Bicycle Safety 101 – Everything A New Rider Needs To Know

The rush of racing through the streets on your bike shouldn’t distract you from the fact that safety should be imminent as you have fun. Riding a bike is fun and exciting and comes with some potential dangers that you should be aware of. Well, before you get to the easy part, there are a few fundamentals that you’ll need to familiarize yourself with.

Saddle up, and let’s start riding.

Be Cognizant of Your Surroundings

Ensure that you’ll be visible by the motorist around you, especially on intersections; that way, they will be able to see you when you make any clear indications that you are turning. The easiest way to make these indications would be to make movements that they (motorists) can clearly see, like moving your arm or your head.

For the first six months or so, it’s a good idea to avoid high traffic and ride slowly. Playing ‘what if’ will ensure that you’re more vigilant and greatly uplift your sense of response to tricky scenarios.

Get Out of The Death Trap

Different motorists are using the road, and you cannot control whether they obey or don’t obey the law, so you must devise a way to safely and quickly get out of a bad situation. To do that, you must learn to hand brake or swerve in a matter of seconds.

To perfect these skills, it is wise to practice them in a safe and controlled environment. Although the experience may vary on different bikes, it’s advisable to press both brakes evenly to accomplish an instant and smooth break.

Wear Appropriate Attire

An experienced bicyclist will have the appropriate clothing for the ride. If you are riding a road bike in the street, there is attire for that. For those that choose to ride off-road on a mountain bike, ride safely with MTB knee pads from Sendy Gear, and purchase quality helmets from premiere retailers. Make sure you are selecting the proper clothing and gear for the ride. Having protective gear on will ensure that you are riding safely regardless of the circumstances.

Prep Your Ride

Don’t just hop on your bike and start it going without a thorough inspection of your machine. First and foremost, check your air pressure, chain tension, and brakes. You should keep a small toolset, tube, and spare tire if you need to change out anything on your ride. Tires go flat, and people experience that all of the time, so be prepared.

Prepare For Anything

Heading out on the road or navigating a mountain range can come with unexpected challenges. Being prepared to fix your bike is one thing, but you should consider another type of preparation before going out on a ride. Prepare for the unknown by having an emergency medical kit, lights, water, protein bars, a fully charged phone, and anything else you might need to survive a night out. While this doesn’t apply as much to road bikers, mountain bikers really need to consider this type of preparation. It’s not only meant to help yourself in a dire situation; having these items available can save another person’s life. People fall and get injured; by being prepared, you can not only protect yourself but potentially save another life.