Wise Words - Staying Safe
No matter whether you're just getting into commuting, road riding or mountain biking here are 10 commonsense things that you can do to stay safe, allowing you to relax and enjoy your cycling more.
1. Wear a Helmet - sounds like a no-brainer (pun intended) but wearing a helmet when you ride is number one thing you can do to help prevent serious head injury. Debate rages on the pros and cons of helmet use, helmet compulsion etc, but one thing's for sure. On an individual level, a well-fitted helmet will afford you a high level of protection in the event of a fall. All cycling helmets sold in the UK are approved to minimum standards so the key is getting one which fits well and looks good - the logic being that if it's comfortable and doesn't make you look like a fool, you're likely to wear it every time you ride.
2. Tell someone where you're going - particularly applicable to mountain biking or road riding on remote lanes, especially if you're out riding on your own. If you have an accident, your significant others will have an idea where you might be found. Top tip - be specific, even leave a map of your route at home, this will make it much easier for emergency services to locate you.
3. Wear bright clothing - useful whether your riding takes you to the centre of the town or the top of Snowdon. In town in day or night, hi-viz clothing keeps you on the radar of other road users, who are primarily focussed on getting where they want to go, not on looking out for cyclists.
When riding in remote areas, wearing a hi-viz and/or reflective item will make it much easier for emergency services to locate you, should you become incapacitated on some barren upland heath.
4. Your Mobile is your Friend - that object in your pocket is for much more than updating your Facebook profile or taking pictures on drunken nights out. It can be a valuable tool to get you out of a fix. Many phones have GPS and mapping applications which can act as a backup to help you find your way. I've even fixed mechanical problems using the light from the display on my mobile phone.
Use the ICE system - recording your next of kin's contact details as 'ICE' in your mobile contacta. ICE is an increasingly recognised system, used by the emergency services, and stands for 'In Case of Emergency', making it easier for paramedics and others to quickly contact your nearest and dearest. More
Another number to put into your phone is a local taxi firm If all else fails you can get your bike into the boot of a car and get yourself home.
5. Do a quick bike check before every ride - check your brakes and the fastness of important bits like wheels, handlebars, etc every time you ride. It only takes a moment. Full details of how to do this plus other essential maintenance available here
6. Get some essential maintenance knowledge - we're not talking complete stripdown and rebuild stuff here, but knowing how to fix a puncture, or even put your chain back on can keep you safe, whether stranded on the moors in a hailstorm, or amid the equally frightening urban jungle at night.
7. Get some cycle training - If you're a beginner and you intend to ride your bike for transport, you're going to be hard pressed to avoid using roads at some point - and that's where the cars live. Luckily, adult and child cycle training has been comprehensively revamped over the past few years to give you relevant training for today's road conditions. So Get Some
8. Leave your i-Pod in your bag - you might love the romantic idea of cutting a swathe through the gridlock listening to some throbbing soundtrack, but your journey may end up in A and E rather than work if you do. Point is, you need all of your available senses to ride a bike. Think about how you sense the traffic around you - your ears almost act as rear view mirrors when you're riding a bike.
9. Ride within your limits - again this applies to all kinds of riding. If you're in heavy traffic and you begin to panic and lose your confidence heading towards a big roundabout or complex junction, just get off and walk the bike until you feel the road conditions are friendlier, then jump back on and carry on with your ride. It's not an admission of defeat - indeed it's one the major perks of riding a bike - being able to instantly make the transition between vehicle and pedestrian.
Similarly, if you're riding an off road trail or big descent and feel that the demands of the trail and your skills don't match up, listen to the inner voice of reason, not the peer pressure from your mates. Getting around the trail and back to the trailhead cafe for a slice of cake has got to be number one priority. Getting a ride in an air ambulance is somewhat further down the list of desirable outcomes.
10. Light up - Don't be tempted to ride without lights, even for ultra short journeys. I made the mistake of 'just popping to the shops' one early morning and nearly ended up remodelling the bonnet of a Mondeo. Modern LED lights are bright, light, cheap to buy and cheap to run. No matter if you're in town our out on a ride, there's nothing worse than being effectively stranded when darkness falls.
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