Safe Biking Tips in and Around the Road
Riding a bicycle is a welcome alternative to driving an automobile, especially in overcrowded areas where traffic makes it difficult to get from place to place. This riding can be dangerous however, and the relationship between bicycles and cars on the road is often a troubled one; collisions are a regular occurrence. Accidents that inflict only minor bumps and scrapes to a vehicle have the ability to deliver serious and life altering injuries to a rider. To keep safe amongst these much larger, motorized vehicles, there are several important things to keep in mind.
Most importantly, you should hold in a straight line while riding down the road. Automobiles are much less maneuverable than bikes, and suddenly moving objects are difficult to avoid. Before making a move to the left or right, check beside and behind you, making certain that the way is clear just as you would in a car. The distance between bikers and drivers is often very small, and even small movements can put a biker into the path of a vehicle.
When braking, be sure to rely most heavily on your front brakes, as they are much more robust than those on the back wheels. You should also allow prepare your weight to propel itself forward in heavy braking to eliminate the possibility of falling forward over your handlebars. In emergency situations where quick braking is needed, your inertia will still want to move forward, and a failure to accommodate for it will result in a dangerous situation. Also, when slowing to a stop, be sure to shift downward into the correct gear in case you need to suddenly re-accelerate.
It is also important to brake before performing a turn, as the traction in your tires can only be used in one direction. By braking before the turn, and then pedaling through it, you can maintain full control and reduce the chance of falling. To further gain control while turning, position your weight to allow for a turn in either direction, and turn the outside pedal down to the lowest position and press down with your foot throughout the turn while using your inside hand to lean the bike into the corner. You should also be looking 10 to 15 feet in front of the bike, rather than at the front wheels, as your bike will follow your line of sight, and keeping your head up to potential obstacles will allow you the time you need to avoid a collision.
When riding with others on the road, you should either ride directly next to them so that either of you can see each other, or directly behind, not allowing your front wheel to pass ahead of their bad wheel. By riding too close, there is a high chance for running into one another, perhaps spilling into active lanes leading to a much more serious accident.
Lastly, if your bike has a water bottle, learn to reach for it without having to take your eyes off the road ahead. By looking down even for a moment, you can seriously increase the chance for an accident. If you are unable to do this safely, you should wait until you have made a full and complete stop before taking out your water bottle. By staying in stable and in control, you can safely navigate through open roads without falling victim to a dangerous accident. Each year thousands of riders are killed in collisions with automobiles, and countless others injured. With a careful and deliberate approach, you can avoid becoming a part of statistics like these.
Most importantly, you should hold in a straight line while riding down the road. Automobiles are much less maneuverable than bikes, and suddenly moving objects are difficult to avoid. Before making a move to the left or right, check beside and behind you, making certain that the way is clear just as you would in a car. The distance between bikers and drivers is often very small, and even small movements can put a biker into the path of a vehicle.
When braking, be sure to rely most heavily on your front brakes, as they are much more robust than those on the back wheels. You should also allow prepare your weight to propel itself forward in heavy braking to eliminate the possibility of falling forward over your handlebars. In emergency situations where quick braking is needed, your inertia will still want to move forward, and a failure to accommodate for it will result in a dangerous situation. Also, when slowing to a stop, be sure to shift downward into the correct gear in case you need to suddenly re-accelerate.
It is also important to brake before performing a turn, as the traction in your tires can only be used in one direction. By braking before the turn, and then pedaling through it, you can maintain full control and reduce the chance of falling. To further gain control while turning, position your weight to allow for a turn in either direction, and turn the outside pedal down to the lowest position and press down with your foot throughout the turn while using your inside hand to lean the bike into the corner. You should also be looking 10 to 15 feet in front of the bike, rather than at the front wheels, as your bike will follow your line of sight, and keeping your head up to potential obstacles will allow you the time you need to avoid a collision.
When riding with others on the road, you should either ride directly next to them so that either of you can see each other, or directly behind, not allowing your front wheel to pass ahead of their bad wheel. By riding too close, there is a high chance for running into one another, perhaps spilling into active lanes leading to a much more serious accident.
Lastly, if your bike has a water bottle, learn to reach for it without having to take your eyes off the road ahead. By looking down even for a moment, you can seriously increase the chance for an accident. If you are unable to do this safely, you should wait until you have made a full and complete stop before taking out your water bottle. By staying in stable and in control, you can safely navigate through open roads without falling victim to a dangerous accident. Each year thousands of riders are killed in collisions with automobiles, and countless others injured. With a careful and deliberate approach, you can avoid becoming a part of statistics like these.
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