Schwinn none - Manual (Page 83)

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When you apply one or both brakes, 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, 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. So, as you apply brakes and your weight shifts forward, you need to shift your body toward the rear of the bike, to
transfer weight back on to the rear wheel; and at the same time, you need to both decrease rear braking and increase front braking force.
This is even more important on steep descents, because descents shift weight forward. The keys to effective speed control and safe
stopping are controlling wheel lockup and weight transfer. Practice braking and weight transfer techniques where there is no traffic or
other hazards and distractions.
Everything changes when you ride on loose surfaces or in wet weather. Tire adhesion is reduced, so the wheels have less cornering and
braking traction and can lock up with less brake force. Moisture or dirt on the brake shoes reduces their ability to grip. The way to main-
tain control on loose or wet surfaces is to go more slowly to begin with.
2. Adjusting your brakes
If either brake lever on your bike fails the Mechanical Safety Check you can restore brake lever travel by turning the brake cable adjust-
ing barrel counterclockwise, then lock the adjustment in by turning the barrel’s lock nut clockwise as far as it will go. If the lever still fails
the Mechanical Safety Check, or you have any question about whether your brakes are working properly have your dealer check the
brakes.
D. Shifting
Your multi-speed bicycle will have a derailleur drivetrain, an internal gear hub drivetrain or, in some special cases, a combination of the
two.
1. Why all those gears?
You will get the greatest fitness benefit, produce the greatest sustained power and have the greatest endurance if you learn to spin the
pedals at high revolutions per minute(called cadence) against low resistance. You will get the least fitness benefit and have the least
endurance by pushing hard on the pedals against heavy resistance. The purpose of having multiple gears on a bicycle is to let you chose
the gear that allows you to maintain your optimum cadence under the widest range of riding conditions. Depending on your fitness level
and experience (the more fit, the higher the cadence), optimum cadence is between 60 and 90 pedal revolutions per minute.