How to Cycle on the Road Properly
When you get your first new bike (whether it is a road or mountain bike), you know you are excited. You want to ride across the town and everywhere else with it. But have you given a thought about traffic and road laws? Bicycles are a type of transportation and a vehicular method too. That means you are also bound by road laws!
As a cyclist, you are free to cycle to anywhere you want. But this does not mean all the roads are safe for you. Other vehicle operators might not care but you have to do your homework. You should avoid roads with blind corners. Roads with narrow shoulders should also be best avoided.
Often times, you will find the most beautiful and memorable rides along the seldom-used roads. Sure, nobody uses them but yet it is much safer for you. Find out about more of these roads as they are more likely to reside along beautiful scenery. But usually, big trucks or lorries might hog the road also. Therefore, always keep your eyes alert.
When should your ride aggressively? The answer is most of the time. Usually, you would want to have better control over the road. This will keep you safe when cycling on roads with traffic. However, sometimes it pays to maintain a lower profile. One of your enemies will be motorists. Sometimes, if they do not give in, then there is no point in asserting control. Remember, your bike has a limited speed if compared to a two-wheel vehicle that is powered by an engine! Let the motorist go in front ahead of you and you have earned yourself a clear path.
Sometimes, the number of cyclists on the road is not many. Therefore other vehicles like cars and motorcycles do not expect to see cyclists on the road as well. Even if they see a cyclist on the road, their brain might de-register the thought and think you are not there! This the main reason for bike and car accidents to happen. Car owners claimed that they did not see the cyclist!
Therefore, the smarter way to cycle on the road is to get noticed. Wear jerseys that are bright in color and illuminate at night. Be sure to spend extra money to fix the blinking lights for night riding. Try not to break the road laws. An example of this would be going against the traffic.
You should also always ride in a single bee line or a single file. Every cyclists know that it is more fun to cycle side by side with your cycling buddies. But you have to be rational enough to know that it is not safe to do.
As a cyclist, you are free to cycle to anywhere you want. But this does not mean all the roads are safe for you. Other vehicle operators might not care but you have to do your homework. You should avoid roads with blind corners. Roads with narrow shoulders should also be best avoided.
Often times, you will find the most beautiful and memorable rides along the seldom-used roads. Sure, nobody uses them but yet it is much safer for you. Find out about more of these roads as they are more likely to reside along beautiful scenery. But usually, big trucks or lorries might hog the road also. Therefore, always keep your eyes alert.
When should your ride aggressively? The answer is most of the time. Usually, you would want to have better control over the road. This will keep you safe when cycling on roads with traffic. However, sometimes it pays to maintain a lower profile. One of your enemies will be motorists. Sometimes, if they do not give in, then there is no point in asserting control. Remember, your bike has a limited speed if compared to a two-wheel vehicle that is powered by an engine! Let the motorist go in front ahead of you and you have earned yourself a clear path.
Sometimes, the number of cyclists on the road is not many. Therefore other vehicles like cars and motorcycles do not expect to see cyclists on the road as well. Even if they see a cyclist on the road, their brain might de-register the thought and think you are not there! This the main reason for bike and car accidents to happen. Car owners claimed that they did not see the cyclist!
Therefore, the smarter way to cycle on the road is to get noticed. Wear jerseys that are bright in color and illuminate at night. Be sure to spend extra money to fix the blinking lights for night riding. Try not to break the road laws. An example of this would be going against the traffic.
You should also always ride in a single bee line or a single file. Every cyclists know that it is more fun to cycle side by side with your cycling buddies. But you have to be rational enough to know that it is not safe to do.
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