DIY Cycling » Safety

5 Common Cycling Mistakes You Should Avoid

Frank — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:01:53 +0000

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:

by Team Traveller

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?

Frank — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:15:53 +0000

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. . .

Everyone followed a few simple rules and common sense
This could go a long way. Simple traffic rules, safety conventions and common sense actions could help bridge the gap between driver and rider, which could enable them to finally “share the road”.

Everyone paid more attention
Distracted driving is definitely an issue. Some of the closest calls I’ve been in have been because of distracted drivers. Whether they’re on their cell phones, texting, or just flat out not paying attention, distracted driving endangers everyone.

Everyone was more visible
This is along the lines of simple rules and common sense, but it is an important one. Ride with traffic, not against it. Wear visible colors, switch your reflectors out for lights, USE lights (especially when it’s dark or dusky), and stay in the lane. Most bicycle accidents happen to cyclists who started out on the sidewalk. Why? Because people in cars don’t pay attention to the sidewalk. When you make the transfer to the road, or to cross a street, you’re much less visible on the sidewalk than if you were in the road to begin with.

Everyone was more aware
As is often the case, ignorance is a huge part of the problem. People don’t realize that cyclists have their place on the road. Cyclists aren’t aware of correct etiquette (signaling, positioning, etc), and drivers aren’t aware enough to look for the signals. Ignorance is the issue, and education is the solution.

Have you had some close calls? Share them with us in the comments.
Do you have more ideas to help create cycle friendly streets? Share those too.

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(photo by faster panda kill kill)

Riding the Road: Simple Rules and Common Sense

Frank — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:58:59 +0000

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:

Safety Guidelines For Cyclists

Stop at Signs and Lights
Yes, you have to stop at traffic lights and wait your turn at stop signs too. The general rule of thumb here is this: pay attention, be considerate, and think! As a vehicle, you are responsible for following all the rules of the road.
Signal
Let other drivers (and hopefully riders) know where you’re going! It is generally accepted to signal with your left arm. To make a left turn, point to the left. To make a right turn, it is in many states acceptable to do the same with your right arm (and often more understandable to less observant drivers), but legal in all states to raise your left hand with your elbow at a right angle. After you’re done signaling, make sure you look to make sure your signal has been seen, especially when turning across another lane of traffic.

Cycling Hand Signals
Stay in the Road (And Off the Sidewalk)
For many, this is counter intuitive. However, you reduce your chances of being in an accident greatly by riding in the street. Why? Visibility. One of the keys to staying safe on the road is to be visible and predictable. Think about it: cyclists move much faster than pedestrians, which means that you can enter a driver’s field of vision faster. This makes it much harder for them to see you if you are on the sidewalk. In the road, you’re right in their face.
Avoid Riding into the Sun
Riding into the sunset or sunrise reduces your visibility greatly, increasing your chances of getting hit.
Use Lights at Night
Reflectors are just not enough! If you are riding at night, use a light for both front AND rear. They’ll be worth every penny. Also wear bright clothing, as anything to help your visibility is a plus.
Be Prepared
Tires can go flat with no notice of all. Be prepared for emergency maintenance. Carry a basic toolkit, spare tires or patches. And know how to use them!

Safety Guidelines For Drivers

Pay Attention and Be Considerate!
I can’t think of much else I can put in this category. Watch what cyclists are doing, and give them enough room. Most states require that you give cyclists at least 3 feet of clearance when passing. Please observe this and make sure not to pass when a cyclist is turning.

By following these rules, paying attention, and maximizing your visibility, you can increase your safety greatly. Remember, a dead cyclist rides no bicycle.

What safety rules do you follow? Let us know in the comments!