A Quick Safe Cycling Guide…

Cycling is a great way to keep fit, it’s a lot of fun, and it’s pretty awesome for the environment, too. Regular cycling is absolutely recommended as a super healthy part of your fitness regime, and many of us will be out on two wheels burning off some of the post-holiday season calories.

However, it’s critical to be careful. Everyone has heard about the huge amount of horrific accidents involving cyclists on the road, that little frame is no match against the incredibly heavy and fast-moving motor vehicles on the roads.

It’s important to know how to take care of yourself – and your bike. With this in mind, we’re going to go through everything you need to know about cycling safety and hopefully get you safe, sensible and fit for the roads.

Picture: Pixabay

Your bicycle
The cheapest bikes you find on the market today will not be sturdy or reliable as the best road bikes, so it’s worth spending some money on this piece of kit. Lighter frames – usually made from specialist metals – are easier to control and much safer to ride. Not only that but you will be a lot more comfy in the saddle, meaning you won’t be distracted as much and can put all your focus on spotting the surrounding dangers on the road.

Your helmet
Don’t go cycling without a helmet. As pointed out over at GBW.law/los-angeles-brain-injury-attorney, accidents involving your head can cause damage that could be with you for life. The reality is that wearing a helmet can be the difference between a bit of a headache and permanent brain injury – or worse. And given you never know what kind of idiots are on the road at any time, it’s best to keep your helmet on every time you go out cycling, even when you think it’s safe.

Clothing
As self.com/story/ points out, comfort is critical to staying safe on a bike, so it’s a sensible idea to get the proper clothing. Sure, it might make you feel a little self-conscious, but when cycling for long periods of time you will regret wearing normal or heavy clothes. Not to mention the chaffing issue! One more word on your clothing – keep it bright and preferably reflective. The more car drivers can see of you, the safer you will be.

Your experience
The phrase ‘it’s just like riding a bike’ is a little misleading. Of course, once you pick up the skills as a child to cycle you will never forget them. But that doesn’t mean you won’t suffer from rustiness. There are plenty of bicycle education programs to take and it’s a good idea to go on one of these if you haven’t been in the saddle for a while. You will learn some vital skills, including signalling and dealing with fast traffic, which ultimately could save your life one day.

OK, so there you have it – cycling is an awesome activity to keep you fit and healthy, but it’s not without its dangers. Hopefully, some of these guidelines will help you keep safe on the road for many years to come.