Riding a bicycle is great exercise,
but before you hit the road take note of these seven common mistakes people
make.
Riding
a bicycle is great exercise, but before you hit the road take note of these seven
common mistakes people make.
Going against the traffic
Think
you’re safer riding against
the traffic so that you can see what’s coming your way? Think again. Aside from
the fact that it’s illegal in most countries, riding on the wrong side of the
road is downright dangerous for you and your fellow road users. A study by
Bicycling Life found that riders in the wrong lane were three times more likely
to get into an accident than those .
Gear
sticking
Your
bike has gears for a reason – if you aren’t using them, you aren’t cycling
correctly. A pedal rate of 60-80rpm is considered ideal, and shifting gears to
achieve this rate will prevent you from wasting energy by being in the wrong
gear. As well as saving your muscles, changing gears when appropriate is also a
great way of keeping you alert and maintaining your concentration levels, which
is always welcome when you are travelling at speed on a bike.
Ignoring
safety gear
Did
you know around 91% of cycling fatalities are riders who weren’t wearing
helmets? Research carried out by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
highlighted this startling statistic, which should be enough to convince anyone
to wear a helmet. Even a short ride up the road demands the . That also
includes reflective clothing and lights – a car that can’t see you is not going
to be able to avoid you.
Staying
stationary
Riding a bike
properly is all about balance. When climbing a hill avoid the
temptation to stand up, and instead lean forward to shift your weight to the
front of your bike. The opposite applies when you are riding downhill – lean
your body back to keep more of your weight on the back wheel. When you’re
taking corners lean slightly into the direction of the corner. As well as
reducing your chances of crashing, this is also the most efficient way of
riding. Staying still on the saddle will make your ride harder than it needs to
be, and could lead to an uncomfortable rendezvous between you and the road.
Corner
braking
There’s
a knack to cornering on a bike and once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be riding
much more safely and effectively. The key to taking on a corner is to slow down
before you reach it. When you see a corner coming up in the distance, begin to
gradually apply pressure to the brakes so that you are at a suitable speed by
the time you reach it. If you sharply break as you’re at the corner you risk
crashing, and even if you don’t you’ll end up taking the corner more slowly
than you need to.
Saddle
height
One
of the most common mistakes newbie cyclists make is saddle height. If your only
experience of cycling is casual riding, then it’s likely that your saddle is
too low. There’s actually a simple test to make sure you have your saddle at
the right height. Place your shoe on the pedal, and set it in the most downward
position of the cycling motion. In this position your leg should be practically
straight, with only a slight bend in the knee. If your knee is noticeably bent,
or your foot can’t reach the pedal properly in this position, then you need to
adjust your saddle accordingly.
Forgetting
the repair kit
Do
you have the means to repair damage to your bike when you’re out riding? If you
don’t you’re looking at a very long walk, or very expensive taxi back to your
house if you suffer a puncture. A repair kit is an absolute must for all
cyclists, and you need to make sure you’re familiar with how it’s used before
you’re forced to. Being able to repair a puncture could save you a lot of time
and money, and is relatively simple when you know how to do it, so be sure to
test the kit thoroughly.
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