Operation Manual

OWNER’S MANUAL• 99
ENGLISH
• Corrosive environment (wet, salt air, winter road
salt, accumulated sweat)
• Presence of abrasive mud, dirt, sand, soil in riding
environment
Factors that lengthen product life:
• Smooth, fluid riding style
• No “hits,” crashes, jumps to bike
• Low mileage
• Lower body weight
• Less aggressive rider
• Non-corrosive environment (dry, salt-free air)
• Clean riding environment
Do not ride a bicycle or component with any crack,
bulge or dent, even a small one. Riding a cracked
frame, fork or component could lead to complete
failure, with risk of serious injury.
A lot of frames, forks, handlebars, stems, seat posts,
bar ends, etc nowadays are made of carbon. Carbon
fibers allow the engineers to strengthen structures
in pre-determined directions, thus keeping the
overall weight very low. Metal structures on
the contrary present the same properties in all
directions and require bigger dimensions to exhibit
the same strength. Carbon fiber components are
also much more resistant to corrosion than metals.
So carbon parts usually have a better, longer fatigue
life than metal ones, provided they are well designed
and made of course. But there a couple of big
disadvantages. Carbon will not bend, crack or buckle
when overloaded. It will simply snap and fail. Carbon
is much easier to start a crack from simple contacts
and scratches. Delamination is the first indication,
i.e. when carbon layers start to ‘unfold’ and the bonds
between successive carbon layers start to break.
RIDER WEIGHT
ACCORDING TO EN
STANDARDS
The components of IDEAL junior bicycles fulfill the
EN standard 14765 (safety requirements and test
methods for young children bicycles propelled by a
transmitted drive to the rear wheel; maximum saddle
height of more than 435mm and less than 635mm;
bicycle and rider weight of 30kgs).
The components of all other IDEAL bicycles fulfill
the EN standard 14764 (safety requirements and
test methods for city and trekking bicycles with
a maximum saddle height of 635mm or more,
intended for use on public road; bicycle and rider
weight of 100kgs), the EN standard 14766 (safety
requirements and test methods for mountain
bicycles with a maximum saddle height of 635mm
or more, intended for off-road and rough terrain use;
bicycle and rider of 100kgs) and the EN standard
14781 (safety requirements and test methods for
racing bicycles with a maximum saddle height of
635mm or more, intended for high-speed amateur
use on public roads; bicycle and rider of 100kgs).