5 Common Cycling Mistakes You Should Avoid
by Frank on October 31, 2009
in Basics, Riding the Road, Safety
As with everything we do, cycling too has its learning curve.
If you’re new to cycling, you may wonder about the things you should and should not be doing. To be truthful, most of these things will just have to be learned out on the road. A lot of them, however, can be avoided by riding with more experienced cyclists or reading about cycling.
In that vein, here are 5 common “mistakes” to look out for:
Using the Wrong Gears
Although gearing may seem like it’s mostly common sense, it’s more a less a mystery to most beginner cyclists. In fact, i’d say it’s safe to say that there are a lot of beginning and intermediate cyclists out there who still don’t use the correct gears at the correct times.
Here’s a quick rule of thumb: Keep pedaling as easy as possible. If it’s easy to pedal, you conserve energy by not using up your valuable fast-twitch muscles. Don’t worry about losing speed. You’ll find that as you increase your cadence that your speed becomes more consistent, while your endurance goes up.
Riding Against Traffic
This is perhaps one of the most dangerous (deadly) of beginner mistakes. When you are on a bicycle, you are a vehicle as well. You take up more room than a runner, and are meant to flow with traffic not against it.
Take your lane! Be visible!
Saddle Too Low
Your saddle should be high enough that your legs are nearly fully extended at the bottom of your pedal stroke. It may seem like it is more comfortable, but having your saddle too low greatly decreases your pedal efficiency.
Raise your saddle to take advantage of the full power your legs have to offer. This will noticeably decrease your fatigue and increase your endurance.
No Lights at Night
Although many would have you believe that reflectors can provide adequate visibility at night, they’re wrong. In fact, I prefer to ride with lights even during the day. Why?
Plain and simple: visibility. You have to be visible for cars to see you. Lights are needed for this, especially at night. Don’t take it for granted that they’ll just notice you, because chances are they won’t. It’s your responsibility to make sure they do.
Not Enough Water
You need a lot of water when you’re cycling, especially on long rides. Don’t get caught out 15 miles from home with no water! Riding dehydrated is not only dangerous, but very uncomfortable.
There are plenty of other mistakes that are easy to make, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Part of doing something includes making all the mistakes necessary to learn. I’m a firm believer, in fact, that making mistakes is the best way to learn.
What are some of the mistakes you see others (or yourself) make? Let us know in the comments!
How Can We Make Cycling Safer For Everyone?
by Frank on October 25, 2009
in lifestyle, Riding the Road, Safety
I very often go cycling by myself, or with a small group. I also bike very frequently pulling my son in a trailer, and this always brings my most safety-conscious self to the forefront. I find myself thinking “what is this car going to do?” “are they going to see us?”
Bicycle Safety
That being said, the trailer actually makes me more visible, and I have had very few bad experiences. I have, however, had a few close calls that made me think twice.
I think that it’s safe to say that many more people would ride if they thought riding a bike was safer. How, then, can we make cycling safer for everyone? How can we do away with the machismo attitude that claims that cars own the road? Here are just a few thoughts:
Our streets would be more bicycle friendly if. . .
Riding the Road: Simple Rules and Common Sense
by Frank on July 13, 2009
in Basics, Riding the Road, Safety
You may have never ridden a bike in the road, or you may have been doing it regularly for some time now. In either case, it is always a good idea know what you need to do to keep yourself and others safe. I see motorists and cyclists every day making simple (but sometimes deadly) mistakes. While you may ride (or drive) safe and smart, it only takes one to give the rest a bad reputation. This bad reputation unfortunately leads to far-too-common motorist aggression, and resentment toward cyclists. Here are a few guidelines to follow to help remedy this:
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