Transcript
DOWN LOW GLOW: Owner’s Manual Now you’ve really done it! You’ve joined the elite crew of cruisers and night-riders worldwide who are changing the face of cycling with the Down Low Glow. You’ll not only be turning heads, you’ll be sending a fresh and stylish message about bicycling every time you ride with the DLG. Cool safety is all about attitude… So go out there and ride!
www.rockthebike.com
[email protected] 1-888-DLG-BIKE (1-888-354-2453) Rock The Bike 1336 Channing Way Berkeley, CA 94702
You’re probably excited to take your first cruise tonight. If so, you’ll want to charge up your battery before continuing to read this owner’s manual. Plug the trickle charger into the wall, and connect it to the battery. Leave it there for 12 hours (or as long as you can wait.) If you purchased a fast-charger with your DLG system, connect it to the battery. The LED will turn red while charging and green when complete. In general, keep the fast charger’s setting on 1.0 unless you’re really in a hurry! Read the rest of these instructions carefully, so you can get a worry-free installation of the DLG on your ‘two-wheeled thing’. We love staying in touch with our customers! If you’ve got a bike that you want to show the world, please send us a picture, and we’ll post it on the Rock The Bike web site. To see the latest shots from others riders, visit us at www.rockthebike.com
Section I. Contents of the Down Low Glow kit:
a. 1 or 2 shockproof light tubes b. 1 rechargeable NiMH battery c. 1 Wall charger or Smart Charger
a.
Full mounting kit including: (For each light tube) d. X-shaped plastic snap-in clip e. Rubber stretch straps f. 1 wide Velcro cinch strap (for battery) g. 1 narrow self stick velcro strap for managing wires.
f.
b. c.
OPTIONAL for securing battery: TwoFish Bike Block.
e.
g.
d.
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Section II. Installing the Down Low Glow. 1. Mounting the light tubes: The X-shaped black plastic clip creates a snap fit for the front light tube. Using the attached rubber straps, secure the clip against the frame. With nail clippers or a wire cutter, you can trim the excess for a neat look.
3. Mounting the snap-fit plastic clip: Pull the rubber straps around the frame tightly to ensure a slip-free fit, and take care to route the straps underneath any brake and derailleur cables.
2. Some racing bikes have a tight clearance between the front wheel and the frame. If this is the case with your bike, mount the snap-in plastic clip closer to the bottom bracket of the bike to allow for proper tire clearance.
4. Use the X-shaped rubber security strap to finish the installation. The plastic X-clip holds The Down Low Glow strong enough without the X-shaped rubber strap. If you plan to move the DLG from one bike to another frequently, you can leave this off.
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5. Mounting the power driver box: The black plastic box connected to the light tubes is the power driver for the light tubes. It attaches to the seat tube of your frame with adhesive backed Velcro. Important: Because the Down Low Glow is designed to fit a wide variety of bicycles, some bikes may have extra slack in the wires leading from this box to the light tubes. If installed improperly, these wires will hang in the way of your pedals or your front chainring, potentially getting
caught when you pedal. Before sticking the adhesive velcro patch on your bike frame, pick a spot that minimizes the excess wire. However the wires should not be under tension. Strain on the wires can lead to premature failure of the light tubes.Once you have chosen a good spot for the black power driver box, peel back the paper on the Velcro rectangle and affix it to your seat tube. Take care to clean the frame beforehand with soap and water or alcohol.
6. Mounting the battery to your frame: The wide Velcro cinch strap holds the battery to your frame. The battery includes a foamy section that aborbs vibrations so the battery won’t come loose. Loop the strap around your frame and the battery, go through the buckle, pull it tight, and stick the strap to itself.
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7. Mounting the Rear Light Tube: Ready to glow!
The extra length of self-adhesive Velcro can help manage the wires if there is slack in your installation.
Section IV. Common Questions from Down Low Glow customers:
Section III. Rolling with the Down Low Glow. With both light tubes, black driver box, and battery securely mounted to your bike frame, connect the round power connecter from the battery to its male counterpart from the driver box. Your Down Low Glow will last about 2.5 hours before you need to recharge the battery. When they begin to dim, the lights still provide excellent front and side visibility. However, after about three hours, the lights will fade to a very dim glow and are no longer adequate for safety. Time to recharge!
How can I use my Down Low Glow lights to maximize my safety at night?
Recharging the battery To recharge the battery, first undo the Velcro strap and remove the battery from your bike. Then connect it to your wall charger. Your battery will recharge in 4-12 hours, depending on how completely you have drained it. The Down Low Glow comes with a NiMH battery, which means there is no ‘memory’ effect. You can recharge your battery after a partial or full cycle of use. After 12 hours, or when the battery is warm to the touch, you can disconnect the battery from the charger.
