditions. See also Section 4.[...]

11 and other trafc. • Make sure your clothing or anything you may be carrying on the bicycle does not obstruct a reflector or light. • Make sure that your bicycle is equipped with correctly positioned and securely mounted reectors. While riding at dawn, at dusk or at night: • Ride slowly. • A void dark areas and areas of heavy or fast[...]

12 • Do stunts, jumping, racing or fast downhill riding only in areas designated for this type of riding • W ear 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 • T ake your bicycle [...]

13 big for you. Don’t even ride the bike ar ound the block. A bike which you ride only on paved sur faces and never take off-road should give you a minimum standover height clearance of two inches (5cm). A bike that you’ll ride on unpaved sur faces should give you a minimum of three inches (7.5cm) of standover height clearance. And a bike that [...]

14 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. 3. Saddle angle adjustment. Most people prefer a horizontal saddle; but some riders like the saddle nose angled up or down just a little. Y our dealer can adjust saddle angle or teach you how to do it. Note: If yo[...]

15 slack which can make the front brake inoperable. If the front brake pads move in towar ds the wheel rim or out away from the wheel rim when the stem or stem height is changed, the brakes must be correctly adjusted before you ride the bicycle. ! W ARNING: The stem’s Minimum Insertion Mark must not be visible above the top of the headset. If the[...]

16 A. Wheels NOTE: If you have a mountain bike equipped with through axle front or rear wheels, make sure that your dealer has given you the manufacturer’s instructions, and follow those when installing or removing a through axle wheel. If you don’t know what a thr ough axle is, ask your dealer. 1. Wheel Quick Release ! W ARNING: Riding with an[...]

17 the outer faces of the front fork dropouts. Ask your dealer to explain the particular secondary retention device on your bike. ! W ARNING: Do not remove or disable the secondary retention device. As its name implies, it serves as a back- up for a critical adjustment. If the quick release is not adjusted correctly, the secondary retention device [...]

18 the wheel rim in the fork, move the quick-release lever upwards and swing it into the CLOSED position (g. 6 & 7a). The lever should now be parallel to the fork blade and curved toward the wheel. T o apply enough clamping force, you should have to wrap your ngers around the fork blade for leverage, and the lever should leave a clear imp[...]

19 tube for leverage, and the lever should leave a clear imprint in the palm of your hand. ! W ARNING: Securely clamping the wheel takes considerable force. If you can fully close the quick release without wrapping your ngers around the seatstay or chainstay for leverage, and the lever does not leave a clear imprint in the palm of your hand, the[...]

20 to restore correct brake pad-to-rim clearance; spin the wheel to 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. c. Removing A Bolt-on Rear Wheel ! W ARNING: If your bike is equipped with an internal gear rear hub, do not attempt to remove t[...]

21 3. Before you ride the bike, rst check that the seatpost is securely clamped. Adjusting The Seatpost Quick Release Mechanism The action of the quick r elease cam squeezes the seat collar around the seat post to hold the seat post securely in place. The amount of clamping force is controlled by the tension adjusting nut. T ur ning the tension [...]

22 inoperative. Ask your dealer to make sure that you understand the way the brake quick release works on your bike (see gs. 11. 12, 13. 14 & 15) and check each time to make sure both brakes work correctly before you get on the bike. 2. How Brakes W ork The braking action of a bicycle is a function of the friction between the brake sur faces[...]

23 have less cornering and braking traction and can lock up with less brake force. Moisture or dirt on the brake pads reduces their ability to grip. The way to maintain control on loose or wet sur faces is to go more slowly to begin with. D. Shifting Gears Y our multi-speed bicycle will have a derailleur drivetrain (see 2. below), an inter nal gear[...]

24 pro duc e lowe r gea r rati os. Using them req ui res less ped ali ng e ffo rt, but tak es y ou a sho rte r di sta nc e wi th eac h peda l cra nk re vol uti on . Movi ng th e chai n fro m a sma lle r spr ock et of the gea r clus ter to a larg er sproc ket res ult s in a down sh ift . Movi ng th e cha in fr om a larg er spr ock et to a sma lle r [...]

25 harder , “faster” gear (like 2 or 3) is called an upshift. Shifting from a harder , “faster” gear to an easier , “slower” gear is called a downshift. It is not necessary to shift gears in sequence. Instead, nd the “starting gear” for the conditions — a gear which is hard enough for quick acceleration but easy enough to let y[...]

26 4. Clipless pedals (sometimes called “step-in pedals”) are another means to keep feet securely in the correct position for maximum pedaling efciency. They have a plate, called a “cleat,” on the sole of the shoe, which clicks into a mating spring-loaded xture on the pedal. They only engage or disengage with a very specic motion w[...]

27 ch ara ct eri sti cs o f the b icy c le a fte r a sus pen s io n adj us tme nt by ta ki ng a c ar ef ul te st ri de in a haz ar d- fr ee are a. Suspension can increase control and comfort by allowing the wheels to better follow the terrain. This enhanced capability may allow you to ride faster; but you must not confuse the enhanced capabilities [...]

28 T ire pressure that is too low for your weight and the riding conditions can cause a puncture of the tube by allowing the tire to deform sufciently to pinch the inner tube between the rim and the riding sur face. ! CAUTION: Pencil type automotive tire gauges can be inaccurate and should not be relied upon for consistent, accurate pressure rea[...]

29 provide all the information required to properly repair and/or maintain your bicycle. In order to help minimize the chances of an accident and possible injury, it is critical that you have any repair or maintenance which is not specically described in this manual per formed by your dealer . Equally important is that your individual maintenanc[...]

30 Clean the bike and lightly oil the chain. Wipe off excess oil. Lubrication is a function of climate. T alk to your dealer about the best lubricants and the recommended lubrication frequency for your area. 4. After every long or hard ride or after every 10 to 20 hours of riding: • Squeeze the front brake and rock the bike forward and back. Ever[...]

31 First, check yourself for injuries, and take care of them as best you can. Seek medical help if necessary. Next, check your bike for damage. If you see any damage, don’t ride the bike until it has been repaired. After any crash, take your bike to your dealer for a thorough check. ! W ARNING: A crash or other impact can put extraordinary stress[...]

32 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 A[...]