1. First, always ride with a fully charged battery. You probably have a lot of batteries to keep track of in your life: cell phone, digital camera, and flashlight, to name a few. Make sure your Down Low Glow battery is one of the batteries you remember to charge completely. 2. Second, use the Down Low Glow in combination with front and rear blinky LED lights. LED lights are great at covering your front and rear visibility. When used in combination with the Down Low Glow, the safety effect is awesome. 3. Third, angle the Down Low Glow tubes so that the brightest light hits drivers’ eyes to the left and right of your bicycle. The DLG tubes are directional. Half the surface of each tube is covered by a mirrored surface, directing the light and minimizing glare. To maximize your side visibility, rotate the front tube slightly towards the right, and the rear tube slightly towards the left. Prop your bicycle up against a sign post and walk around it to gauge how effective your adjustments are.
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Can I ride in the rain? Yes, in the Spring of 2007, we redesigned the Down Low Glow to be water resistant. The light tubes are sealed with epoxy, and the battery and power driver are also sealed with adhesives. If you notice water inside the light tubes please let us know. This is a warranty issue. Is the Down Low Glow bright enough for trail riding? The Down Low Glow will enhance any night ride, especially an off-road ride. However, the downward-facing light of the Down Low Glow is not sufficient to illuminate the trail ahead of you for safe trail riding. For optimal safety and the most fun experience off-road, make sure you also use a highpowered front headlight, such as the ARC from Light and Motion. Also, remember to use the buddy system whenever you ride off road after dark. Do I need to clean my Down Low Glow light tubes? If road grime accumulates on the light tubes, wipe them down with a soft cloth and some rubbing alcohol or mild dish soap. The Down Low Glow tubes scratch easily, so avoid scouring them with abrasive pads or soaps. Can I recharge my battery, even if I have not fully drained it? You can recharge your battery after a partial or full cycle of use. The Down Low Glow comes with a NiMH battery, which means there is no ‘memory’ effect. How will I know if my battery is fully charged? The battery will be slightly warm to to the touch. Is it possible to overcharge my battery? Yes. Leaving your battery on the charger for days on end will eventually shorten its working life. Disconnect your battery when it is warm to the touch, or after 12 hours, whichever comes first. What is the best way to treat the rechargeable battery if I know I’m not going to use my lights during the winter (or for longer than a few months)? All rechargeable batteries lose their charge slowly over time, a phenomenon known as self-discharge. If you leave the battery alone for longer than 3 months on an empty or near-empty charge, there is a chance the battery will selfdischarge past the point of no return. Rechargeable batteries self-discharge more quickly when you store them in a warm place. To prevent permanent damage from self-discharge, charge the battery fully, then store it in a cool place.
What should I do with my battery after it has lived its full life and served me well for 500-1000 charge cycles? Great question! Please do not toss the rechargeable battery pack in the trash. Bring it instead to a battery recycling center so that it can be properly disposed of or recycled. In many parts of the country, this is as simple as stopping by your local Safeway, Walgreens, Kragen, etc… Tossing batteries (rechargeable or alkaline) in the trash causes a potential heavy metal contamination of local ground water, and can destroy the habitat of local fish and other species. Even though NiMH batteries are considered environmentally safer than NiCad or lead acid, they still pose a risk. So do the responsible thing, and bring it to a battery recycling center. Replacement batteries for the Down Low Glow are always available at www.rockthebike.com . What is the warranty on my Down Low Glow lights, and how do I register my lights properly? The Down Low Glow comes with a 1-year warranty on manufacturer’s defects and a 6-month warranty on the performance of the rechargeable battery. There is no need to register your Down Low Glow lights. Simply save your purchase receipt to verify your date of purchase. What kinds of damage are not covered by the warranty? Damage due to direct impact or drops are not covered by the warranty. The Down Low Glow’s shockproofing has been tested rigorously in on-road and off-road environments. However, direct impacts can cause your lights to break. Who do I call if my lights break or don’t work? Please, call us first! 415-810-DOWN (3696), or email
[email protected] . We want satisfied customers, and we will do what it takes to get you back on the road, enjoying your Down Low Glow lights. In many cases (depending on circumstances of breakage), we will ship you replacement parts immediately, or cover the cost of return shipping so that we can repair and return your lights. What other products are available from Rock The Bike? In addition to the Down Low Glow, we’ve got Soul Cycle Mobile Audio Systems for cruising with music on your bicycle, and we also have bicycle powered blenders for mixing margaritas and smoothies at your next bike party. Check it all out at www.rockthebike.com!
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